ML20132F010
| ML20132F010 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 12/16/1996 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Concannon T, Woollacott E CONNECTICUT, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20132F014 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9612240088 | |
| Download: ML20132F010 (6) | |
Text
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[*4 UNITED STATES k
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Distribution:
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December 16, 1996 HThompson JBlaha CHAMMAN FMiraglia, NRR HMiller, RI l
The Honorable Terry Concannon fa rt P
Mr. Evan W. Woollacott G960828 Co-Chairs ED0 r/f Nuclear Energy Advisory Louncil Room 4035 Legislative Office Building Capitol Avenue Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Dear Ms. Concannon and Mr. Woollacott:
I am responding to your letter of October 22, 1996, about the Independent Corractive Action Verification Program (ICAVP) imposed at Millstone by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) order of August 14, 1996.
In your letter, you expressed concerns about three aspects of the ICAVP: team selection, the participation of the NRC, and the scope of the review.
The Commission agrees on the importance of a thorough and independent ICAVP 1
process.
In order to ensure that this goal is achieved, the August 14 Confirmatory Order and the NRC's oversight activities at Millstone have been structured to provide for both close scrutiny by the NRC and public openness.
For example, the August 14 Confirmatory Order directed the licensee to obtain i
the services of an organization and individuals who are independent of the licensee and its design contractors to form the ICAVP team.
The NRC will oversee closely the ICAVP process to ensure the quality and independence of the reviews and will review and approve the organization and the individual members selected for the ICAVP team. The fact 7rs that the NRC will consider in evaluating the independence of each team member will include, but not be limited to, whether the individual has been involved in design reviews for the licensee and whether the individual has any financial interest in Northeast Utilities. The NRC also will evaluate and approve the 1CAVP team's review plan before it is implemented. The ICAVP team concurrently will report its findings to the NRC and the licensee and will be required to comment on the licensee's proposed resolution of the team's findings. To further ensure independence, the ICAVP team will conduct its reviews, to the extent feasible, in the contractor's offices and not at the Millstone site. A protocol being developed by the NRC will control contact between the ICAVP team and the licensee. The NRC staff is preparing a plan for oversight of the ICAVP, including a plan for system selection that will propose:
(1) an appropriate sampling methodology, (2) a process to evaluate findings, and (3) measures to ensure an unbiased review. The staff will submit this plan to the Commission before it is implemented.
l The ICAVP and all NRC activities relating to the Millstone oversight process will continue to be open processes. The Nuclear Energy Advisory Council (NEAC) and the State of Connecticut have been invited to observe implementation of the ICAVP at the Millstone site. The individuals you have
[ Originated By:
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9612240088 961216 PDR COMMS NRCC 1
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designated as observers will be kept apprised of the NRC's oversight of the ICAVP activities.
The findings of the ICAVP team will be made available to members of the NEAC and the public. We also understand that the NEAC has formed a subcommittee, which includes members of the public, to review the i
ICAVP contractor proposed by the utility.
The NRC will make the final decision regarding the suitability of the contractor organization and individuals selected to conduct the ICAVP. However, any comments or observations by the NEAC subcommittee will be taken into consideration.
The NRC plans to continue to meet periodically with the public on the status of the ICAVP, thereby providing a forum for public comment.
For example, on September 24, 1996, the NRC staff met publicly with the licensee at the Millstone site and then met directly with the public that evening at the Waterford Town Hall to discuss the ICAVP. The NRC staff also met publicly with the NEAC on the evening of October 10, 1996, regarding the ICAVP.
Additional public sessions will be scheduled as warranted.
In addition to requiring an ICAVP, the NRC recently issued an order requiring Northeast Utilities to prepare and submit a plan addressing employee concerns.
The order also requires the utility to form a second independent organization to oversee and report on implementation of that plan.
To focus additional regulatory attention on activities at Millstone, including the ICAVP, the NRC has established a Special Projects Office within its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
This new office is being managed by Dr. William D. Travers.
In addition to licensing and inspection activities, the Special Projects Office will be responsible for (1) oversight of the ICAVP, (2) oversight of corrective actions by Northeast Utilities related to safety issues involving employee concerns, and (3) inspections necessary to implement NRC's oversight of the plant's restart activities.
The Commission appreciates the comments and concerns expressed in your recent letter. We believe that the current ICAVP process as detailed in the August 14 order, combined with other activities regarding public openness, is sufficient to ensure an independent process. The Commission is committed to ensuring that the activities at Millstone, including the ICAVP and NRC's regulatory oversight programs, are conducted in a thorough and open manner.
To that end, the Commission plans to meet publicly with Northeast Utilities on a quarterly basis, with the first meeting scheduled in January. The NRC staff will continue to keep you apprised of developments concerning Millstone.
If you have any further comments, questions, or concerns, please contact Dr. Travers at (301) 415-8500.
Sincerely, l
l l
l
i Green Ticket ED0#96798 Dated:
12/16/96 j
DISTRIBUTION:
Docket File (w/ original incoming)
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EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROMt DUE: 11/14/96 EDO CONTROL: G960828 DOC DT: 10/22/96 FINAL REPLY:
T:rry Concannon & Evan W. Woollacott Steta~of Connecticut TO:'
Chairman Jackson FOR SIGNATURE OF :
Miraglia DESC ROUTING:
IDEPENDENT CORRECTIVE ACTION VERIFICATION PROGRAM Taylor (ICAVP)
Milhoan Thompson Blaha Bangart, SP HMiller, RI DATE: 11/01/96 ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
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EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROMs DUE: 11/14/96 EDO CONTROL: G960828 DOC DT: 10/22/96 FINAL REPLY:
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DESC ROUTING:
i IDEPENDENT CORRECTIVE ACTION VERIFICATION PROGRAM Taylor (ICAVP)
Milhoan Thompson Blaha Bangart, SP DATE: 11/01/96 HMiller, RI l
ASSIGNED TO:
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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
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Chairman'sOfficetorevj.eresponseprior!
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PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-96-1115 LOGGIFG DATE: Oct 31 96 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
EVAN WOOLLACOTT AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
CHAIRMAN JACKSON LETTER DATE:
Oct 22 96 FILE CODE:
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SUBJECT:
INDEPENDENT CORRECTIVE ACTION VERIFICATION PROGRAM (ICAVP)
ACTION:
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
CHAIRMAN, COMRS SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK
]
CONSTITUENT:
NOTES:
CHAIRMAN SHOULD REVIEW RESPONSE PRIOR TO DISPATCH I
(OCM #5848)
DATE DUE:
p/,gf4 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION 1
I EDO -- G960828