ML20147B732
| ML20147B732 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 01/24/1997 |
| From: | Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Fenech R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20147B737 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9702030140 | |
| Download: ML20147B732 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000255/1996001
Text
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January 24,1997
Robert A. Fenech
Vice President, Nuclear Operations
Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway
Covert, MI 49043-9530
Dear Mr. Fenech:
l
Enclosed for your review is the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance
'
(SALP) 14 Report for the Palisades Nuclear Plant, covering the period May 28,1995,
through November 23,1996. This report will be discussed with you at a public meeting
to be held at Lake Michigan College on February 7,1997, at 10 a.m EST.
During this meeting you are encouraged to candidly discuss any comments you may have
regarding our report.
In accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) policy, I have reviewed the
recommendations resulting from the SALP Board assessment and concur with their ratings.
It is my view that the conduct of nuclear activities in connection with the Palisades nuclear
facility was good during the period. The functional areas rated in this assessment were
operations, maintenance, engineering, and plant support. All functional areas were rated
as Category 2, unchanged from the previous assessment. In the previous SALP
assessment, we concluded that performance in operations and engineering had improved
notably, initiatives to further improve performance in all areas were evident in this period
as well. However, the rate of performance improvement lessened considerably,
particularly in the area of plant operations.
Several initiatives were taken to improve operator communication, supervision, and
physical facilities. However, while no significant plant transients occurred due to operator
error, these initiatives were diminished by periodic examples of errors caused by
insufficient formality, lack of questioning attitude, or poor individual performance. These
weaknesses were noted in the last SALP period and have persisted despite the initiatives
taken. Maintenance and engineering planning processes were sound and reduced
backlogs. In particular, the 13 week planning cycle was effective. However, a number of
plant equipment issues and their attendant corrective actions were not aggressively
identified and resolved. Examples include inadequate preventative maintenance for molded
case circuit breakers and the over reliance on short term firewatches as a remedy for
Appendix R deficiencies. Radiation protection performance was good, however,
scheduling problems prior to the refueling outage resulted in an increase in dose expended.
,
4
9702030140 970124
ADOCK 05000255
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.,
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R. A. Fenech
-2-
in summary, while Palisades' overall performance was good in all functional areas,
persistent personnel errors and lack of aggressive and effective corrective action continued
to occur. These weaknesses continue to inhibit further improvements at Palisades and
require your continued attention.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code
l
of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the SALP report will be placed in the
l
NRC's Public Document Room.
l
!
i
Should you have any questions concerning the SALP Report, we would be pleased to
discuss them with you. While no written response is required, if you wish, you may
provide written comments within 30 days of the SALP meeting.
i
Sincerely,
A. Bill Beach
Regional Administrator
!
Docket No. 50-255
Enclosuce: SALP 14
Report No. 50-255/96001
cc w/ encl:
l
Mr. T. Palmisano, General Manager
l
Thomas C. Bordine, Manager, Licensing Dept.
l
James R. Padgett, Michigan Public
Service Commission
Michigan Department of
Public Health
l
l
Department of Attomey General (MI)
(See continued distribution _1
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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
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R. A. Fenech
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Continued Distribution
'
.
Chairman Jackson
Commissioner Rogers
'
Commissioner Dicus
Commissioner Diaz
Commissioner McGaffigan
l
OEDO
'
J. Lieberman, Director, Office of Enforcement
4
F. J. Miraglia Jr., Acting Director, NRR
R. Zimmerman, Associate Director for Projects, NRR
A. C. Thadani, Acting Deputy Director, NRR
J. W. Roe, Director, Division of Reactor Projects Ill/IV. NRR
J. N. Hannon, Director, Project Directorate lil-1, NRR
i
4
Bob Schaff, Palisades Project Manager,
D. L. Gambeconi, SALP Program Manager, NRR (2 copies)
DRP Division Oirectors, All Regions
M. N. Leach, i11ll
j
L. Cox, Rlli
TSS, Rlli
Docket File w/enci
PUBLIC IE-01 w/ encl
DRP w/enci
OC/LFDCB w/enci
G. E. Grant, Rill w/ encl
SRI Palisades, Big Rock w/enct
Project Manager, NRR w/enci
,
A. B. Beach, w/enci
Enf Coordinator, w/enci
,
W. L. Axelson, w/enci
CAA1 w/enci (E-mail)
DRS (3) w/enci
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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REGION 111
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801 WARRENVILLE ROAD
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USLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4351
.....
