ML18101A455
| ML18101A455 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 01/03/1995 |
| From: | Martin T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Eliason L Public Service Enterprise Group |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18101A456 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9501110139 | |
| Download: ML18101A455 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000272/1993099
Text
January 3, 1995
Mr. Leon Eliason
Chief Nuclear Officer and President
Nuclear Business Unit
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
P.O. Box 236
Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey, 08038
SUBJECT:
SYSTEMATIC PERFORMANCE OF LICENSEE PERFORMANCE (SALP)
REPORT NO. 50-272;50-311/93-99*
Dear Mr. Eliason:
This letter forwards the SALP report for Salem Generating Stations, Units I
and 2, for the period between June 20, 1993 and November 5, 1994.
The SALP
was conducted in accordance with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's revised
process that was implemented July 19, 1993. This revised process assesses
licensee performance in four functional areas: Operations, Maintenance,
Engineering, and Plant Support (the latter includes radiation protection,
radiological environmental monitoring and effluent control, physical plant
protection and security, emergency preparedness, fire protection, chemistry,
and housekeeping).
Operators generally responded appropriately with good command and control to
the many plant trips and operational transients that occurred during this
period. A notable exception was during the April 7, 1994, grass intrusion
event.
Further, the operators did not effectively assure that plant systems
and equipment were always sufficiently maintained to perform as designed.
Too
often, the Operations organization accommodated long-standing equipment or
system problems that resulted in unnecessary challenges to operators and
safety systems in normal and upset conditions.
Further, the general lack of a
questioning attitude by operators resulted in anomalous indications or
conditions being unnoticed or not understood, and consequently, ineffectively
resolved. Weaknesses in operability decision making resulted in some
determinations that were not conservative or otherwise lacked a solid
technical basis. This functional area was rated as Category 3.
The Maintenance organization's performance was weak in the implementation of
programs and activities. Consequently, there were frequent problems involving
procedure adherence, procedural adequacy, and control and oversight of work.
Some improvements, such as better communications with the operating
organization, improved prioritization and scheduling of work, and improved
material condition have been achieved.
Notwithstanding, weaknesses still
prevail relative to the effectiveness of corrective actions, troubleshooting
and resolution of recurrent equipment problems, and management oversight of
maintenance activities. This functional area was rated as Category 3.
Mr. Leon Eliason
2
The performance of the Engineering organization was inconsistent. The quality
of design and modification activities was generally good, and the organization
provided competent support in several programmatic areas throughout this
period. Notwithstanding the capability and potential effectiveness, the
priorities of the Engineering organization did not always reflect the needs of
the plant. The organization was not effectively engaged in the diagnosis,
root cause assessment, and resolution of the chronic system and equipment
problems that impaired overall plant performance. This functional area was
rated as Category 2.
Performance in the plant support area continued to be strong.
Well trained
and capable management and staff contributed to the effectiveness of radiation
protection and ALARA efforts, and radiological environmental monitoring and
effluent control programs.
The performance of the emergency preparedness
organization improved in this period and was effectively demonstrated in
drills and actual event responses.
The plant security organization performed
well, notwithstanding problems with assessment aids and occasional weaknesses
relative to supervisory oversight and personnel performance.
Performance
relative to fire protection and prevention program activities improved during
this period. This functional area was rated as Category 1.
In summary, overall performance has declined and we are particularly concerned
with the challenges to plant systems and operators caused by repetitive
equipment problems and personnel errors that had the potential to, or actually
did, adversely affect plant or personnel safety. Notwithstanding, we
recognize that your organization has, within the last year, initiated several
comprehensive actions that have the potential to improve overall plant
performance.
However, while we acknowledge some recent incremental
performance gains, these efforts have not yet resulted in any noticeable
change in overall performance.
In arriving at this assessment, we determined the following contributing
factors: (1) the tendency of your operations staff to accept and accommodate
system performance that was not in accordance with design; (2) the tendency of
your organization not to aggressively question the validity of assumed causes
of degraded conditions or unexpected system performance, and dismiss or not
adequately consider other possible contributors or factors without substantial
technical basis or rationale; (3) the general reticence of your maintenance
and operations organizations to solicit technical support from the engineering
organization for the resolution of plant system or equipment issues; and the
engineering organization's apparent reservation to engage in the diagnosis or
resolution of plant technical problems without requirement or request; (4) the
lack of value attributed to, or expected from, nuclear safety review and
quality assurance activities, and the consequent ineffectiveness of these
functions; (5) insufficient critical self-assessment initiatives to evaluate
the adequacy and performance of personnel, procedures, and hardware; and (6)
insufficient supervisory oversight and poor communication of senior plant
management's expectations relative to the performance of activities.
