ML20147C198
| ML20147C198 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 01/27/1997 |
| From: | Thompson H NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Flanagan D Maine Yankee |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9702050408 | |
| Download: ML20147C198 (3) | |
Text
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4 UNITED STATES g
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 2066H001
.....,o January 27, 1997 Mr. David Flanagan Chairman of the Board Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company 329 Bath Road Brunswick, ME 04011
Dear Mr. Flanagan:
On January 14, 15, and 17, 1997, NRC senior managers met to evaluate the nuclear safety performance of operating reactors, fuel facilities, and other i
materials licensees.
The NRC conducts this meeting semiannually to determine 2
if the safety performance of various licensees exhibits sufficient weaknesses to warrant increased NRC attention. At the January 1997 Senior Management Meeting, the Maine Yankee facility was discussed.
The Maine Yankee facility was designated as a Category 2 plant.
Plants in this category have been identified as having weaknesses that warrant increased NRC attention until the licensee demonstrates a period of improved i
performance. A summary of NRC discussions related to Maine Yankee follows:
Over the past year, a number of significant deficiencies in engineering j
design to support operations at the Maine Yankee facility came to light.
Agency understanding of these deficiencies w>s developed largely by an independent safety assessment team (ISAT) which conducted a review j
during the latter half of 1996.
l Strengths were noted in some aspects of operations such as handling of 4
routine and transient operating conditions and shift turnovers.
Station staff was determined to be knowledgeable. The ISAT found a mixed picture regarding the use of analytical codes.
Frequently used analyses were excellent but weaknesses were found in others.
A number of significant weaknesses in equipment monitoring, testing, 4
engineering and licensing support were discovered. The capability of several safety systems was called into question, particularly for operation at power levels above 2440 MWt. Coupled with questions about design margins on some systems were weaknesses in the testing of plant equipment and material condition deficiencies.
These problems revealed broader weaknesses in the area of engineering support which is provided by the combination of Maine Yankee and Yankee Atomic staffs. More fundamentally, the lack of questioning attitudes was prevalent at the C=D station which resulted in the ineffective handling of a number of E
licensing and safety issues.
The ISAT determined that an additional root cause of problems observed was economic pressures to contain costs at the station.
Since completion of the ISAT, additional examples of design issues have been identified by Maine Yankee in following up on ISAT findings.
Plant configuration problems have been identified; failure to provide adequate 10 gg2oggg $$
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]7 David Flanagan 2
cable separation on several systems resulted in shutdown of the facility in December, 1996. An NRC Confirmatory Action Letter was issued at that time stipulating actions required prior to startup.
Maine Yankee has developed a plan and initiated steps to correct problems. These include committing additional funds and hiring of new staff principally in engineering, maintenance and radiological controls.
An agreement is under development with Entergy Corporation to tap outside management expertise in operation of the facility.
Much remains to be done, however. The senior managers determined that increased agency attention is needed to monitor your improvement efforts. As a consequence, Maine Yankee has been designated as a Category 2 facility.
An NRC Consission meeting, open to the public, has been scheduled to be held in the Commissioners' Conference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on January 29, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. to review the results of the latest meeting of NRC senior managers. Mr. Hubert Miller, The Region I Regional Administrator, has discussed the bases for our conclusions with regard to Maine Yankee with members of your staff.
i If you have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely, i
27CQ:rjb D' % Ti.c:;.;=y:t,,,
Hugh L. Thompson, Jr.
Acting Executive Director for Operations Docket No.: 50-309 cc: See ned page DISTRIBUTION: See attached pr.de DOCUMENT NAME: MY197.LTR
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE To seceive a copy of this document,indicane in the box: 'C' = Copy wiebout sanchment/ enclosure *E' = Copy with attachment / enclosure 'N' = No copy 0FFICE Reg Admin;RLK DD:NRR l
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ED0 A/C ll NAME HJMiller W 7, k ACThadani*
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l DATE 01//7/97 r % @ 01/23/97 01/23/97 01/27/97 l
f 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
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DISTRIBUTION:
for letter to D. Flanagan (MAINE YANKEE)
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