ML20197F273

Forwards Systematic Assessment of License Performance Repts 50-498/97-99 & 50-499/97-99 for Period 960324-971115

ML20197F273
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	12/22/1997
From:	Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Cottle W HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20197F278	List: ML20197F273 ML20197H642
References
NUDOCS 9712300173
Download: ML20197F273 (6)

See also: IR 05000498/1997099

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H EClON IV

E11 R Y AN PL ATA DRIVE SUIT E 400

't. , 8 A84 LINGtON. T E x AS 76011 8064

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DEC 2 21997

. William T. Cottle, President

and Chief Executive Officer

STP Nuclear Operating Company

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

SUBJECT: SYSTEMATIC ASSESSMENT OF LICENSEE PERFORMANCE (SALP)

REPORT 50-498/97-99; 50-499/97 99

Dear Mr. Cottle:

- The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed the SALP for the South Texas -

Project Electric Generating Station. The facility was assessed for the period of March 24,1996,

through November 15,1997. The results of the assessment are documented in the enclosed

report. A public meeting to discuss this report with you and your staff has been scheduled for

1 p.m. (CST) on January 12,1998, at the Nuclear Support Center auditorium at the South Texas

Project Electric Generating Station. During this rr seting you are er suraged and expected to

candidly comment on our report. Although this nu eting is a forum tutween STP Nucicar

Operating Company and the NRC, it will be open to observation by members of the public and

other interested parties.

in accordance with NRC policy, I have reviewed the recommendations of the SALP Board and

concur with the ratings and the views. Plant performance was assessed in four functional areas:

Plant Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Plant Support. Performance in the areas of

Maintenance and Plant Support continued to reflect superior safety performance and were rated

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Category 1. The functioral area of Engineering was rated Category 2, indicating continued good

safety performance.

Overall performance in the Plant Operations area improved and attained the superior rating of

Category 1. Management support of operational activities was evident at alllevels. Additionally,

a strong sense of teamwork permeated the organization. Supervision, communications,

coordination of operational activities across the organization, alarm response, and

implementation of emergency procedures were all strengths.

Outage planning and execution were considered notable strengths at the facility. Successful

outages and effective routine maintenance activities have resulted in superior material condition

at the plant.

Performance in the Engineering functional area reflected overall very good safety performance.

Engineering support to other organizations was generally of high quality, with continued strong

performance of systems engineering in support of operations and maintenance. The past

emphasis on the use of probabilistic risk assessment insights in plant operation and I

maintenance, and effective training for engineering staff continued. However, management ,

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attention was needed to obtain timely corrective action for setpoint problems, to focus the proper

attention on control of calculations, and to assure that design engineering condition reports

related to calculation deficiencies were correctly classified at the appropriate condition adverse

to quality threshold.

The continued superior performance in the emergency preparedness area was viewed as an

indicator of the commitment to excellence and strong teamwork demonstrated by the entire

organization at the South Texas Project. This was also observed in management's continued

emphasis on upgrading security programs and equipment, Jemonstrating a high level

commitment to maintaining the superior performance in the security area.

With the exception of the problems in design engineering NRC findings indicate a high level of

self identification and correction of problems across the organization. A strong corrective action

program was in piace and functioning well.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of

I-ederal Regulations, a copy c' this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public

Document Room.

Should you have any quections or comments, we will be pleased to discuss them with you.

While no written response is required to the SALP report, if you wish, you may provide written

comments within 30 days of the public meeting.

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Sincerely,

h'

Ellis W. Merse

Regional Adm istrator

Docket Nos.: 50-498

50-499

License Nos.: NPF-76

NPF-80

Enclosure:

NRC SALP Report

50-498/97-99;50-499/97 99

cc w/ enclosure:

Lawrence E. Martin, General Manager

Nuclear Assurance & Licensing

STP Nuclear Operating Company

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

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STP Nuclear Operating Company -3-

. Mr. J. C. Lanier/Mr. M. B. Lee

City of Austin

Electric Utility Department

721 Barton Springs Road

Austin, Texas 78704-

Mr. K. J. Fiedler/Mr. M. T. Hardt

City Public Service Board

P.O. Box 1771

San Antonio, Texas -78296

Jack R. Newman, Esq.

