ML20057A535
| ML20057A535 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 09/08/1993 |
| From: | Cooper R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Reid D VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20057A536 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9309140362 | |
| Download: ML20057A535 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000271/1993080
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8 1993
Docket No. 50-271
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Mr. Donald A. Reid
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Vice President, Operations
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
RD 5, Box 169
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Ferry Road
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Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
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Dear Mr. Reid:
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SUBJECT:
NRC Region I Team Inspection No. 50-271/93-80 - Operational Safety Yeam
Inspection
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This refers to the Operational Safety Team Inspection (OSTI) led by Mr. Wayne L. Schmidt
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of this of6ce between June 7 and July 2,1993, at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant,
Vernon, Vermont. The team focused on verifying safe operation of the plant, conducting
their activities through personnel interviews, direct observations, and independent
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examination of selected procedures, records, documents, and calculations. On
July 16,1993, Mr. Schmidt and I held a public exit meeting with you and members of your
staff to present the inspection Endings. The enclosed inspection report documents the
findings of the inspection.
The purpose of the inspection was to allow the NRC to determine the effectiveness of the
Vermont Yankee organization in identifying, examining, and resolving problems that could
affect the safe operation of the plant. The inspection was conducted as a result of an
observed decline in performance during the last Systematic Assessment of Licensee
Performance (SALP) period (March 1991 through July 1992) in the areas of engineering and
technical support, safety assessment and quality veri 5 cation and security, and concerns
identified since then with fire barrier penetrations and control rod scram time testing. Also,
the team reviewed recent changes made by Vermont Yankee management, to address these
issues, to determine whether the scope and implementation would provide effective long-term
improvements.
We concluded that you continued to operate the plant safely. Your organization is beginning
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to fully use industry and vendor experience to enhance operating performance. However,
additional work is needed in these areas to ensure the adequacy of your past reviews of
industry experience to reduce the possibility of the existence of safety vulnerabilities. We
found that management is more aggressive than in the past and is becoming more self-
critical. However, continued efforts are needed to improve the rigor of management controls
over processes and programs to reduce the continued heavy reliance on personnel. We are
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encouraged by your line management's increased recognition of quality assurance audit and
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surveillance activities as useful processes for identifying problems, as well as your enhanced
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responsiveness to such findings.
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We request that, within 60 days of receipt of this letter, you inform us, in writing, of the
actions taken or planned to improve reviews of industry experience and to improve
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management controls over processes and programs. The response directed by this letter is
not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No. 96.511.
In accordance with 10 CER 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and
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its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Your cooperation with us is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By:
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Richard W. Cooper
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Richard W. Cooper, II, Director
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Division of Reactor Projects
Enclosure: NRC Operational Safety Team Inspection Report 50-271/93-80
cc w/ encl:
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R. Wanczyk, Plant Manager
J. Thayer, Vice President, Yankee Atomic Electric Company
L. Tremblay, Senior Licensing Engineer, Yankee Atomic Electric Company
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J. Gilroy, Director, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Inc.
D. Tefft, Administrator, Bureau of Radiological Health, State of New Hampshire
Chief, Safety Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
R. Gad, Esquire
G. Bisbee, Esquire
R. Sedano, Vermont Department of Public Service
T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
Public Document Room (PDR)
local Public Document Room (LPDR)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
K. Abraham, PAO (2 copies)
NRC Resident Inspector
State of New Hampshire, SLO Designee
State of Vermont, SLO Designee
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SLO Designee
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Vermont Yankee Nuclear
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8 1993
Power Corporation
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bec w/ encl:
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Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
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Chief, Reactor Systems Branch, NRR, 8E23 (Section 2.4 and 6.2)
G. Kelly, DRP
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bec w/ encl (VIA EcMAIL):
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A. Ramey-Smith, OEDO
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W. Butler, NRR
D. Dorman, NRR
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Schmidt
Haverkamp
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9/?/93
9/7 /93
9/ /93
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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