ML20135D175
| ML20135D175 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 12/05/1996 |
| From: | Larry Nicholson NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Eliason L Public Service Enterprise Group |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20135D179 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9612090277 | |
| Download: ML20135D175 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000354/1996009
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December 5, 1996
Mr. Leon R. Eliason
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Chief Nuclear Officer and President
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Nuc! car Busineco Unit
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Public Service Electric and Gas Company
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Post Office Box 236
Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038
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SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-354/96-09
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Dear Mr. Eliason:
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On November 9,1996, the NRC completed an inspection at your Hope Creek reactor
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facility. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
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During the 7 week period covered by this inspection period, your conduct of activities at
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the Hope Creek facility was generally characterized by safety-conscious operations, sound
engineering and maintenance practices, and careful radiological work controls. Your
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Quality Assurance (QA) organization contributed significantly to safety by identifying a
long-standing design inadequacy in the safety auxiliary cooling water system. While the
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NRC has not yet completed its review of this issue, our preliminary assessment is: (1) that
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findings of this nature via independent assessment proves the worth of such activities;
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and, (2) that the immediate corrective measures taken removed the possibility of a
significant degradation of important-to-safety equipment.
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A radiation controls program inspection was conducted during the inspection period and
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concluded that the Radiation Protection (RP) program performance was mixed during the
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response to a minor indicated radioactive gas leak in September 1996; however, the RP
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QA oversight, training, and respiratory protection programs were considered strengths.
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A corrective actions program team inspection was conducted during the inspection period,
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in which the NRC found that the Hope Creek staff was generally effective in identifying
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problems, evaluating their root causes, and in implementing corrective actions to prevent
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recurrence. There has been recent extensive process changes to improve the corrective
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action program. Active management oversight and involvement was evident. Extensive
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administrative procedures have been developed that clearly define the corrective action
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programs. However, corrective actions were not always fully effective in preventing
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recurring problems. An ability to effectively resolve long-standing issues has not been
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clearly demonstrated. Also, a violation of NRC requirements was identified regarding
Offsite Safety Review (OSR) staffing and review requirements not always being met.
An engineering support program inspection was conducted during the inspection period, in
which the NRC observed acceptable engineering processes and practices in the
development of design changes and in support of plant related issues. Oversight was also
good. A failure to satisfactorily address an interaction between the diesel generator
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9612090277 961205
ADOCK 05000354
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Mr. Leon R. Eliason
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ventilation system and the fire suppression system resulted in a violation of NRC
requirements regarding maintenance of the design basis of the plant. We are concerned
about this violation because our review indicated an apparent reluctance by your staff to
address the underlying technical concerns for this issue.
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These violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the circumstances
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surrounding the violations are described in detail in the enclosed report. Please note that
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you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the
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enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part,
to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter
and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
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Sincerely,
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ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:
Larry E. Nicholson, Chief
Projects Branch 3
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket No.: 50-354
License No: NPF-57
Enclosures:
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inspection Report 50-354/96-09
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Mr. Leon R. Eliason
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cc w/ encl:
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L. Storz, Senior Vice President - Nuclear Operations
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E. Simpson, Senior Vice President - Nuclear Engineering
E. Salowitz, Director - Nuclear Business Support
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C. Schaefer, External Operations - Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co.
P. MacFarland Goelz, Manager, Joint Generation
Atlantic Electric
M. Bezilla, General Manager - Hope Creek Operations
J. Benjamin, Director - Quality Assurance & Nuclear Safety Review
D. Powell, Manager - Licensing and Regulation
R. Kankus, Joint Owner Affairs
A. C. Tapert, Program Administrator
R. E. Selover, Esquire
M. J. Wetterhahn, Esquire
Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate
William Conklin, Public Safety Consultant, Lower Alloways Creek Township
State of New Jersey
State of Delaware
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Mr. Leon R. Eliason
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
K. Gallagher
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D. Screnci, PAO
Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
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L. Cunningham, NRR
D. Barss, NRR
Dave Vito (Sections E2.2 & E2.4, Section E2.3, Section 07.5)
PUBLIC
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Distribution w/ encl: (Via E-Mail)
W. Dean, OEDO
D. Jaffe, Project Manager, NRR
J. Stolz, PDI-2, NRR
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR (RPC)
R. Frahm, Jr., NRR (RKF)
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DOCUMENT NAME: a:\\9609.hc
Ta receive a copy of this docume,**; ktdic.ete in the box: "C" = Copy without ettechment/ enclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
"N" = No copy
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OFFICE
RI:DRf / :/W
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NAME
RSug6hiers
LNicholson
DATE
12/)'/96
12/3/96
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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