ML20197B413
| ML20197B413 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/18/1997 |
| From: | Martin T NRC OFFICE FOR ANALYSIS & EVALUATION OF OPERATIONAL DATA (AEOD) |
| To: | Hastie W INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9712230372 | |
| Download: ML20197B413 (4) | |
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% 2 WAsmHGToN, D.C. 20$$M001 R *****l: December 18, 1997 Mr. William J. Hastie, Director Govemnant Relations Division Institute for Nuclear Power Operations 700 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339-5957
SUBJECT:
AVAILABILITY OF WANO INDICATORS FOR USE BY NRC
Dear Mr. Hastie:
On November 24,1997, members of my staff visited the offices of the institute for Nuclers Power Operations (INPO)in Atlanta to receive a briefing on the World Association nf Nuclear Operators (WANO) indicators. The visit was motivated in part by a request from the Commission to examine these indicators and the overall INPO Performance Indicator Index for possible use by the NRC staff. In addition, we were responding to INPO comments at the September 11,1997, INPOINRC senior management meeting. At that meeting, INPO managers polr .ed out that the WANO indicators are used by nuclear units throughout the world, and urged NRC to consider using them as well.
The November 24 meeting was very informative. My staff was briefed on the detailed definitions of, and data inputs for, all ten indicators. We were also shown the method for calet.,lating the INPO Performance Indicator Index. The indicators and index have some interesting characteristics, including the fact that they cover a broad scope of plant operadons.
The NRC staff would like to explore the possibility of gaining access to the plant-specific indicators and index for the purpose of evaluating their potential for use in our performance assessment processes. We see two avenues for possible use of these data.
The first option would be to use the indicators and index as part of our program of validating and testing our present metnod of per'ormance assessment. We would conduct comparisons between historic &, WANO data and the results of our current process, snd evaluate any discrepancies to see what insights could be obtained. We would also periodically conduct comparisons with WANO results to see if the characteristics of our process are changing with time. Under this option, the WANO indicators could be supplied to tie NRC on a proprietary basis, and would not be subject to public release.
The second option would be to use then, directly in NRC's evaluative process for each nuclear plant. In this case, the irdicators would become an integral pan of our assessment process, and would be used along with our inspection and event information to make decisions on remedial actions on a plant-specific basis. The indicators and index would be key inputs to the senior managemerit meeting (SMM) process, through which the NRC selects plants for the watch list.
Indicators would be integrated into a trend plot methodology, which is used to identify plants with degrading performance and nominate them for discussion at the SMM. q/)MM 9712230372 971'18 Om F N
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F W. J. Hastle As you are aware, the NRC is currently conducting an integrated assessment of our plant performance process. One probable result of the assessment is that the information used in our process will be more readily available to the industry and the public. This would include the WANO indicators, if they become pai of the assessment process.
Bocause we would need to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of any information we use in our plant ascessment process, we intend to perform a range of statistical analyses on the data. Therefore, we are requesting access to the raw data alements from each plant, in addition to the calculated indicators.
The NRC staff believes there are mignificant benefits to be derived from making the WANO indicators available for use by the NRC. Use of the best available safsty information in NRC's evaluation process will promote public health and safety by helping to identify performance degradation before it represents a safety problem. In addition, the use of a consistent set of indicators with well-understood standards and thresholds will foster consistency in NRC actions, and will help to prevent the tendency toward an increasing standard of excellence in operational performance. Finally, licensees would be better able to track their own performance, anticipate problems, ano initiate remedial actions in advance of NRC involvement.
We ree'gnize that this request will require modification to the NRC/lNPO Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ! would appreciate your views on how that can be accomplished.
Sincerely, onginaisignedby ThorrasT. Martin Thomas T. Martin, Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data DISTRIBUTION:
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W. J. Hastie Because we would need to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of any information we use in our plart assessment process, we Intend to perform a range of statistical analyses on the data. Therefore, we are requesting access to the raw data elements from each plant, in addition to the calculated indicators.
The NRC staff believes there are significant benefits to be derived from makirig the WANO indicators available for use by the NRC. Use of the best available safety information in NRC's evaluation process will promote public health and safety by helping to identify performance degradation before it repr%cnts a safety problem. In addition, the use of a consistent set of indicators with well-understaod standards and thresholds will foster consistency in NRC actions, and will help to prevent the tendency toward an increasing standard of excellence in operational performance. Finally, licensees would be better able to track their own performance, anticipate problems, and initi ate remedial actions in advance of NRC involvement.
We recognize that this request will require modification to the NRC/INPO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). I would appreciate your views on how that can be accomplished.
Sincerely, Thomas T. Martin, Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data DISTRIBUTION:
File Center /NUDOCS Public AEOD R/F IRD R/F ER R/F AThadani JRosenthat PBaranawsky RBorchardt SMayr DHickman TWolf DISK / DOCUMENT NAM To reewve a copy of this daev%jy eht, ind]cate in the a:\barrettthastie bor C" = Copy w/o attachment, "E" 3 Copy w/ attachment, "N" = No copy OFC IRD:AEOh RD:AEOD M D:SPD:AEOD E D:NRR D:AEOD NAME RJBak FJCongel W_ CERosW./L SJCollins TTMartin DATE 12/f 12f7/97 12 6797 12/ /97 12/ /97 gy OFFl01AL RECORD COPY E
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W. J. Hastie -2 As you are aware, the NRC is currently conducting an integrated assessment of our plant performance process. One probable result of the assessment is that the information used in our process will be more readily available to the industry and the public. This would include the WANO indicators,if they become part of the assessment process.
Because we would need to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of any information we use in our plant assessment precess, we intend to perform a range of statistical analyses on the data. Therefore, we are requesting access to the raw data elements from each plant, in addition to the calculated indicators.
The NRC staff believes there are significant benefits to be derived from making the WANO indicators available for use by the NRC. Use of the best available safety information in NRC's evaluation process will promote public health and safety by helping to identify performance degradation before it represents a safety problem. In addition, the use of a consistent set of ino;cators with well-understood standards and thresholos will fester consistency in NRC actions, and will help to prevent the tendency toward an increasing standard of excellence in operational performance. Finally, licensees would be better able to track their own performance, anticipate problems ad initiate remedial actions in advance of NRC involvement.
We recognize that this request will require modification to the NRC/lNPO Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). I would appreciate your views on how that can be accomplished.
Sincerely,
,e& N Themas T. Martin, Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data