ML20136C638
| ML20136C638 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek, Crane |
| Issue date: | 03/04/1997 |
| From: | Miller H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Broughton T GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP. |
| References | |
| CAL-R1-97-08, CAL-R1-97-8, CAL-RI-97-08, CAL-RI-97-8, NUDOCS 9703120138 | |
| Download: ML20136C638 (5) | |
Text
i.
a, March 4,1997 License No. DPR-16 License No. DPR-50 CAL No.1-97-008 Mr. T. Gary Broughton President and Chief Executive Officer GPU Nuclear Corporation 1 Upper Pond Road Parsippany, NJ 07054
Dear Mr. Broughton:
SUBJECT:
CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER 1-97-008 During an inspection covering the period January 6 to March 2,1997, NRC inspectors questioned the quality classification of selected plant components at Three Mile Island (TMI) Nuclear Station Unit 1. Subsequently, following licensee review, the NRC
- determined that numerous safety related components were improperly downgraded from the " nuclear safety related" classification to' a lower tier classification without' appropriate safety evaluations or other supporting engineering documentation. These equipment classification downgrades were initiated by GPU Nuclear and affected both TMI and Oyster Creek facilities.
The NRC is~ concerned about the potential implications of the inappropriate equipment classification downgrades. Moreover, we'are concerned about the poor implementation of the component classification process, as well as related weaknesses in procedure adherence and communications. We are also concerned about the ineffective oversight of the process by management, especially related to not taking prompt action to evaluate and 5
resolve program problems identified by your own quality assurance activities. Because of l
the considerable extent of the process weaknesses, we also question the broader implications of these problems for other engineering processes.
l
. Accordingly, pursuant to a telephone conversation between Mr. Arthur Rone and others of your staff and Mssrs. Eugene Kelly and Peter Eselgroth of my staff, on March 3,1997, it is i
l our understanding that you would take several immediate and long term corrective actions.
Specifically, you committed to:
1.
Immediately take steps to preclude additional inappropriate instances of equipment 3
classification downgrades by:
a.
stopping work on further programmatic equipment classification downgrades )
pending procedure and training upgrades, and Q
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b.
establishing a process to review planned day-to-day maintenance and modification work involving equipment that was re-classified to assure that parts of the correct quality classification components are used.
Bv Aoril 30.1997:
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2.
Determine the impact of the equipment classification downgrade program, as implemented, at TMl and Oyster Creek.
You should report the completion of this item by letter addressed to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region I, dated on or before April 30,1997.
By July 1.1997:
4 3.
Perform an assessment, inve!ving outside contractors and at least one outside member of your General Office Review Board, of the equipment classification downgrading process to determine:
j a.
the root causes of the weaknesses associated with the establishment and implementation of the procsss and appropriate corrective actions, and s'
b.
why past quality assurance findings in this area were not addressed in a 3
timely manner.
4.
Eased on the results of your assessment, determine what assessments and changes to other e.1gineering processes are needed.
i You should be prepared to discuss your evaluation of the assessment in a management meeting with Region I staff on or before July 18,1997.
l Pursuant to Section 182 of the Atomic Energy Act,42 U.S.C. 2232, and 10 CFR 2.204, you are required to:
1.
Notify me immediately if your understanding differs from that set forth above.
2.
Notify me if for any reason you cannot complete the actions within the specified schedule and advise me in writing of your modified schedule in advance of the change.
3.
Notn'y me in writing when you have completed the actions addressed in this Confirmatory Action Letter.
Issuance of this Confirmatory Action Letter does not preclude issuance of an Order formalizing the above commitments or requiring other actions on the part of the licensee.
Nor does it preclude the NRC from taking enforcement action for violations of NRC requirernents that may have prompted the issuance of this letter. In addition, failure to take the actions addressed in this Confirmatory Action Letter may result in enforcement action.
. -. ~ -
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F.
T. G. Broughton 3
The response directed by this letter are not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub.L.96-511.
)
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.
i Sincerely, Original Signed By:
Hubert J. Miller Regional Administrator Docket Nos. 50-219, 50-289 License Nos. DPR-16, DPR-50 cc:
M. J. Cross, Acting Vice President and Director - TMI t
l E. L. Blake, Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge (Legal Counsel for GPUN)
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania l
J. C. Fornicola, Director, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs l
TMI-Alert (TMIA) l J. S. Wetmore, Manager, TMl Regulatory Affairs M. B. Roche, Vice President and Director - Oyster Creek G. Busch, Manager, Site Licensing, Oyster Creek M. Laggart, Manager, Corporate Licensing State of New Jersey I
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'. G. Broughton 4
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
Nhc Hei:'ent inspector Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)
PUBLIC P. Eselgroth, DRP D. Haverkamp, DRP B. Welling, DRP C. O'Daniell, DRP D. Screnci, PAO Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):
W. Dean, OEDO P. Milano, NRR, PDI 3 B. Buckley, PM, NRR, PDI-3 R. Eaton, NRR/PD 1-3 Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR R. Frahm, Jr., NRR 1
1 DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\ CAL 3-97.TMl Ts rec:1ve a copy of this document, Indicate in the box:
"C" = Copypithout attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachrnent/ enclosure "N* ?@ hoy OFFICE Rl/DRP Rl/DRS /
Rl/DR,P j Rl/DRS l
Rl/djiA)
NAME PEselgroth*
EKejfp:ff CHepVM/
JWiggins*
DHolody DATE 03/04/P7 03/LpT97 03/fl97 03/cp97 03/ y!97
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s OFFICE yl/NRFJ/
Rl/ ORA
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NAME PMitgrio HMiller DATE 03/p4Q7 03/ /97 03/ /97 03/ /97 03/ /97
- sde previoius concurrence OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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- e T. G. Broughton 4
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences) i NRC Resident inspector Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)
PUBLIC P. Eselgroth, DRP D. Haverkamp, DRP C. O'Daniell, DRP i
D. Screnci, PAO I
Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):
W. Dean, OEDO P. Milano, NRR, PDl-3 B. Buckley, PM, NRR, PDI-3 Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR R. Frahm, Jr., NRR l
i DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\ CAL 3-97.TMI T3 receive e copy of thle document, indicate in the box:
'C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attach nt/ enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE Rl/DRP, s 6
Rl/DRS l
Rl/DRP Rl/DRS '
l Rl/ ORA NAME PEsel@{f EKelly CHehl JWiggins b DHolody DATE 03/04797 03/ /97 03/ /97 03//f /97 03/ /97 OFFICE, Rl/NRR,,,,
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NAME jfMilan#ffg._,
FjM/ler DATE // 03/04/97 /
03/4/97 03/ /97 03/ /97 03/ /97 gg OFFICIAL RECORD COPY