ML20138G348

Responds to Re Declining Performance Trend at Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Two Rivers,Wi

ML20138G348
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	04/30/1997
From:	Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Feingold R SENATE
Shared Package
ML20138G352	List: ML20138G348 ML20138G373
References
NUDOCS 9705060268
Download: ML20138G348 (11)

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April 30, 1997 The Honorable Russell D. Feingold United States Senator 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue. Room 408 Milwaukee, WI 53202 j

Dear Senator Feingold:

In response to your letter of April 2.1997, the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) project manager for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant.

Ms. Linda Gundrum, contacted your office.

With the agreement of your staff, she subsequently contacted Mrs. Winifred Spring.

Mrs. Spring had written to you after she received a letter dated January 31. 1997, from j

Wisconsin Electric Power Ccopry (WEPCO) that notified its customers of its j

plans for addressing the declining performance trend the NRC had noted at Point Beach. Mrs. Spring was concerned that the plant was not well run, as evidenced by several newspa)er articles she enclosed: that the dry casks storing fuel could be attacced by vandals: that issues concerning long-term storage of the radioactive waste were not decided: and that WEPC0 was not actively involved with alternate energy sources.

Hs. Gundrum informed Mrs. Spring of the security provisions involved in dry cask storage, and Mrs. Spring seemed satisfied on this issue. Ms. Gundrum also informed Mrs. Spring that the provisions for handling long-term storage of radioactive waste are currently being considered by Congress and that the Point Beach independent spent fuel storage facility was safe.

The need to alan for use of alternate energy sources is not within the purview of t1e NRC.

Mrs. Spring thought that as a Government agency. NRC should require such planning. Ms. Gundrum aointed out that the Department of Energy is more actively involved in esta]lishing the Nation's goals for diverse electrical power sources.

Mrs. Spring also raised the possibility of holding meetings between WEPC0 and NRC so that interested individuals could ask questions regarding WEPC0's aerformance at Point Beach.

Ms. Gundrum informed her that as part of the NRC's oversight, we have conducted a number of public meetings with Point Beach, alternating between meetings near the site and at the NRC l

regional office in Lisle. Illinois.

The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the progress WEPC0 is making toward improving performance at Point Beach. These meetings have been conducted approximately every other week j

and have been attended by a number of local residents.

Mrs. Spring was aware of the public meeting held last week in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, but was unable to attend.

No items were left open at the end of the call.

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The Honorable Russell D. Feingold.

l The NRC is confident that the health and safety of the public is not i

compromised by the Point Beach plant even though the NRC staff has identified weakness in the performance of the plant. A number of significant safety issues were identified in 1996 at Point Beach. On the basis of the declining performance trend at Point Beach during 1996 and the consequences of further decline. NRC senior management issued a letter to the licensee for Point Beach that requested the plant to take action to address the negative performance trend. Additionally, the NRC established a dedicated oversight team to closely monitor the licensee's improvement efforts.

In response to NRC concerns, the licensee committed to a large number of significant corrective actions to address identified issues and to assess performance in all areas before restart of Unit 2, which had been shut down for refueling and steam generator replacement.

In addition, the licensee voluntarily shut down Unit 1 to focus on addressing performance issues and restarting Unit 2.

i Over the last 4 months the licensee has acknowledged many performance weaknesses and has committed substantial resources to addressing these safety issues. We have recently seen improvements in a number of areas and i

will continue to closely monitor the licensee's progress as the plant moves to restart both units in the future.

If your staff has additional questions, they may contact Ms. Gundrum at (301) 415-1380.

Sincerely, VW L Joseph Ca an xecutive D' ecto for Operations 9

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The Honorable Russell D. Feingold The NRC is confident that the health and safety of the public is not compromised by the Point Beach plant even though the NRC staff has-identified weakness in the performance of the plant. A number of significant safety issues were identified in 1996 at Point Beach. On the basis of the declining performance trend at Point Beach during 1996 and the consequences of further decline. NRC senior management issued a letter to the licensee for Point Beach that requested the plant to take action to address the negative performance trend. Additionally, the NRC established a dedicated oversight team to closely monitor the licensee's improvement efforts.

