ML20198L242
| ML20198L242 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 01/02/1998 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Haab L ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198L247 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9801150206 | |
| Download: ML20198L242 (6) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
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January 2, 1998 j
Docket No,' 50 461
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Mr. Larry Haab Chief Executive Officer Illinois Power Company 550 S. 27th Street Decatur, IL 62717
Dear Mr. Haab:
This letter forwards the Special Evaluation Team (SET) report for the Clinton Power Station (CPS).
The decline in performance of CPS became apparent to the NRC in September 1996. This trend was documented in a letter to you dated January 27,1997. At the June 1997 Senior Management Meeting, the NRC decided that CPS should remain on the list of plants with a declining performance trend and that a diagnostic assessment of CPS performance problems should be conducted. Illinois Power Company (IP) subsequently committed to conduct an Integrated Safety Assessment (ISA) of CPS performance problems. NRC accepted this commitment and initiated the SET to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the ISA.
The ISA, conducted from August through October 1997, identified significant weaknesses in operations, engineering, maintenance, and plant support. Examples of these weaknesses occurred in conduct of operations, management and supervision of operations, performance of system engineers, control and understanding of the design bases, maintenance work scheduling and work processes, and radiation protection. In addition, the ISA identified a number of weaknesses in the barrl3rs to prevent safety ptoblems that are not typical of facilities with a strong nuclear safety culture.
These weak barriers were found at alllevels of management associated with CPS and w dispersed throughout CPS's processes. The ISA determined the root causes of these weaknesses were ineffective leadership, complacency, weaknesses in the safety culture, and poor teamwork.
A principal objective of the SET was to independently assess CPS performance problems and determine the root causes. Tha team of SET evaluators, led by a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) manager, evaluated safcty activities at CPS from September 23 through October 3,1997, and October 20 through 31,1997. Findings were discussed with you at an exit meeting on December 11,1997. This exit meeting was open for public observation. The SET confirmed that the findings of the ISA accurately characterized the station's performance deficiencies and their causes. The insights provided by the ISA and SCT require prompt and well focused attention to estcblish the full extent of the current oroblem and to restore confidence in IP's ability to preclude future problems. The robust nature of the CPS design, its relatively young age end the s, U d 2 O Tra ^= **w ppppggi ggEm. enpy esottso2o6 9eotoa
Mr. Larry Haab January 2, 1998 t
limited period over which performance declined have been the major f actors which prevented significant degradation of plant equipment or en event of more serious safety consequence. This in no way diminishes the significance of the problems that have been identified or the importance of resolving those problems safely and effectively.
I note that you are developing a Plan :n Excellence to address these issues. I urge you to complete development and implementation of your plan to ensure correction of the root causes for your problems. I acknowledge that you made a strong commitment to improve CPS at the public exit meeting held at the station on December 11,1997.
It is important that you and other IP managers carefully review the enclosed report, and place special emphasis on the areas requiring additional management attention.
Following this review, I request that IP determine'the actions needed to ensure the long term resolution of CPS performance problems. I also request that IP send my office, within 60 days of the date of this letter, its plans for addressing the root causes of these problems.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790(a), a copy of this letter and the enclosure will be
. placed in the NRC Public Document Room. Should you hava any questions concerning this evaluation, we would be pleased to discuss them with you.
Sine rely, k
n seph Callan cutive Direct for Operations
Enclosure:
Special Evaluation Team Report for Clinton Power Station cc: See next page 1
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Mr. Larry Haab January 2, 1998.
limited period over which performance declined have been the major f actors which prevented significant degradatiori of plant equipment or an event of more serious safety consequence. This in no way diminishes the significance of the problems that have been identified or the importanca of resolving those problems safely and effectively, i
i note that you are developing a Plan for Excellence to address these issues. I urge you to complete development and implementation of your plan to ensure correction of the root causes for your problems. I acknowledge that you made a strong commitment to improve CPS at the public exit meeting held at the station on December 11,1997.
It is important that you and other !P managers carefully review the enclosed report, and place special emphasis on the areas requiring additional management attention.
