ML20084A238

Notice to Nrc,Aslab & ASLB Forwarding 840419 Followup Rept, Assessment of Gpu Nuclear Corp Organization & Senior Mgt & Competence to Operate TMI-1. W/Svc List

ML20084A238
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	04/30/1984
From:	Blake E METROPOLITAN EDISON CO., SHAW, PITTMAN, POTTS & TROWBRIDGE
To:
Shared Package
ML20084A236	List: ML20084A233 ML20084A238
References
NUDOCS 8404240472
Download: ML20084A238 (11)

Text

% April 30, 1984 7

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

METROPOLITAN EDISON COMPANY ) Docket No. 50-289

) (Restart)

(Three Mile Island Nuclear )

Station, Unit No. 1) )

NOTICE TO COMMISSION, APPEAL BOARD AND LICENSING BOARD e

On November 22, 1983, we provided to the Commission, Appeal Board and Licensing Board copies of a report entitled, "An Assessment of the GPU Nuclear Corporation Organization and Senior Management and Its Competence to Operate TMI-1,' by Admiral H. G. Rickover, USN, dated November 19, 1983. Admiral Rickover has prepared a Follow-Up Report dated April 19, 1984, a copy of which is enclosed.

Respectfully submitted, Su # t. din g.

Ernest L. Blake, Jr., P.C.

SHAW, PITTMAN, POTTS & TROWBRIDGE 1800 M Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 822-1084 Counsel for Licensee Enclosure cc: Attached Service List 8404240472 840423 PDR G

ADOCK 05000289 PDR g

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-U UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

.O Before the Commission In the Matter of )

)

METROPOLITAN EDISON COMPANY ) Docket No. 50-289 SP

) (Restart Management (Three Mile Island Nuclear ) Phase)

Station, Unit No. 1) )

SERVICE LIST

. e Nunzio J. Falladino, Chairman Administrative Judge U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Consnission John H. Buck Washington, D.C. 20555 Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal Board Victor Gilinsky, Connaissioner U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Cor:nnission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555

' Adatinistrative Judge Thomas M. Roberts, Conunissioner Christine N. Kohl U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Connaission Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal Washington, D.C. 20555 Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission James K. Asselstine, Commissioner Washington, D.C. 20555 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conunission Washington, D.C. 20555 Administrative Judge Ivan W. Smith, Chairman Frederick Bernthal, Commissioner Atomic Safety & Licensing Board U.S.' Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 ,

Administrative Judge Administrative Judge Gary J. Edles, Chairman Sheldon J. Wolfe Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal Atomic Safety & Licensing Board Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission-U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Connaission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555

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Administrative Judge Mr. Henry D. Hukill Gustave A. unkrger, Jr. Vice President Atomic Safety 4 Licensing Board

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GPU Nuclear Corporation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 480 Washington, D.C. 20555 Middletown, PA 17057 Docketing and Service.Section (3) Mr. and Mrs. Norman Aamodt. l Office of the Secretary R.D. 5 l U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Constission Coatesville, PA 19320 l Washington, D.C. 20555 Ms. Louise Bradford Atomic Safety & Licensing Board TMI ALERT Panel 1011 Green Street U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Harrisburg, PA 17102 l Washington, D.C. 20555 Joanne Doroshow, Esquire Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal The Christic Institute

, Board Panel 1324 North Capitol Street U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comunission Washington, D.C. 20002 4

Washington, D.C. 20555

Ms. Gail Phelps i Jack R. Goldberg, Esq. (4) ANGRT/TMI FIEC

, office of the Executive Legal 1037 Maclay Street l Director Barrisburg, PA 17103 e i U.S. Nuclear Engulatory Commission '

l Washington, D.C. 20555 Ellyn R. Weiss, Esq.

Harmon, Weiss & Jordan

{ Maxine Woelfling, Faq. 2001 S Street, N.W., Suite 430

Office of Chief Counaal Washington, D.C. 2000"- -

Department of F.nvironmental  ;

l} Resources Michael F. McBride, Esq.

l 505 Executive House LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae ,

4 P.O. Box 2357 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.

Harrisburg, PA 17120 Suite 1100 Washington, D.C. 20036 John A. Levin, Esq.

Assistant Counsel Michael W. Maupin, Esq.

Pennsylvania Public Utility Hunton & Williams Cossaission 707 East Main Street P.O. Box 3265 P.O. Box 1535 Harrisburg, PA 17120 Richmond, VA 23212 David E. Cole, Esq.

Smith & Smith, P.C.