In response to NRC concerns, the licensee committed to a large number of significant corrective actions to address identified issues and to assess performance in all areas before restart of Unit 2. which had been shut down for refueling and steam generator replacement.

In addition, the licensee voluntarily shut down Unit 1 to focus on addressing performance issues and restarting Unit 2.

Over the last 4 months the licensee has acknowledged many performance weaknesses and has committed substantial resources to addressing these safety issues. We have recently seen improvements in a number of areas and will continue to closely monitor the licensee's progress as the plant moves to restart both units in the future.

If your staff has additionas questions, they may contact Ms. Gundrum at (301) 415-1380.

Sincerely.

Original Signedby Hugh L. Thompson,Jr. SoR L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations J

The Honorable Russell D. Feingold 4 The NRC is confident that the health and safety of the public is no compromised by the Point Beach plant even though the NRC staff has identified weakness in the performance of the plant. A number o /

significant safety issues were identified in 1996 at Point Bea On the basis of the declining performance trend at Point Beach durin 1996 and the consequences of further decline. NRC senior management issu a letter to the licensee for Point Beach that requested the plant to t e action to address the negative performance trend. Additionally, t NRC established a dedicated oversight team to closely monitor the licen e's improvement efforts.

In response to NRC concerns, the licensee co nitted to a large number of significant corrective actions to address i entified issues and to assess performance in all areas before restart o Unit 2, which had been shut down for refueling and steam generator replac ent.

In addition, the licensee voluntarily shut down Unit 1 to focus o addressing performance issues and restarting Unit 2.

Over the last 4 months the licensee has ackn edged many performance weaknesses and has committed substantial res rces to addressing these safety issues. We have recently seen impro ements in a number of areas and will continue to closely monitor the licen ee's progress as the plant moves 4

to restart both units in the future.

If ou have additional questions, please contact Ms. Gundrum ai. (301) 415-380.

Si cerely, L. Joseph Callan i

Executive Director for Operations I

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Distribution for Ltr to Senator Feingold dated:

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The Honorable.Rusgil D. Feingold.

4 Mrs. Spring also raised the possibility of holding meetings between WEPC0 l

and NRC so that interested individuals could ask questions regarding WEPCO's performance at Point Beach. Ms. Gundrum informed her that as part of the NRC's oversight, we have conducted a number of public meetings with Point Beach, alternating between meetings near the site and at the NRC regionalgoffice in Lisle, Illinois.

The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the progress WEPC0 is making toward improving performance at Point i

Beach. These meetings have been conducted approximately every other week

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and have b4en attended by a number of local residents. Mrs. Spring was aware of the,public meeting held last week in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, but l1 was unable to, attend.

No items were left open at the end of the call.

A number of significant safety issues were identified in 1996 at Point Beach. On the basis of the declining performance trend at Point Beach during 1996 and the consequences of further decline, NRC senior management issued a letter to\\the licensee for Point Beach that requested the plant to 2

take action to address the negative performance trend. Additionally, the NRC astablished a dedi.cated oversight team to closely monitor the licensee's improvement \\ efforts.

In response to NRC concerns, the licensee committed to a large numb,er of significant corrective actions to address identified issues and to aqsess performance in all areas before restart of Unit 2, which had been shut \\down for refueling and steam generator replacement.

In addition, the licensee voluntarily shut down Unit I to focus on addressing performanbe issues and restarting Unit 2.

l Although the licensee was initially slow to accept and aggressively address

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performance issues, over the last 4 months the licensee has acknowledged many performance weaknesses and has committed substantial resources to s

addressing these safety issues.

We have recently seen improvements in a j

number of areas and will continue to blosely monitor the licensee's progress as the plant moves to restart \\both units in the future.

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have additional questions, please conta'ct Ms. Gundrum at (301) 415-1380.

