ML20136G565

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Forwards Performance Appraisal Insp Rept 50-309/85-15 on 850513-24 & 0603-07 & Executive Summary
ML20136G565
Person / Time
Site: Maine Yankee
Issue date: 08/06/1985
From: Partlow J
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To: Randozza J
Maine Yankee
Shared Package
ML20136G570 List:
References
NUDOCS 8508190554
Download: ML20136G565 (7)


See also: IR 05000309/1985015

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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Docket No. 50-309

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Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company

ATTN: Mr. J. B. Randazza, Vice President

Nuclear Operations

83 Edison Drive

Augusta, Maine 04336

Gentlemen:

SUBJECT:

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL INSPECTION REPORT 50-309/85-15

This letter forwards the report of the Performance Appraisal Inspection conducted

by T. O. Martin and trembers of the Operating Reactor Programs Branch, Office of

Inspection and Enforcement, from May 13-24 and June 3-7, 1985, of activities

authorized by NRC Operating License DPR-36 for the Maine Yankee Atomic Power

Plant. This letter also refers to the observations presented to you and members

of your staff on June 7,1985, at the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Plant.

The report includes observations that may result in enforcement actions; these

matters will be followed by the NRC Region I Office. The report also addresses

other observations and conclusions made by the inspection team. Enclosure 1 to

this letter is an Executive Summary of the conclusions drawn for the eight

functional areas inspected. Enclosure 2 is Performance Appraisal Inspection

Report 50-309/85-15.

Although a response to this letter is not required, you are encouraged to review

and evaluate those areas in which weaknesses were identified and take appropriate

actions to improve your existing management controls over licensed activities,

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8508190554 850806

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Mr. J. B. Randazza

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Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we woul'd'be pleased to

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discuss them with you.

Sincerely, 3

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James G. Partlow, Director

Division of Inspection Programs

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

Enclosures:

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1.

Executive Summary

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Report 50-309/85-15

2.

IE Management Appraisal

cc w/ enclosures:

Mr. John H. Garrity

Plant Manager

P.O. Box 408

Wiscasset, Maine 04578

Mr. G. Douglas Whittier

Manager Nuclear Engineering and Licensing

83 Edison Drive

Augusta, Maine 04336

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Mr. J. B. Randazza

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Distribution (w/ report):

ORFB Reading

DI Reading

SECY

OPE

OCA (1)

W. J. Dircks, ED0

H. R. Denton, NRR

C. J. Heltemes, AEOD

D. B. Vassallo, NRR

P. M. Sears, NRR

H. Boulden, OIA

J. M. Taylor, IE

R. H. Vollmer, IE

J. G. Partlow, IE

R. L. Spessard, IE

B. K. Grimes, IE

J. A. Axelrad, IE

T. E. Murley, RI

R. W. Starostecki, RI

E. C. Wenzinger, RI

T. C. Elsasser, RI

C. F. Holden, Jr. RI

Region I Reading

State of f!aine

All Licensees (Distribution GP)

PAS files

DCS 016

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NSIC

NTIS

Project Division Directors, RI through RV

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A team of 10 inspectors from the Operating Reactor Programs Branch conducted an

announced inspection at the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Plant, the Maine Yankee

Atomic Power Company offices, and the Yankee Atomic Electric Company offices

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during the period May 13 to June 7, 1985. Management controls in eight function-

al areas were evaluated and assigned performance categories as follows:

Functional Area

Category

Plant Operations

Two

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Surveillance

Two

Maintenance

Two

Training

One

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Design Changes and Modifications

Two

Quality Programs

Two

Procurement

Two

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Radiological Controls

Two

Within the 8 areas inspected, 13 potential enforcement findings were identified.

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These findings, referred to in the inspection report as Unresolved Items, will

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be followed up by the NRC Region I Office. The following summarizes the obser-

vations and Unresolved Items in each area.

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Plant Operations:

Category Two

Strengths included the number of licensed operators, the operational knowledge

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and experience of the support staff, and the shift technical advisor program.

Weaknesses were noted in the independent verification of operating activities,

the management review of temporary plant modifications, and efforts to ensure

that all major valves were labeled.

Surveillance: Category Two

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Aggressive inservice testing and equipment reliability monitoring programs were

a strength. Weaknesses included the frequent failure to incorporate acceptance

criteria into procedures consistent with licensee procedural format requirements,

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the lack of an integrated master schedule, the lack of a cross-reference of Tech-

nical Specifications surveillance requirements with corresponding implementing

procedures, and not consistently including as-found test data as part of the sur-

veillance test record.