2931 Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17110

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i FOLLOW-UP REPORT of Assessment of the GPU Nuclear Corporation Organization and Senior Management and Its Competence to Operate TMI-l by Admiral H. G. Rickover 19 April 1984 l

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i i Preface inspection of GPU Nuclear Corporation's undamaged Three-Island plant (TMI-1).

and assessment of the management of that plant,This the results was aoffollow-up o which are presented in my report, " Assessment of the GPU Nuclear Corporation Organization to operate TMI-1," andNovember dated 19 Senior Management 1983. and Its Competence Based on the assessment of the GPU Nuclear Corporation organization 1983, and senior management which I reported in November the team had concluded that GPU Nuclear Corporation had the management plant. competence and integrity to safely operate the TMI-l As further indicated in that report, several recommendations were made which, if adopted, would enhance operation of the TMI-1 plant. While they were not considered essential prior to restart, I recommended they be adopted.

by Mr. William G. Kuhns, Chairman of the Board,Particular GPU.The recom attention was therefore given in this return visit to actions which have been taken by the 1PU Nuclear management in implementing those recommendations.

As reported herein, the1[ April 1984reviewofGPUNuclear Corporation actions at TMI-l reveals that the Corporation has .

made significant and noteworthy progress toward adoption of the recommendations of the earlier report. The Corporation has also strengthened its top management of restructuring its Board of with particular technical experience and expertise in theDire nuclear-power field.

further evidence of their competence to safely restart andThe operate the plant.

At the time of the present visit, permission to restart the plant had not yet been made by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

This decision has already taken too long. Additional studies ter. or deliberations are not necessary to resolve this mat-and results in discouragement of those who are technically financially facilities. responsible for the operation of our nuclear I strongly recommend that GPU Nuclear Corporation be authorized to operate TMI-l without further delay.

ll 4 TI's. IIICKO ER '

19 April 1984 i

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s I. Introduction In the report "An Assessment of the GPU Nuclear Corporation Organization and Senior Management and Its Com-petence to Operate TMI-1," by Admiral H. G. Rickover, dated 19 November 1984, five recommendations were made which, if

' adopted, would enhance the operation of the TMI-l plant.

On 16 and 17 April 1984, the same review team revisited Three Mile Island to assess the action by GPU Nuclear Corporation on each of these recommendations.

A review of each recommendation, together with the action taken by the corporation, is contained in the following sections of the report.

II. Recommendations and Actions A. Recommendation:

"GPD Nuclear should devise a plan to upgrade the operation and support of the TMI-l and,0yster creek plants, to achieve a ranking in the top one-sixth of all com.ne.cial nucleir plants in the Institute of Nuclear Tower Operations (INPO) evaluations.

Milestones should be set in each area and progress measured against these milestones."

Action:

GPU Nuclear Corporation has wholeheartedly -

accepted this recommendation and has set it as its top objective for 1984.

The goal of achieving a ranking in the top sixth of nuclear plants evaluated by INPO has been set for TMI-l for this year, but the goal has been expanded to include a top ranking in the several evaluations made by federal and state regulatory bodies.

The earning of this reputation as a leader among-nuclear utilities is expressed in a set of goals which each of the GPU Nuclear divisions has adopted. These goals, in turn, have been expanded by more detailed goals, milestones, and progress reviews applying to each of the two nuclear plants.

Our review noted that the detailed set of individual goals covered all activities important in evaluating a nuclear power plant operation. Each element of the organization had goals. We checked a number of milestones set to achieve these goals against the record of actual accomplishment. The record shows a high degree of commitment on the part of managers and -

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supervisors toward meeting the milestones and, through those actions, in achieving the goal. The team is well aware that top management can easily set goals and objecti':ss which may not be met unless the lower echelons of the organization are also working earnestly toward these same goals.

It was this spirit of dedication we looked for in 4

talking with those at various levels in the organization. It is our judgment that managemcnt has achieved this most important spirit of dedication on the part of its employees.

In the five months since our last inspection of i' the TMI-l plant, not one person in the Operations Division has resigned. We found a pride among the employees in the organization which is indicative of the leadership of TMI-l managers and supervisors.

i A recent replacement of one of the main coolant pumps, a very complex operation, was undertaken by the i TMI-1 plant organization using its own employees -

throughout the six-week task. An operation of this magnitude might, under a less committed management and ecpioyeer.. have been assigned to an outside i contractor. However, the TMI-l employees took on this e a.

task with pride, thus demonstrating the present -

capability of the organization.

Examples of this kind are the best evidence of the i

' desire of all employees to achieve the goal of excellence.

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Conclusion:

4 l Based on the above, we believe that the goal of receiving a ranking in the top group of nuclear plants

] can be achieved in the year 1984.

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B. Recommendation:

"GPU and GPU Nuclear senior management should become technically informed and personally familiar with conditions at the operating plant. They should visit the plants frequently, at irregular hours, inspect selected portions, and leave a written record of what they observed and how long they remained."

Action

GPU Nuclear Corporation has taken action to keep top management currently and technically informed on operations and problems. An indication of this is the i

2 Follow-up Assessment,_GPU Nuclear.

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members from outside the corporation. reorganizati field to the corporation. technical knowledge and experienc three of these outside Safety Compliance Committee. members calle This provides an additional requirementknowledgeable review on the essential for safety in plant operations.

well-informed top management,In furtherance of its com a detailed program, including GPU Nuclear has initiated the following:

1. Training.

a.

