ML20134K764
| ML20134K764 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 02/11/1997 |
| From: | Zwolinski J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Christine K AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20134K767 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9702140223 | |
| Download: ML20134K764 (6) | |
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1 UNITED STATES p
,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 3086H001 February 11, 1997
,,,p Ms. Kris L. Christine P.O. Box 12 Alna, ME 04535
Dear Ms. Christine:
I am responding to your letter to Chairman Jackson dated December 28, 1996, regarding the Independent Safety Assessment Team (ISAT) inspection of the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station (MYAPS).
A public entrance meeting was held with the licensee on July 15, 1996, that described the objectives, scope, and methodology of the ISAT. Copies of the presentation slides were available at the meeting and were sent to the local public document room. The purpose of the ISAT was to determine whether MYAPS l
was in conformity with its design and licensing bases; to assess operational safety performance; and to evaluate the plant's self-assessment, corrective l
actions, and plans for improvement.
The ISAT was performed by a team comprised of 25 members: 16 NRC staff members, 3 State of Maine members, and 6 contractors. Moreover, the assessment was coordinated with the State of Maine to facilitate participation by State representatives consistent with the Commission's policy on cooperation with States at commercial nuclear power plants (57 FR 6462, February 25,1992).
In addition to the State of Maine's participation in the assessment, the State had a two-member process team observe at key assessment milestones and provide the State with an assessment of the ISAT's fairness, l
1 balance, and objectivity. The State's special five-member citizen's review team was periodically briefed on the ISAT status.
4 I
The Governor of Maine was informed that the ISST was the most detailed NRC diagnostic team inspection conducted at an operating facility for assessment purposes at that point in time. At the public exit the ISAT concluded that the overall performance at Maine Yankee was considered adequate for safe operation, despite a number of significant weaknesses and deficiencies that 4
entail violations of NRC requirements and will result in NRC enforcement action. That message was conveyed in detail at the public meeting held on October 10, 1996.
1 Your letter also referred to 3200 deficiencies noted by the ISAT.
I assume i
that you are referring to the licensee's backlog of corrective actions discussed in section 4.2.2, page 65 of the ISAT report issued by the NRC in October 1996. The backlog of corrective actions was relatively large and was increasing. The ISAT's concern was that the process for resolving these licensee-identified corrective actions has been weak, resulting in untimely resolution, despite past efforts by the licensee to improve the process.
The licensee is adopting a single process, termed "The Learning Process," to 9702140223 970211 f
DR ADOCK 050003 9
Ms. K. Christine l integrate all corrective actions. The NRC will continue to monitor and audit the licensee's corrective action resolution process and has scheduled an inspection of the licensee's corrective action program for February, 1997.
The NRC has stressed to the licensee the importance of determining the root causes of these weaknesses and taking broad corrective actions.
In your letter you refer to an inspection at Millstone that you understood to have covered 39 systems. The NRC has recently conducted an extensive special team inspection of the Millstone facility, encompassing an in-depth review of 4 systems, but has not undertaken an inspection effort that entailed an in-depth review of the large number of systems to which you refer.
I trust that this information is responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, SL h 1 t
John
. Zwolinski, Deputy Director Divis on of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i
i
_ - -. _ ~. -. -
February 11, 1997 Ms. K. Christine integrate all corrective actions. The NRC will continue to monitor and audit the licensee's corrective action resolution process and has scheduled an inspection of the licensee's corrective action program for February, 1997.
The NRC has stressed to the licensee the importance of determining the root causes of these weaknesses and taking broad corrective actions.
In your letter you refer to an inspection at Millstone that you understood to have covered 39 systems.
The NRC has recently conducted an extensive special team inspection of the Millstone facility, encompassing an in-depth review of 4 systems, but has not undertaken an inspection effort that entailed an in-depth review of the large number of systems to which you refer.
I trust that this information is responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, 1
l (Original Signed By) j John A. Zwolinski, Deputy Director Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation d
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ACTION EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 01/23/97 EDO CONTROL: G970019 DOC DT: 12/28/96 FINAL REPLY:
Krio L. Christine TO:
Chairman Jackson FOR SIGNATURE OF :
- GRN CRC NO: 97-0009 Miraglia l'
i DESC:
ROUTING:
GOVERNOR ANGUS KING'S STATEMENTS RE INDEPENDENT Thompson SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF MAINE YANKEE Jordan Norry Blaha Miller, RI Ross, AEOD DATE: 01/10/97 ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
NRR Miraglia SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
Put EDO and Chairman on for concurrence.
Chairman's Office to review response prior to dispatch.
NRR RECEIVED:
JANUARY 10, ' 997
.NRR ACTION:
DRPE:VARGA
-NRR ROUTING:
MIRAGLIA ACTION THADANI ZIMMERMAN DUE TO NRR D! RECTOR'S OF SHERON MARTIN ggs BYM
/r/, '97
/
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-97-0009 LOGGING DATE: Jan 2 97 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
KRIS CHRISTINE AFFILIATION:
MAINE ADDRESSEE:
CHAIRMAN JACKSON
-LETTER DATE:
Dec 28 96 FILE CODE: IDR-5 MAINE YANKEE
SUBJECT:
GOVERNOR ANGUS KING / MAINE YANKEE ACTION:
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
CHAIRMAN SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK
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7 DATE DUE:
Jan 97 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
1 EDO -- G97oo19
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