ML19263A613
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~ /,7, NUCi. EAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y4
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- 4-yr W ASHIN GTON. D.C. 20555
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February 29, 1984 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION E R MEMORANDUM TO THE COMMISSIONERS
SUBJECT:
GRAND GULF LOW POWER LICENSE 1.
Grand Gulf has the highest power rating of any reactor in the world.
It is the first reactor of its kind in the United States.
At the same time, the plant management and staff are among the most inexperienced in the country.
2.
The plant management clearly failed to realize the importance of the plant's license conditions, failed to conduct the proper level of safety reviews, and submitted Technical Specifications with over 200 errors, including license conditions for non-existent equipnent.
During the pre-operational testing and startup phases of initial operation, the plant operating staff failed to identify the extensive errors in the technical specificat' ns.
It was only after several months of low power operation that NRC personnel recognized the severe deficiencies, and held the plant down as a result. It new turns out -- over a year later
-- that the license conditions are still in error.
(Memo, Dircks to Conmission, February 28, 19E4).
3.
The NRC Technical Specification review of the license, which resulted in approval of the erroneous license conditions, was sloppy.
This calls into question the basis of the original license approval.
4.
The reliability of the Lelaval dierel emergency power supplies are questionable.
The NRR Director has recently said that he will not license new plants with these diesels until all the problems are resclved.
5.
Of most concern is that the licensee organization has failed to measure up to its responsibilities during the one and a half years that it has held a license.
MP&L has received the lowest SALP rating for operations for three consecutive years.
Its everall SALP performance has in fact declined.
It has received the lowest rating in five of the 5p M jf nine areas examined:
plant cperations, surveillance and preoperational testing, maintenance, licensing activities, g/7 and quality assurance.
These are the most inportant categories.
Personnel errors at the plant have been 8404120400 040229 CF ADOCK 05000416 CF
e excessive.
plant two years ago have now left.The few experienced operators who w Four operators were suspended from licensed responsibilities due to severe deficiencies in plant knowledge.
falsified operator cualification records. Training instructors have Other investigations are underway. Taken as a whole, the items are indicative of a management lacking both the diligence and technical competence to insure and maintain the safe operation of the facility.
It is clear 'that conditions have been revealed that would have warranted the Commission to refuse to grant the license on the original application.
I believe that the Commission should suspend the current license until such a time as the licensing basis for the plant can be re-established, and specifically until such a time when the MP&L can reasonably assure us that it is technically competent to engage in the proposed activities.
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Victor Gilinsky cc:
.