Following this review, I request that IP determine the actions needed to ensure the long-term resolution of CPS performance problems. I also request that IP send my office, within 60 days of the date of this letter, its plans for addressing the root causes of these problems, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790(a), a copy of this letter and the enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Roorr. Should you have any questions concerning this evaluation, we would be pleased to discuss them with you.
Sincerely,
/s/
Hugh L. Thompson Jr.
L. Joseph Callan I
Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
Special Evaluation Team Report for Clinton Power Station cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
JCallan SCollins RZimmerman BBeach, RIV Docket File PUBLIC EAdensam RSavio JHopkins EBarnhill TLH3 (SE)
OGC ACRS GGrant, Rlli PD33 Reading.
Document Name: COVERLTR.K4 "See previous concurrences OFFICE LA/PD3-3 RIV ADP D/NRR EDp/(
Jdall'arh NAME EBarnhill
- BBeach
'RZimmerman
'SCollins DATE 12/ /97 12/23/97 12/23/97 1/02/98 01/2 /9 8 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Mr. Larry Haab -
January 2, 1998 limited period over which performance declined have been the major factors which prevented significant degradation of plant equipment or an event of more serious safety consequence. This in no way dimirilshes the significance of the problems that have been identified or the importance of resolving those problems safely and effectively.
I note that you are developing a Plan for Excellence to address these issues. I urge you to complete development and implementation of your plan to ensure correction of the root causes for your problems. I acknowledge that you made a strong commitment to improve CPS at the public exit meeting held at the station on December 11,1997, it is important that you and other IP managers carefully review the enclosed report, and place special emphasis on the areas requiring additional management attention.
Following this review, I request that IP determine the actions needed to ensure the long term resolution of CPS performance problems. I also request that IP send my
-office, within 60 days of the date of this letter,its plans for addressing the root causes of these problems.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790(a), a copy of this letter and the enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room. Should you have any questions concerning this evaluation, we would be pleased to discuss them with you.
Sincerely, NOTE *
/s/
Ilugh L. Thompson Jr.
b*
"I L. Joseph Callan NExecutive Director MM'M '
l
. for Operations Copies have been made for OEDO and forthose highlighted.Please make Specia E aluation Team Report for Clinton Power Station mmaining MW.
cc: See next page
- Thanks, gA.tw, OEDO, 01 io El 9 '7 DISTRIBUTION:
JCallan' SCollins RZimmerman
- BBeach, RIV
- Docket File PUBLIC.
EAdensam RSavio JHopkins EBarnhill TLH3 (SE)
OGC ACRS GGrant, Rlli PD33 Reading Document Name: COVERLTR.K4 "See previous concurrencas OFFICE -
LA/PD3 3 RIV.
ADP D/NRR EDg(
NAME EBernhill
- BBeach
'RZimmerman
'SCollins Jdilar DATE.
12/ /97 12/23/97 12/23/97 1/02/98 01/2 /9 8 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
-e 3
j Joseph V. Sipok Clinton Power Station, Unit,1
-Illinois Power Company CC:,
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety John G. Cook Office of Nuclear-Facility Safety Senior Vice President Clinton. Power Station 1035 Outer Park Drive P.O.-Box 678 Springfield, IL 62704 Clinton,-IL 61727
' Larry Wigley Manager Nuclear. Station Engineering Department Clinton Power Station-P.O.LBox 678 Clinton, IL - 61727 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission RRf3 -Box 229 A Clinton, IL 61727 P,. T. Hill.
Licensing Services Manager General Electric Company -
175 Curtner Avenue, M/C 481 San Jose, CA 95125 Regional Administrator, Region III
' U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 801 Warrenv111e Road Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Chairman of DeWitt County c/o County Clerk's Office DeWitt County Courthouse Clinton, IL 61727 J. W. Blattner
-Project Manager Sargent & Lundy Engineers-55 East. Monroe Street' Chicago, IL '60603
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION -
SPECIAL EVALUATION TEAM REPORT CLINTON POWER STATION August 25-December 11,1997
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