We have scheduled a management meeting on January 12, 1995, at 10:00 a.m., at
the Salem Generating Station Access Processing Facility to formally present
this Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance.
The meeting will be open
Mr. Leon Eliason
3
for public observation in accordance with NRC policy. Following that meeting,
we request that you provide written comments, including any correction of
factual information, within 20 days of the date of the meeting.
The enclosed
report and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
We appreciate your cooperation.
Docket No. 50-272/50-311
Sincerely,
Original Signed By:
Thomas T. Martin
Regional Administrator
Enclosure: Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance Report No.
50-272/93-99 & 50-311/93-99
cc w/encl:
J. J. Hagan, Vice President-Operations/General Manager-Salem Operations
S. LaBruna, Vice President - Engineering and Plant Betterment
C. Schaefer, External Operations - Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co .
F. Thomson, Manager, Licensing and Regulation
J. Robb, Director, Joint Owner Affairs
A. Tapert, Program Administrator
A. Giardino, Acting Manager, Quality Assurance
B. Hall, Acting Manager, Nuclear Safety Review
R. Fryling, Jr., Esquire
M. Wetterhahn, Esquire
P. J. Curham, Manager, Joint Generation Department,
Atlantic Electric Company
Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate
William Conklin, Public Safety Consultant, Lower Alloways Creek Township
Public Service Commission of Maryland
The Chairman
Commissioner Rogers
Commissioner de Planque
Public Document Room (PDR}
Local Public Document Room (LPDR}
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC}
D. Screnci, PAO (24 copies}
NRC Resident Inspector
State of New Jersey
State of Delaware
Mr. Leon El i a son
4
bee w/enc:
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
J. Taylor, EDO
J. Milhoan, DEDR
SALP Program Manager, NRR/ILPB (2)
J. White, DRP
S. Barber, DRP
K. Gallagher, DRP
M. Callahan, OCA
bee w/enc (VIA E-MAIL):
L. Olshan, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
J. Stolz, PDl-2, NRR
M. Shannon, ILPB
M. Callahan, OCA
W. Russell, NRR
R. Zimmerman, NRR
J. Lieberman, OE
C. Holden, NRR/RPEB
A. Thadani, NRR
bee via E-Mail:
Region I Staff (Refer to SALP Drive)
DOCUMENT NAME:
A:SALM9399.SLP
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C' * = Copy without attachmentjenclosure "E' = Copy with
attachmentjenclosure "N' = No copy
OFFICE
RI/DRP*
I
RI/DRP*
I
RI/DRSS*
I
NAME
Barber/klg
White
Hehl
DATE
OFFICE
NRR/PDI-2*
I
RI/DRS*
I
RI/DRP*
I
RI/DF~,111
NAME
Stolz
Wiggins
Cooper
Kane JJYV
DATE
I J/q~
OFFICE
RI/RA
I
I
I
I
I
I
NAME
Martin
DATE
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
- See Previous Concurrence Copy
l
I
I
Mr. Leon El i ason
4
bee w/enc:
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
J. Taylor, EDO
J. Milhoan, DEDO
SALP Program Manager, NRR/ILPB (2)
J. White, DRP
S. Barber, DRP
K. Gallagher, DRP
bee w/enc (VIA E-llAIL):
L. 01 shan, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
J. Stolz, PDl-2, NRR
M. Shannon, ILPB
M. Callahan, OCA
W. Russell, NRR
R. Zinvnerman, NRR
J. Lieberman, OE
C. Holden, NRR/RPEB
A. Thadani, NRR
bee via E-llail:
Region I Staff (Refer to SALP Drive)
DOCUMENT NAME:
A:SALM9399.SLP
To raceive a copy of 1his document, indicate in the box: "C' = Copy without attachmentjenclosure
attachment/enclosure "N' = No copy
OFFICE
NAME
DATE
OFFICE
NAME
DATE
Stolz
RI/RA
Martin