Morgan, Lewis & Bocklus

- 1800 M. Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036-5869

Mr. G. E. Vaughn/Mr. C. A. Johnson

Central Power & Light Company

P.O. Box 289

Mail Code: N5012

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

INPO

Records Center

700 Galleria Parkway

. Atlanta, Georgia 30339-5957

Dr. Bertram Wolfe

15463 Via Vaquero

Monte Sereno, California 95030

Bureau of Radiation Control

State of Texas

-1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

Mr. Glenn W. Dishong

Texas Public Utility Commission

7800 Shoal Creek Blvd.

Suite 400N

Austin, Texas 78757-1024

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John Howard Drector!

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. Environmental and Natural "esources Policy 1

Office of the Governor!

P.O. Box 12428

Austin, Texas'78711

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Judge, Matagorda County.

Matagorda County Courthouse.

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1700 Seventh Street : j

Bay City, Texas 77414-

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Lk.ensing Representative .i

STP Nuclear Operating Company "_ _

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Suite 610

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Rufus S. M, Associate '

General Counsel-

l STP Nuclear Operating Company  :

P.O. Box 61867

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= Houston, Texas 77208 - i

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F Joseph R. Egan, Esq.

. . Egan & Associates, P.C.

2300 N Street, N.W.

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Washington, D.CL 20037-

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Texas Public Utility Commission

ATTN: Mr. Chet Oberg

7800 Shoal Creek Blvd.

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E-Mail report to T. Frye (TJF)

E-Mail report to T. Hiltz (TGH) - ,

E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)

E Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)  !

E Mail report to Richard Correia (RPC)

E-Mail report to Frank Talbot (FXT)

bec to DCD (IE40)

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bec distrib, by RIV:

E. W. Merschoff, Regional Administrator Resident inspector

J. E. Dyer, Deputy Regional Administrator Branch Chief (DRP/TSS) ,

T. P. Gwynn, Director, DRP Records Center, INPO

J. l. Tapia, Branch Chief Branch A, DRP MIS System

Kopriva, Sr. Project Engineer, Branch A, DRP RIV File

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The Chairman (MS: 16-G-15) R. Bachmann, OGC (MS: 15-B 18)

Commissioner Dieus B. Henderson, PAO

Commissioner Diaz DRP

Commissioner McGaffigan SRis at all RIV sites

L._J. Callan, EDO (MS: 17-G-21) B. Murray, DRS/PSB

Associate Dir. for Projects, NRR C. A. Hackney

Associate Dir. for Insp., and Tech. Assmt, NRR Carol Gordon

SALP Program Manager, NRR/lLPB (2 copies)

- J. N. Hannon, Project Director, NRR (MS: 13 D18)

T. Alexion, Project Manager, NRR (MS: 13 H3)

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DOCUMENT NAME: R:\,,STP\ST799SF.DPL

To receive copy of document. Indicate in box: "c" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy

RIV: SRI E RIV:C:DRP/A E DD:DRS E- D:PD:NRR E D:DRP E

DPLoveless' JITapia * DDChamberlain' JNHannor(f7 TPGwynn (// [

12/3/97 (T) , 12/2/97 12/5/97 (T) 12/ .5~/97 12/ 1/97

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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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E Mail report to T. Hiltz (rGH)

E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)

E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)

E-Mail report to Richard Correia (RPC)

E-Mail report to Frank Talbot (FXT).

bec to DCD (IE40)-

bec distrib by RIV:-

. E. W. Merschoff, Regional Administrator Resident inspector

J. E. Dyer, Deputy Regional Administrator  : Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)

T, P. Gwynn, Director, DRP.- _ Records Center, INPO

E J. l. Tapia, Branch Chief, Branch A, DRP MIS System

Kopriva, Sr. Project Engineer, Branch A, DRP RIV File:

- The Chairman (MS: 16-G 15) R. Bachmann, OGC (MS: 15-B 18)

Commissioner Dieus L B. Henderson, PAO

~ Commissioner Diaz DRP

Commissioner McGaffigan SRis at all RIV sites

L. J, Callan, EDO (MS: _17-G-21). B. Murray, DRS/PSB

- Associate Dir, for Projects, NRR .

C. A. Hackney

Assriate Dir, for insp., and Tech. Assmt, NRR Carol Gordon

-

SALP Program Manager,- NRR/lLPB (2 copies)

- J. N. Hannon, Project Director, NRR (MS:113 D18)

T, Alexion, Project Manager, NRR (MS: 13 H3)

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DOCUMENT _ NAME: R:(STP\ST799SF.DPL

To receive copy of document, indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy

RIV: SRI E RIV:C:DRP/A E- DD:DRS E D:PD:NRR E D:DRP E

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