ML20138C906

Responds to Requesting That NRC Quickly Resolve Operational Problems at Zion Nuclear Generating Station. NRC Added Additional Insp,Increased Monitoring of Licensee Performance,Meetings & More Frequent Site Visits

ML20138C906
Person / Time
Site:	Zion  File:ZionSolutions icon.png
Issue date:	04/22/1997
From:	Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Jay Collins KENOSHA, WI
References
NUDOCS 9704300240
Download: ML20138C906 (3)

Text

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. Apnl 22,1997

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j Mr. John R. Collins Kenosha County Executive l 1010 56th Street

! Kenosha, WI 53140 l l

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Dear Mr. Collins:

l I am responding to your letter dated March 12,1997, in which you requested that the i Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) quickly resolve operational problems at the Zion Nuclear Generating Station. Specifically, you requested the NRC to take steps necessary i to cause Commonwealth Edison (Comed) to properly manage the Zion facility or cause the i j facility to be managed by the NRC.

l Performance of the Zion plant has been a concern to the NRC for some time and that plant

is currently receiving significant NRC oversight. More recently, the NRC categorized Zion

as a plant that warrants increased NRC attention from both headquarters and the regional-

{ office. The increased attention consists of additional inspections, increased monitoring of

licensee performance, meetings between licensee and NRC management, and more i frequent site visits by senior NRC management. The Zion plant will remain in that category until it has demonstrated consistent improved perforrnance.

The Zion plant remains shut down following an event on February 21,1997, which involved inappropriate operator actions during shutdown of the facility. The NRC sent an Augmented inspection Team to evaluate the event and the team's written report will be issued shortly. We will send you a copy of this report when it is issued. On February 25, 1997, the NRC issued a Confirmatory Action Letter to Comed which requires that prior to restarting the Zion plant, it discuss with the NRC the results of its investigation of the event and corrective actions taken. The NRC is currently planning a special NRC inspection initiative to verify Zion plant operational readiness prior to startup.

The NRC has taken additional actions to ensure that Comed adequately addresses performance problems at the Zion plant. The NRC assigned a dedicated engineering inspector to the Zion plant to augment the resident inspector staff which already includes three full-time onsite NRC inspectors. The NRC formed a joint regional and headquarters Plant Performance Review Panel which holds monthly public meetings with Comed to discuss performance improvement at the Zion plant. The panel ensures continued NRC focus on Zion plant performance issues and appropriate assignment of NRC inspection resources. In addition, as a result of continuing inconsistent performance of the Comed nuclear plants, the NRC issued a letter on January 27,1997, requiring Comed to provide information regarding its ability to safely operate its six nucioar stations while sustaining performance improvement et each site. A public meeting between Comed and the l Commission to discuss Comed's response to this letter is scheduled for April 25,1997.

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} Additionally, the NRC continus4 to evaluate whether further reg (Jlatory action is necessary l >

to ensure public health and safety. i i

I assure you that the NRC is taking significant actions that we believe are necessary to 4 ensure performance problems at Comed's Zion plant are resolvsb. I appreciate your i interest in this matter and trust this response addresses your efncerna, Sincerely,  !

/s/ A. Bill Beach i  !

A. Bill Beach  !

Regional Administrator

Olstrihntinn

! EDO 970193 2

EDO Reading File Public (IE-01)

SECY CRC-97 0259 I

, Docket Nos. 50 295: 50 304

i L. J. Callan, EDO l H. L. Thompson, DEDR '

1 E. R. Jorden, DEDO i

, P. G. Norry, DEDM -

S. J. Collins, NRR .

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Additionally, the NRC continues to evaluate whether further :0gulatory action is necessary to ensure public health and safety.

4 i assure you that the NRC is taking significant actions that we believe are necessary to 4

ensure performance problems at Comed's Zion plant are resolved. I appreciate your 1

interest in this matter and trust this response addresses your concerns, i

Sincerely, i

A. Bill Beach l Regional Administrator 4

! cc: EDO 970193 l

4 EDO Reading File

, Public (IE-01)

SECY CRC-97-0259 l l Docket Nos. 50-295; 50-304 '

1 L. J. Callan, EDO l H. L. Thompson, DEDR j E. R. Jordan, DEDO P. G. Norry, DEDM S. J. Collins, NRR C. Pederson, Rlli J. Caldwell, Rlli G. Grant, Rill SRI, Byron, Braidwood, Zion A:\G970193 1 DOCUWNT NAM: A:\G970193 i To recove a copy of this document, indcate in the box *C" = $9py without ottach/enci *E" = Copy wtth attach /enci *N" = No copy l OPPICE NfWI , full EDO CHAlfNAN

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DATE 4///97 {4l7d k 4/l/97 4/ 19 7 4/ 197

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