ML18100B173
| ML18100B173 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 06/24/1994 |
| From: | Wiggins J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Mcmahon A NEW JERSEY, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18100B174 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9407070046 | |
| Download: ML18100B173 (4) | |
Text
Docket No. 50-272 Mr. Anthony J. McMahon Acting Assistant Director Radiation Protection Element State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy CN 415 Trenton, N.J. 08625-0415
Dear Mr. McMahon:
JUN 2 4 1994
SUBJECT:
CORRESPONDENCE DA TED MAY 20, 1994 REGARDING SALEM UNIT 1 AUGMENTED INSPECTION TEAM The purpose of this letter is to thank you for forwarding the assessment.of the AIT activities that were observed by your representatives and to address the concerns you raise in the subject letter..
We were pleased with the genera'.Ily favorable remarks you made regarding the conduct of the AIT.
Your letter provided three issues for our consideration, which you did not believe were being addressed at the time of the AIT. You are correct in that the AIT did not address these issues.
Our plans are outlined below.
Your first issue addressed past industry experience related to spurious high steam flow signals and raised a concern about PSE&G's ability to evaluate such industry experience. In reply, the AIT did not assess this issue directly. Also, while the PSE&G independent investigation did address operating experience feedback, no assessment of this specific issue was made.
Therefore, NRC will follow up on this issue during a ftiture inspection and will ensure that the findings are documented in an inspection report. More generally, the AIT finding regarding the vulnerability of the high steam flow instruments is being reviewed by NRC management for possible generic communications to the industry.
Your second issue addressed the trouble and urgent trouble alarms received on the emergency diesel generator (EDG) following the first safety injection actuation on April 7, 1994, and raised two concerns regarding: operators learning to cope with existing problems; and, distraction of operators by nuisance alarms during emergency situations. In reply, the AIT did not specifically review the causes of the EDG alarms. The alarms were investigated by the licensee and the findings of that investigation were discussed with the NRC. The cause of the urgent trouble alarm was a defective air receiver outlet low pressure switch, which was replaced. The cause(s) of the other trouble alarms was not identified; but, additional future monitoring of these alarms during EDG starts is planned. Future NRC inspections will evaluate the licensee efforts to identify the specific cause(s) of the trouble alarms. Regarding your concern about operators 9407070046 940624 PDR ADOC~ 05000272 G
JUN 2 4 1994 Mr. Anthony J. McMahon 2
learning to cope with existing problems, the AIT does address this issue for different examples of pre-existing equipment problems. This matter will be followed up as a result of the AIT findings.
Regarding your other concern about the potential distraction of operators during emergency conditions, NRC agrees that this should be avoided, if possible. Our view is that all indicators, including alarms, should be assumed to be correct and appropriately responded to. If the alarming condition is subsequently found to be defective, then appropriate corrective
- actions should be taken. In this case, corrective actions have been taken for the urgent trouble alarm. If future testing identifies the cause(s) of the other trouble alarms, we will ensure appropriate corrective actions by the licensee are taken.
Your final issue addressed a perception involving an apparent inconsistency in statements made by NRC senior management regarding "long-standing cultural and equipment problems at Salem Units 1 and 2," and the results of the previous two SALPs.
The NRC reviews licensee performance on a continual basis.
This is accomplished through SALP, through routine assessments in support of NRC Senior Management Meetings and through inspections. The SALP, by its nature is a very broad and performance-based assessment, but is focused on performance observed during the SALP period. The conclusions drawn in the SALPs were based on information gathered during their respective SALP periods. Recent NRC findings, including the AIT findings, and discussions by NRC management are factors that are considered in our current assessment. These findings, as well as other information that NRC management gathers through inspection and licensing activities and management reviews that occur periodically, are all appropriately considered in the continual NRC assessment of performance.
We would expect to include the results of our current assessment in the next SALP report. We understand how your review of the past SALP reports can lead to the perception you developed.
Although infrequent, it is not uncommon that we would also see differences between past SALP assessments and current performance of licensees. Those differences have typically resulted either from significant changes in the licensee's processes or organization, or from more defined insights gained by us through our ongoing programs. In the case of Salem, I suggest both circumstances were at work. If you would like to discuss this process further, we would be glad to do so.
Both this letter and your letter, dated May 20, 1994, will be enclosed with the transmittal letter forwarding the results of the AIT inspection to PSE&G. In accordance with. the provision of the MOU between NRC and the State of New Jersey, both these letters will be placed in the Public Document Room.
Once again, thank you for your assessment and observations. If you have any questions, please contact me at (610) 337-5080 or Mr. Edward Wenzinger at (610) 337-5225.
Sincerely, ORIGSNAL SICNED BY:
James T. Wiggins, Acting Director Division of Reactor Safety
Mr. Anthony J. McMahon cc:
Public Document Room (PDR)
Local Public Document Room (LPDR)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident Inspector State of New Jersey JUN 2 4 199.1 3
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Mr. Anthony J. McMahon bee:
J. Wiggins, DRS R. Blough, DRS W. Lanning, DRP E. Wenzinger, DRP R. Summers, DRP D. Chawaga, SLO
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