ML20204J507
| ML20204J507 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1999 |
| From: | Dapas M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Mcelwain J ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20204J512 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-461-98-29, NUDOCS 9903300105 | |
| Download: ML20204J507 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000461/1998029
Text
_
..
.
March 24,1999
Mr. John P. McElwain
Chief NuclearOfficer
. Clinton Power Station
Illinois Power Company
Mail Code V-275
P. O. Box 678 -
Clinton,IL 61727.
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-461/98029(DRS)
j
Dear Mr. McElwain:
On February 17,1999, the NRC completed a licensed operator requajiiication program
inspection at your Clinton Nuclear Power Station. The purpose of this inspection was to review
the circumstances surrounding the unsatisfactory licensed operator performance that your staff
identified during the September 1998 annual licensed operator requalification examination.
During this inspection, the inspectors also evaluated remedial actions taken by your staff and
observed your training personnel administer and evaluate dynamic simulator scenario
examinations for all licensed operators. The enclosed report presents the results o' this
inspection.
During the dynamic simulator scenario portion of the September 1998 annuallicensed
operator requalification examinations, your training staff identified unsatisfactory operator
performance for 4 of 7 crews and 35 of 56 operators. Your staff identif!sd operator
performance deficiencies regarding emergency operating procedure usage, communications,
command and control, and teamwork. In the root cause analysis for these performance
, deficiencies, your staff identified that weaknesses in licensed operator requalification training
(LORT) practices were a contributing factor to the poor operator performance. The inspectors
reviewed the weaknesses identified by your staff in the LORT program, including: (1) use of
feedback, (2) training quality, (3) simulator training time, (4) change management, (5)
examination results documentation, (6) use of examination sample plans, and (7) trending of
operator performance in the simulator. Two primary causes identified in your staff's root cause
analysis were a lack of leadership in the LORT program and a low priority for the LORT
program. We determined that your staff's root cause analysis was thorough and that the
remedial actions implemented to address the identified weaknesses were appropriate.
Although your staff identified the operator performance and training issues, we are concerned
that it took a large number of operator and crew failures during your annual licensed operator
requalification examinations before your staff realized that operator performance and
l
programmatic weaknesses existed.
)
J
The inspectors observed your training staff conduct dynamic simulator scenario examinations
for all licensed operators and crews on January 4 - February 12,1999. Overall operator
performance was good. The examination material was challenging; however, because it
consisted primarily of off-normal and emergency events, the inspectors did not draw any
9903300105 990324
"
ADOCK 05000461
G
,
4
J. McElwain
-2-
I
,
specification usage. The inspectors identified some instances where your staff did not identify
operator performance deficiencies.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.700 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its
- enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room. We will gladly discuss any
,
questions you have conceming this inspection.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by Garc L. Dapas
Marc L. Dapas, Deputy Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket No.:
50-461
License No.: NPF-62
Enclosures:
1. Inspection Report 50-461/98029(DRS)
2. Simulation Facility Report
cc w/encis:
G. Hunger, Station Manager
R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety
and Performance improvement
J. Sipek, Director- Licensing
M. Aguilar, Assistant Attomey General
G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing
Services Project Manager
General Electric Company
Chairman, DeWitt County Board
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
l
l
DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRSV'.Ll98029.WPD
t.pa. . em .,w e.co none in o we e co m .a.ct
w.acau,. -r c= * .a.em.anaemor. w %em
OFFICE
Ril
l
Rlli
lC Rlli
Rlli
-
-
NAME
Mullerjp /Ytt_
Hills #rA
KozaP A
Dapas M
DATE
03/W/99
03A1/99
03/4h9
03tEfJ9~
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
m
t
J. McElwain
-3-
.
Distribution:
RPC (E-Mail)
Project Mgr., NRR w/encls
J. Caldwell, Rill w/encls
B. Clayton, Rill w/encls
SRI Clinton w/encls
DRP w/encls
4
TSS w/encls
!
DRS (2) w/encls
Rlli PRR w/encls
{
' PUBLIC IE-42 w/encls
Docket File w/encls
GREENS
LEO (E-Mail)
DOCDESK (E-Mail)
M. Bies, Rill w/encls
'
/
t
.
300070