ML20002A137
| ML20002A137 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 04/30/1981 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| IEC-81-4, NUDOCS 8011040278 | |
| Download: ML20002A137 (2) | |
Text
-
SSINS No.:
6830 Accession No:
8011040278 IEC 81-04 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFCRCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Circular No. 81-04 Date: April 30, 1981 Page 1 of 2
Purpose:
The purpose of this circular is to focus attention on several problems NRC has identified in licensee implementation of the shift technical advisor (STA) program and the program for reporting operational events.
Problems in both of these areas have been identified, and to varying degrees, are believed to be fairly wide-spread.
Shift Technical Advisor (STA) Program:
The STA position is a TMI-2 Action Plan Requirement clarified in NUREG-0737 and also in the letter from Mr. H. R. Denton, Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, "To All Operating Nuclear Power Plant Licensees," dated October 30, 1979.
The STA position was established to provide additional on-shift technical support and knowledge to the shif t supervisors in the areas of operational event evaluation and accident, assessment.
The primary duties of the STA include providing technical and engineering advice in assuring safe operations of the plant. This is to be accomplished through additional reviews and evaluations of operating events and accident and incident assessments. As the title implies, the position is one of advisor. The duties of the STA should include the review and evaluation of off-normal events. The STA should also provide advice or rec mmendations to the shift supervisor on the safety significance and reportability of these events as they occur.
ed on results of a recent investigation, NRC has concluded that the STA position is not being utilized to the extent envisioned.
It is important that the STA be kept well informed of off-normal events and of safety-related activities being performed by others.
By strengthening the STA program, an additional margin of safety can be realized.
Specific areas, identified by our inspection and investigative activities, where it appears that the STA program can be strengthened, include the
'following:
1.
STAS are not routinely being called upon for advice when potential safety problems are identified.
The threshold for identifying off-normal condi-tions the STA should evaluate appears to be too high.
It is recommended that licensees review their guidance to STAS and shift supervisors in this area so that use of the STA will be optimized.
- ~ ~ ~ ~
IE Circular No. 81-04 Date: April 30,1981 Page 2 of 2 2.
Basic organizational structures and procedures do not suitably define, in many cases, the functional duties of the STA during operating or shutdown conditions.
The working relationships between the STA, who functions in an advisory capacity, and the shif t supervisors must be clear in order to.
achieve improvements in overall safety.
Program-'for Reporting Operational Events:
Reports of operational events are ess'ential for NRC to cacry out its ongoing review and analysis of operating problems.
Information provided to NRC must represent a complete picture of the event, the cause, and corrective actions taken.
This does not mean that a lengthy description is
- quired.
Descriptions may be brief but must be sufficient to reflect the situation as understood _at the time of the report.
Supplementary reports adding additional facts or reflecting significant changes in the facts surrounding the event must be made on a priority basis commensurate with the significance of the additional facts or changes to facts previously reported.
An evaluation of each off-normal condition and any change in that condition should be made to determine reportability.
It is recommended that licensees review with their staffs the importance of ensuring that initial and subse-quent important information on off-ncemal events is reported to NRC as required by conditions of operating licenses and NRC regulations.
Although it is important to keep the NRC resident inspector informed of each event, the official NRC notification must be made in accordance with the requirements as stated in the license and NRC regulations.
It is essential that reporting to NRC and other government office's does not detract from the response to the event.
Reporting cannot be allowed to degrade safety.
It is therefore essential that sufficient shift staffing be provided to meet both event response and reporting requirements.
No written response to this circular is required.
If additional information regarding this matter is needed, licensees should contact the director of the appropriate NRC regional office.
m 4
e
IE Circular $o. 81-04 April 30, 1981 RECENTLY ISSUED IE CIRCULARS Circular Subject Date Issued To No.
Issued 80-23 Potential Defects in 10/31/80 All power reactor facilities Beloit Power Systems with Operating License (0L)
Emergency Generators or Construction Permit (CP) 80-24 AECL Teletherapy Unit' 12/2/80 All teletherapy licensees Malfunction 81-01 Design Problems Involving 1/23/81 All power reactor Indicating Pushbutton facilities with an Switches Manufactured by Operating Licenses (OL)
Honeywell Incorporated or Construction Permit (CP) 81-02 Performance of NRC-2/9/81 All power reactor facilities Licensed Individuals (research and test) with an While on Outy Operating License (OL) or Construction Permit (CP)
~
81-03 Inoperable Seismic 3/2/81 All power reactor facilities Monitoring Instru-(reasearch and test) with an mentation Operating License (0L) or Construc, tion Permit (CP) 81-05 Self-Aligning Rod End 3/31/81 All power reactor facilities Bushings for Pipe with an Operating Licenses Supports (0L) or Construction Permit (CP) 81-06 Potential Deficiency 4/14/81 All power reactor facilities Affecting Certain with an Operating License Foxboro 10 to 50 (OL) or Construction Permit Milliampere Transmitters (CP)
Enclosure o
h m
. -