,
January 24,1997
,
l.
l
9
l
Robert A. Fenech
!.
Vice President, Nuclear Operations
Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway
Covert, MI 49043'-9530
.
,
Dear Mr. Fenech:
1
I
l
Enclosed for your review is the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance
(SALP) 14 Report for the Palisades Nuclear Plant, covering the period May 28,1995,
{
through November 23,1996. This report will be discussed with you at a public meeting
to be held at Lake Michigan College on February 7,1997, at 10 a.m EST.
'
l
During this meeting you are encouraged to candidly discuss any comments you may have
regarding our report.
In accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) policy, I have reviewed the
recommendations resulting from the SALP Board assessment and concur with their ratings.
l
It is my view that the conduct of nuclear activities in connection with the Palisades nuclear
'
facility was good during the period. The functional areas rated in this assessment were
operations, maintenance, engineering, and plant' support. All functional areas were rated
as Category 2, unchanged from the previous assessment. In the previous SALP
assessment, we concluded that performance in operations and engineering had improved
notably. Initiatives to further improve performance in all areas were evident in this period
as well. However, the rate of performance improvement lessened considerably,
!
particularly in the area of plant operations.
1
Several initiatives were taken to improve operator communication, supervision, and
l
physical facilities. However, while no significant plant transients occurred due to operator
error, these initiatives were diminished by periodic examples of errors caused by
_
insufficient formality, lack of questioning attitude, or poor individual performance. These
weaknesses were noted in the last SALP period and have persisted despite the initiatives
taken. Maintenance and engineering planning processes were sound and reduced
backlogs. In particular, the 13 week planning cycle was effective. However, a number of
plant equipment issues and the!r attendant corrective actions were not aggressively
identified and resolved. Examples include inadequate preventative maintenance for molded
case circuit breakers and the over reliance on short term firewatches as a remedy for
Appendix R deficiencies. Radiation protection performance was good, however,
,
scheduling problems prior to the refueling outage resulted in an increase in dose expended.
,
,
i
.
_-
_.
- . _ .
.
.
. _. ~. .- ~.-
-.-
--
-
.
_ .
..
.
,
.
,
R. A. Fenech
-2-
In summary, while Palisades' overall performance was good in all functional areas,
,
persistent personnel errors and lack of aggressive and effective corrective action continued
l
to occur. These weaknesses continue to inhibit further improvements at Palisades and
require your continued attention.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code
of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the SALP report will be placed in the
!
NRC's Public Document Room.
i
Should you have any questions concerning the SALP Report, we would be pleased to
l
discuss them with you. While no written response is required, if you wish, you may
provide written comments within 30 days of tl.a SALP meeting.
Sincerely,
)
(
acc 4.)
ou
A. Bill Beach
Regional Administrator
Docket No. 50-255
Enclosure: SALP 14
i
Repod No. 50-255/96001
cc w/ encl:
Mr. T. Palmisano, General Manager
Thomas C. Bordine, Manager, Licensing Dept.
James R. Padgett, Michigan Public
Service Commission
Michigan Department of
Public Health
Department of Attorney General (MI)
Chairman Jackson
Commissioner Rogers
Commissioner Dicus
Commissioner Diaz
Commissioner McGaffigan
OEDO
.
J. Lieberman, Director, Office of Enforcement
F. J. Miraglia Jr., Acting Director, NRR
(See continued distribution)
l
l
!
.
.
R. A. Fenech
-3-
Distribution continued
R. Zimmerman, Associate Director for Projects, NRR
A. C. Thadani, Acting Deputy Director, NRR
J. W. Roe, Director, Division of Reactor Projects lil/IV, NRR
J. N. Hannon, Director, Project Directorate 111-1, NRR
Bob Schaff, Palisades Project Manager,
D. L. Gamberoni, SALP Program Manager, NRR (2 copies)
DRP Division Directors, All Regions
M. N. Leach, Rlli
L. Cox, Rill
TSS, Rlli
l
J