ML18106A796
| ML18106A796 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 07/24/1998 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Ferland E Public Service Enterprise Group |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9808070317 | |
| Download: ML18106A796 (6) | |
Text
UNITED STATES CEn{rCL{ (i ( 6
£ZJ-:z7p; Mr. E. James Ferland Chief Executive Officer Public Service Electric and Gas Company 80 Park Plaza Newark, NJ 07101
Dear Mr. Ferland:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 July 24, 1998 On July 14 and 15, 1998, the NRC senior managers met to evaluate the nuclear safety performance of operating reactors, fuel cycle facilities, and other materials licensees. The NRC conducts this meeting periodically to determine if the safety performance of various licensees exhibits sufficient weaknesses to warrant increased NRC attention or if it is trending adversely and requires steps be taken to communicate concerns to the utility's president or board of directors. At the July 1998 Senior Management Meeting (SMM), the Salem Generating Station was discussed.
On the basis of our discussions, we concluded that Salem Units 1 & 2 have demonstrated sustained improvement sufficient to warrant their removal from the NRC Watch List category that requires increased attention from both NRC headquarters and Region I. Plants removed from the Watch List have taken effective actions to correct identified problems and implemented programs for improved performance. A summary of NRC discussions related to Salem Units 1 and 2 follows:
The NRC's inspection program and overview activities have determined that licensee management has substantially corrected the weaknesses and underlying root causes.
that led to previous performance problems at the Salem Generating Station. The NRC senior managers considered the Watch List removal matrix in determining the appropriate agency response to the identified performance concerns. The senior managers noted Salem met all the criteria for removal fron;i the Watch List, including the demonstration of sustained successful plant performance. Startup and subsequent operation of Unit 1 have been successful and operational performance of Unit 2 has continued to be good. Also, the senior managers noted that plant material condition, safety culture, and management oversight and effectiveness had substantially improved.
The Salem management team set high standards for performance at the site and provided the resources necessary to improve operational performance. This team also
- successfully instituted robust safety oversight and self-assessment at the site.
While the maintenance backlog remains high, the site management team has demonstrated an understanding of its individual and cumulative effects and is effectively managing the prioritization and resolution of backlog items. Steps have been taken to improve station work control processes. The senior managers also discussed
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Mr. E. James Ferland
- 2.
engineering performance at Salem and concluded that, while it is dealing with the large backlogs that resulted from discovery efforts during the outage, the engineering organization is providing good support to the station.
In summary, licensee actions have been effective in improving the operational safety performance of Salem Units 1 & 2. Therefore, the NRC has determined that an enhanced level of regulatory monitoring is no longer warranted.
An NRC Commission Meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners' Conference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on July 29, 1998, to review the results of the latest meeting of NRC senior managers.
Mr. Hubert Miller, the Region I Regional Administrator, has discussed our conclusions with regard to Salem Units 1 & 2 with members of your staff.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Docket Nos.: 50-272 50-311 cc: See next page Sincerely,
-~:+-<.~x.e----
L. oseph Callan I
Ex utive Director for Operations
Mr. E. James Ferland 2
engineering performance at Salem and concluded that, while it is dealing with the large backlogs that resulted from discovery efforts during the outage, the engineering organization is providing good support to the station.
In summary, licensee,actions have been effective in improving the operational safety performance of Salem Units 1 & 2. Therefore, the NRC has determined that an enhanced level of regulatory monitoring is no longer warranted.
An NRC Commission Meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners' Conference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on July 29, 1998, to review the results of the latest meeting of NRC senior managers.
Mr. Hubert Miller, the Region I Regional Administrator, has discussed our conclusions with regard to Salem Units 1 & 2 with members of your staff.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Docket Nos.: 50-272 50-311 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION: see attached page Sincerely, Original signed by:
L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations DOCUMENT NAME: A:SALEML TR.798
- See Previous Concurrence
- Concurred via telecon To receive a copy of this document indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE RA:RI I
DD:NRR I D:NRR I EDO 17A I
I NAME HJ Miller**
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DATE 071
/98 07/21/98 07/21/98 07/~/98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
L Mr. E. James Ferland 2
/
In summary, the senior managers concluded that Salem management h?,s taken effective action to correct their identified problems and to implement programs f9r improved performance. As a result, no further agency level attention was deeryed necessary beyond that provided by the regional office to ensure improvement continues. js such, Salem was designated a Category I facility.
. f......
An NRC Commission Meeting, open to the public, is schedule to be held in the Commissioners' Conference Room in Rockville, Maryland, ta eview the results of the latest meeting of NRC senior managers. Mr. Hubert Miller, the gion I Regional Administrator, has discussed our conclusions with regard to Salem Units 1 2 with members of your staff.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, do no hesitate to call me at (301) 415-1700.
Docket Nos.: 50-272 50-311
- cc: See next page f"
DISTRIBUTION: see attach7 e
/
/
DOCUMENT NAME: A:SALEML!TR. 798 I
- See Previous Concurrence I Joseph Callan xecutive Director for Operations
.. Concurred via telecon Lra.,
To receive a copy of this document, j1 dicate in the box: "1 "" = Copy without atta~ment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE RA:RI I
I DD:~~:-::. iii 'I I
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I EDO I
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/98 OFFICIAL R~CORD COPY
DISTRIBUTION: for letter to Mr. E. James Ferland (Salem)
Central Files PUBLIC EDO R.F.
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- Public Service Electric & G.
Company cc:
Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire Nuclear Business Unit - N21 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 General Manager - Salem Operations Salem Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Louis Storz Sr. Vice President - Nuclear Operations Nuclear Department P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Senior Resident Inspector Salem Nuclear Generating Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Drawer 0509 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Dr. Jill Lipoti, Asst. Director Radiation Protection Programs NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Energy CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Maryland Office of People's Counsel 6 St. Paul Street, 21st Floor Suite 2102 Baltimore, MD 21202
. Ms. R. A. Kankus Joint Owner Affairs PECO Energy Company 965 Chesterbrook Blvd., 63C-5 Wayne, PA 19087 Mr. Elbert Simpson Senior Vice President-Nuclear Engineering Nuclear Department P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 e
Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Mr. Harold W. Keiser Chief Nuclear Officer & President-Nuclear Business Unit Public Service Electric and Gas Company Post Office Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Richard Hartung Electric Service Evaluation Board of Regulatory Commissioners 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Lower Alloways Creek Township c/o Mary 0. Henderson, Clerk Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Manager-Licensing and Regulation Nuclear Business Unit~ N21 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. David Wersan Assistant Consumer Advocate Office of Consumer Advocate 1425 Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17120 Manager - Joint Generation Atlantic Energy 6801 Black Horse Pike Egg Harbor Twp., NJ 08234-4130 Carl D. Schaefer External Operations - Nuclear Delmarva Power & Light Company P.O. Box231 Wilmington, DE 19899 Public Service Commission of Maryland Engineering Division Chief Engineer 6 St. Paul Centre Baltimore, MD 21202-6806
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