Unresolved Item:

The failure of surveillance procedures to require the recording of as-found con-

ditions (Observation 5).

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Maintenance:

Category Two

Strengths included a highly qualified staff, a strong training program, a compre-

hensive and effective preventive maintenance program, and an effective motor-

operated valve (Limitorque) maintenance program that has improved high pressure

safety injection system reliability. Weaknesses were noted in the implementation

of the measuring and test equipment program and in the timeliness of developing

and implementing a program to control vendor technical manuals in accordance with

commitments to the NRC.

Unresolved Item:

Various inadequacies relating to the implementation of the measuring and test

equipment program (Observation 4).

Training:

Category One

Strengths in the training area included a highly qualified instructional staff,

effective management involvement in the training process through the Training

Qualification Review Board, and positive training results as evidenced by both

a high passing rate on NRC licensing examinations and a lack of incidents that

could be related to training. Additional strengths were noted in plant modifi-

cations training, licensed operator requalification examination quality, auxil-

iary operator training, fire brigade training, and maintenance staff training.

Weaknesses were noted~with the level of participation by licensed personnel in

the licensed operator requalification program, the review of procedure revi-

sions by licensed operators, and chemistry technician training.

The licensee

was considered to be making satisfactory progress toward INP0 accreditation.

.

Design Changes and Modifications:

Category Two

Strengths included the establishment of a consolidated design change program be-

tween the Maine Yankee site and the Yankee Atomic Power Company organization and

the programs for closecut of engineering design change requests (EDCRs) and re-

turning the system to operation.

Weaknesses in the design change program included

poor control of design information, inconsistencies among sets of controlled draw-

ings, lack of adequate control over design change quality assurance records and

Plant Operation Review Committee reviews occurring too early in the design change

process. Problems also were identified with the testing and design calculations

of individual EDCRs.

Unresolved Items:

1.

The failure to adequatel, conu eI design inputs and design information flow

between internal and external organizations (Observations 2 and 3).

2.

The failure to make an adequate design calculation (Observation 4).

3.

The failure to test a newly installed system before releasing it for oper-

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ation (Observation 5).

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4.

The apparent failure to follow procedures for the control of drawings

(Observation 7).

5.

The failure to provide adequate controls for design change quality assur-

ance records (Observation 8).

Quality Programs:

Category Two

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The corrective action system was effective in that there was a strong procedure

that coordinated plant and corporate activities. However, the corrective action

system apparently did not encompass certain operations-related problems. The

following weaknesses in the implementation of the corrective action system were

identified:

(1) out-of-date chemicals were found in use in the chemistry labora-

tory, and Unis issue had been previously identified by the licensee on numerous

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occasion: and (2) bypasses were installed that eliminated the backseat limit

switches on a reactor coolant system loop stop valve despite a warning given in

an IE Information Notice. The operational quality assurance program was general-

ly satisfactory. However, significant weaknesses were identified in several QA

internal audits.

Oversight of the QA audit process by the Nuclear Safety Audit

and Review Committee was also weak.

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Unresolved Items:

1.

The failure to conduct adequate audits in 1983 and 1984 of Technical Specif-

ications and Plant Changes (Observation 2).

2.

The repeated use of expired chemicals in the chemistry laboratory (Observa-

tion 7).

Procurement:

Category Two

A strength was identified in the station administrative procedures for control

of procurement, receipt, handling, and storage of safety-related material and

services. Weaknesses identified included the inadequate specification of stor-

age and handling requirements on purchase orders and the failure to procure en-

gineering services for safety-related systems from a qualified vendor.

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Unresolved Items:

1.

The failure to adequately specify receipt, handling, storage, and packaging

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requirements on material purchase requisitions and purchase orders (Observa-

tion 2).

2.

The failure to provide adequate controls for the purchase of safety-related

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engineering services from an unapproved contractor (Observation 3).

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Radiological Controls:

Category Two

Strengths were found in the ALARA program and the control of external radiation

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exposures. Weaknesses were identified in the routine survey program in the areas

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of monitoring personnel for contamination, sorting of low-level waste, and air-

borne monitoring of plant areas. Weaknesses also were noted in the calibration

of laboratory counting equipment. Poor practices were identified in posting and

labeling.

Unresolved Items:

1.

The limited scope of the routine airborne survey program (Observation 2.c).

2.

The failure to provide a procedure to calibrate an instrument used to

measure concentrations of liquid radwaste (Observation 4.a).

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