Sinc ely, e

1 L. Joseph gllan 3

Executive Digector 1

i for Operations i

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Mrs/SpringalskraisedthepossibilityofholdingmeetingsbetweenWEPC0

'and:NRC so thatlinterested individuals could ask questions regarding WEPCO 4

performance at Point' Beach'."'Ms. Gundrum informed her that, as part of the l

NRC's oversight,' we have conducted a number of public meetings with Point Beach, alternating'between, meetings near the site and at the NRC regional office in Lisle,illlinois. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the progress WEPC0 is making at improving performance at Point Beach. These meetings have been conducted approximately every other week and have been l

attended by;a, number of local residents. Mrs. Spring was aware of the i

public meeting held last week in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, but was unable to i

attend.

No items were left open at the end of the call.

A number of significant safety issues were identified in 1996 at Point Beach.. Significant further erosion in licensee performance would hav i-resulted in Point Beach being placed on the NRC's " problem plant lis ".

Plants on this list are of the most significant regulatory concern nd warrant extremely high levels of NRC and licensee management atte ion i

(often-for protracted periods of time) in order to bring about cessary l.

major improvements in plant safety performance.

i Based upon the declining performance trend at Point Beach d ing'1996 and the consequences of further decline, NRC senior managemen issued a letter to Point Beach that requested the plant to take actions address the i

negative performance trend -- before performance deteri rated to the level l

that warranted inclusion of Point Beach on the "probl plant list".

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Additionally, the NRC established a dedicated oversi t team to closely monitor Point Beach's improvement efforts.

In res nse to NRC concerns, a

Point Beach committed to a large number of signif cant corrective actions i

to address identified issues and to assess perf mance in all areas prior to restart of Unit 2 which had been shutdown f r refueling and steam generator replacement.

In addition, Point B ch voluntarily shut down 4

s Unit I to focus on addressing performance i sues and' restarting Unit 2.

l Although Point Beach was initially slow accept and aggressively address performance issues. Over the last four nths Point Beach has acknowledged many performance weaknesses and has co itted substantial resources to i

addressing these safety issues. We ve recently seen improvements in a i

number of areas.and will continue t closely monitor Point Beach's progress as the plant moves ~to restart both nits in.the future.

If you have additional questions, please cont et Ms. Gundrum at (301) 415-1380.

J Sincerely, 2

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'L. Joseph Callan c

Executive Director e

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Mrs.'Sprihg also ra'ised the possibi,lity of holding meetings betw n WEPC0 and NRC so that interested individuals could ask questions. Ms Gundrum informed her that'NRC does-hold meetings with WEPCO, and the etings are alternated between the Region.III offices and local areas

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If questions, please contact Ms. Gundrum at (301) 415 380.

Sincerely,

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L. Joseph Callan ive Director

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Exec 6) Operations for

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ACTION

'EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:

DUE: 04/24/97 EDO CONTROL: G970247 DOC DT: 04/02/97 FINAL REPLY

• Sanator Russell D. Reingold TO:

Rathbun, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF :

• • GRN CRC NO: 97-0312 EDO' DESCs ROUTING:

1 i

CONCERNS REGARDING POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT Callan i

(Winifred Spring)

Jordan Thompson Norry Blaha Burns DATE: 04/14/97 Paperiello,NMSS Beach, RIII ASSIGNED.TO:

CONTACT:

NRR Collins i

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

s Rsply to Milwaukee Office.

NRR RECEIVED:

APRIL 14,1997 su\\

NRR ACTION:

DRPW:R0E cl0M

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COLLINS ggE T0 bm.g 9'gEC10 g s C Ec MIRAGLIA THADANI t4 N

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PAPER NUMBER:

CRC-97-0312 LOGGING DATE: Apr 10 97 I

ACTION OFFICE:

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' AUTHOR:

RUSSELL FEINGOLD L

AFFILIATION:

U.S.

SENATE ADDRESSEE:

RATHBUN LETTER DATE:

Apr 2 97 FILE CODE:-IDR-5 POINT BEACH l

SUBJECT:

POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT l.

.' ACTION:

Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:

CHAIRMAN SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA TO ACK CONSTITUENT:

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AS DATE DUE:

Apr M 97

' SIGNATURE:

DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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