The President and the Executive Vice President are presently taking instruction to qualifyand TMI-l as Oyster Emergency Creek.Support Directors for This program, which includes extensive technical training, is scheduled to be completed in 1984.

b.

The in atDirector least one of the TMI-1 plant participates per year and week of simulator training in a minimum four hours of formal planned operations training per month, c.

All senior technical managers whc have not already completed Emergency Support Director training do so. for both TMI-l and Oyster Creek will'

2. Methods by which senior management keep aware of plant problems,

a. The President reviews the Weekly Significant Event Reports'from the plant.and each support division. He also reviews the-Daily OperationsReports, Deficiency Status Reports and the Plant b.

The Director of the TMI-l plant and his Chief i

Assistants attend'the 4:00 p.m. change of off-going and on-coming shifts to receive first-hand the plant. information on the condition of He is of course kept advised at all times occur. of unusual plant conditions as they 3

Follow-up Assessment, GPU Nuclear _ _

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c.

All Directors conduct frequent staff meetings.

They also review the Weekly Significant Events Reports.

3. Plant tours:

a.

The GPU Vice Nuclear President President make and the Executive at least nine unannounced tours per year and submit written reports of their observations to those responsible.

b. The Director of the TMI-l plant makes at least two unannounced plant tours each week.

c.

All plant managers (including support divisions) will conduct off-shift tours on a rotating schedule and report findings to the Director.

d.

Technical Functions, Nuclear Assurance, and Radiation and Environmental Controls Directors and their Headquarters-based senior assistants their findings.

will tour the plants and report

Conclusion:

4 While management were doing many of the items i

indicated above prior to our 19 November'1983 report, i these actions have now been formalized and are being checked accomplished. by the Corporation-to assure they are

, Corporation is The team concluded that GPU Nuclear implementing this recommendation.

I C. Recommendation:

"Some personnel in the TMI-l Training Department responsible qualified Senior for Reactor training licensed Operators. operators are not yet-We recommend that these personnel complete qualification procedures as soon as possible."

1 Action:

i The training program and formal NRC certification program for Senior Reactor Operators (SRO) has resulted in 18 licensed SRO's in the Operations Division'in addition to those in the Training Department. A schedule has been developed for rotation of these

! .that licensed operators into the Training Division'to ensure i

personnel. the training is done by completely qualified At the same time, additional personnel now in the Training Division will be examined for'SRO a

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s certification to further increase the flexibility in use of qualified instructors.

D. Recommendation:

"GPU Nuclear should continue to reduce its dependence on the use of consultants. The organization should become self-sufficient to the point where use of such personnel would be necessary only in special circumstances where development of in-house capability could not be justified."

Action:

During the 16 and 17 April visit, GPU Nuclear Corporation advised that by 1 June 1984 all normal maintenance and operations would be accomplished by GPU Nuclear employees.

Consultants would be used in 1984 and later only in circumstances such as the following:

1. Use of Babcock & Wilcox for access to original plant design and safety information.

2. Use of architect /e gineers to do detail design of plant modifications. This work will be directed and reviewed by GPU Nuclear personnel.

3. Special operations such as metallurgical examinations, nondestructive testing, and acoustical engineering where special equipment and training are required. .

GPU Nuclear management stated that in-house capability had developed to the point that consultants were not required except in special circumstances as listed above.

Conclusion:

The team concluded that satisfactory progress was being made in this area.

E. Recommendation:

"The general announcing system for_the TMI plant distracts personnel in the control room. The system should be modified to significantly reduce _these

, broadcasts to the control room. This will prevent distraction of operators from their primary duties.

Also, too many people are in the control room. Only those essential to the operation of the plant should be there. Instructions to this effect should be posted and complied with."

5 Follow-up Assessment, GPU Nuclear

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Action:

The team inspected the control room at a time when a testing evolution was ,in progress (TMI-l plant leak-test of the reactor con'tainment vessel) and found conditions markedly improved over those observed in October and November 1983.

The distraction caused by the general announcing system in the control room no longer exists. The announcing system has been modified so that, in normal use, no announcements are heard in the control room. A special circuit (activated by a red button at a restricted number of stations) is used to make announcements in the control room and instructions have '

been issued to limit these announcements to those essential for the operation of the plant.

Access to the control room has also been sharply curtailed and is controlled personally by the Shift Supervisor or Shift Foreman. The team noted evidence that this rule was being enforced.

The conduct of the test which was underway at the time of our last visit October 1983 visit whic,hcontrasted was also during sharplya with time the when a test was underway. That earlier test had been directed i- fron the control rocm. The large number of people, the constant alarms and ready access to the control room had demonstrated that future tests should be conducted from spaces outside the control room to the maximum degree possible.

At the time of this visit, testing was not conducted from the control room, no personnel outside ~

the regular operations section were present, and the ambiance was one of professionalism in dress _ (uniforms) and conduct.

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Follow-up Assessment, GPU Nuclear

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