ML20197C219

Provides Guidance Re Implementation of Augmented Insp Coverage During Startup of Plants That Have Been Shut Down for Extended Periods to Correct Performance Deficiencies or to Conduct Major Repairs or Mods

ML20197C219
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse, Fermi, Sequoyah, Three Mile Island, San Onofre, Rancho Seco, 05000000
Issue date:	10/31/1986
From:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:	Grace J, James Keppler, Murley T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
References
NUDOCS 8611060007
Download: ML20197C219 (4)

Text

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& *1ln UNITED STATES E i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 9 h )E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

/ October 31, 1986 VEMORANDUM FOR: Thomas E. Murley, Regional Administrator, Region I J. Nelson Grace, Regional Administrator, Region II James G. Keppler, Regional Administrator, Region III Robert D. Martin, Regional Administrator, Region IV John B. Martin, Regional Administrator, Region V FROM: James M. Taylor, Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement

SUBJECT:

AUGMENTED INSPECTION C0VERAGE DURING STARTUP AFTER EXTENDED OUTAGES FOR SELECTED FACILITIES The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance regarding the implementation of augmented inspection coverage during the startup (restart) of plants that have been shut down for extended periods to correct performance deficiencies or to conduct major repairs or modifications. This guidance is intended to be consistent with the Commission's practice of providing augmented inspection coverage at plants with identified problems so as to provide an appropriately high level of assurance, considering the problems and/or the length of the shutdown, that the licensee will operate the plant in a safe manner.

Augmented inspection coverage has been provided during the recent restarts of several plants (TMI-1, San Onofre Unit 1, and Fermi), and it is anticipated that appropriate coverage will be provided during the restarts of other plants (e.g., Davis-Besse,RanchoSeco,Sequoyah,etc.). Generallv. plants that fall into this category have developed special startup programs, often similar to initial startup. Therefore, applicable p6rtions of the Startup Testing Phase Inspection Program (MC 2514) should be implemented for these facilities. As a minimum, appropriate sections of IP 72300, Startup Test Procedure Review, IP

-72301, Startup Test Results Evaluation, and IP 72302, Startup Test Witnessing and Observation, should be implemented. Notwithstanding, the purpose of the effort is to obtain a better understanding of how the licensee is prepared to conduct routine operations. In this regard, close monitoring of individual inspector's efforts and effectiveness is warranted.

The team inspection concept has proven to be particularly well suited for augmented inspection coverage during plant startups and should be considered for use in similar efforts in the future. Previous experience has demonstrated that the effectiveness of team inspections can be greatly enhanced by ensuring:

- A multi-discipline team composition, including Resident Inspectors from other facilities, the assigned Resident Inspectors, engineering specialists, health physics inspectors, etc.

O

Regional Administrators October 31, 1986

- An onsite team leader to provide a broad, integrated review of the restart effort. The team leader should nomally be a manager at the Branch Chief level. Depending on the nature of the problems that led to the prolonged plant shutdown, and for restart of previously identified " problem" plants, a SES-level manager should be considered to provide on-site oversight and direction of team efforts.

- The integration of the restart inspection documentation into one report, preferably coordinated and scheduled such that it will be i issued in lieu of the routine Resident Inspector's report. This report should include programmatic as well as technical findings /

conclusions, and should be integrated sufficiently to present a l balanced perspective. j

- During the conduct of the team inspection, consideration should be given to the public issuance of a periodic (daily, weekly, or biweekly) status report for items of interest. Findings, conclu-sions, or judgments should be reserved for inspection reports and  ;

the status report should solely present factual data concerning  ;

plant status and occurrences (scrams, releases, etc.). At the time of the exit meeting, all pertinent findings and observations pre- ,

sented to the licensee should be documented in a PN for agency-wide l dissemination and information.

Affected licensees should be encouraged to develop a fomal restart program and schedule. This program should be sufficiently structured to include hold points at appropriate stages (such as critical 1ty) and specific milestones during ascension to full power. In selected instances, it may be appropriate to discuss with the licensee the consideration of including Regional Admini-strator authorization prior to the licensee proceeding beyond hold point (s).

In those few cases where the licensee has proposed NRC hold points, release from hold points should be documented formally to the licensee; a formal evaluation and assessment should be included for each hold point.

The Regional Office has responsibility for development of the appropriate scope and duration of the augmented inspections. The inspection plan should be compatible with the licensee's restart plan. While specific inspection plans and coverage are expected to be determined based upon the past operating record, the following elements should nomally be considered for startup inspection plans:

- Observation of the conduct of operations on all shifts and during shift change (typically for at least one to two weeks following startup).

- Evaluation of licensee reviews conducted during pre-scheduled hold points prier to mode changes or power increases.

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- Observation and evaluation of maintenance and surveillance activities and their coordination with operations on all shifts.

.~

. Regional Administrators October 31, 1986

- Observation and assessment of the level and nature of onsite involvement in daily plant activities by licensee supervisors and managers.

Augmented startup inspections require substantial staff resources over an extended period of time and can potentially impact completion of inspections at other facilities in the region. In the past, resources from headquarters and other regions have been used to help min'mize the resource impact on the region. We expect this practice to continue, with IE serving as the coordinating office.

To assist us in our further development of responsibilities for these special j inspections, copies of augmented startup inspection plans should be provided to the Director, Division of Inspection Programs, prior to their implementation.

For those plants designated previously as " problem" plants, prior to imple-mentation of the special inspection, the proposed elements of the approach must be discussed with IE at the Office Director level. Further, you should anticipate that this matter, as well as several others, will be reviewed with the Commission prior to NRC's approval for startup (restart).

If you have any questions or comments regarding this matter please contact me -

or James G. Partlow (FTS 492-4614) of my staff.

/

"d.

es I ..TM or, Director fice of Tnspection and Enforcement cc: J. Sniezek H. Denton

Regional Administrators -4_ october 31, 1986 DISTRIBUTION:

DCS DI Reading ORPB Reading

JMTaylor 4 RStarostecki JGPartlow BGrimes i ELJordan 4

JAxelrad ~

PFMcKee DWheeler JCallan DBrinkman 'g DDTS86-408 - W d ' #-

W. Brach, ED0

! WKane, Region I -

SEbneter, Region I i RWalker, Region II AGibson, Region II

CNorelius, Region III i CPaperiello, Region III EJohnson, Region IV DKirsch, Region V T. Martin, Region I PStohr, Region II JHind, Region III RBangart, Region IV RScarano, Region V r

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• For previous concurrences, see attached ORC [

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m OFC :*IE:0RPB  : *IE:0RPB :*IE.ORPB :IE: I :IE:l IR/DI :A/D .

__ ..:.___________:____________:_ __________:__ ______:.__..'________:___g/p_____::D: ___

1 NAME :DBrinkman: esp:DWheeler :PFMcKee :RL ard :JGPartlow :RW Starostecki :q M Taylor

..___:____________:____________:....________:_ ____________:____________:.__L_______

DATE :9/09/86  : 9/09/86 :9/09/86 p; '/86

_________:h/86 :10/y/86  : l} / 3 /86

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