ML20206K740
| ML20206K740 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 05/03/1999 |
| From: | Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Kingsley O COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9905130267 | |
| Download: ML20206K740 (6) | |
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May 3, 1999-Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley
- President, Nuclear Generation Group
' Commonwealth Edison Company ATTN: Regulatory Services Executive Towers West lil 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, IL 60515 i
Dear Mr. Kingsley:
On April 20 and 21,1999, the NRC senior managers met to evaluate the nuclear safety performance of operating reactors, fuel facilities, and other materials licensees. The NRC conducts this meeting periodically to determine if the safety performance of various licensees exhibits sufficient weaknesses to warrant increased NRC attention or if it is trending adversely and requires steps be taken to communicate concerns to the utility's president or board of directors. At the April 1999 Senior Management Meeting (SMM), the LaSalle County Nuclear Power Station was discussed.
The NRC has implemented interim changes to the SMM process, including the elimination of the Watch List, as we continue to transition to a revised reactor oversight process. NRC staff recommendations for SMM process improvements were provided to the Commission in SECY-99-086, " Recommendations Regarding the Senior Management Meeting Process and Ongoing improvements to Existing Licensee Performance Assessment Processes," dated March 23,1999. The Commission approved the staff's recommendations in a Staff Requirements Memorandum dated April 16,1999. Under the interim SMM process, plants will be characterized as warranting routine oversight, regional-focus, or agency-focus in accordance with the following definitions. Routine oversight plants receive oversight under the auspices of the NRC's inspection Program in accordance with NRC Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2515,
" Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program - Operations Phase." Regional-focus plants require the direct attention and/or involvement by the regional administrators to coordinate NRC resources and maintain cognizance of licensde performance (e.g., issuance of a confirmatory action letter, implementation of the IMC 0350, " Staff Guidelines for Restart Approval," process, enactment of a regional-levelinspection bayond the NRC's routine inspection program).
Agency-focus plants require the direct atention and/or involvement by the EDO and/or Commission to coordinate NRC resources and maintain cognizance of licensee performance (e.g., issuance of an order, enactment of agency-level oversight or inspection).
LaSalle had been previously classified as a Category 2 plant on the NRC's Watch List. As a
\\ O result of the April 1999 SMM and the revised SMM process, LaSalle has been identified as a routine oversight plant. A summary of NRC discussions related to LaSalle follows:
The senior managers' discussions were focused on the improved performance observed since the last SMM. Unit 1 startup activities were well managed and a subsequent plant h scram and forced outage were effectively controlled. Overall, the licensee took effective corrective actions to apply the lessons learned during the restart of Unit 1 to Unit 2
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Oliver D. Kingsley 2
activities. The trend of performance indicators showed clear improvement in performance and recent Plant issues Matrix entries were noted to be more positive. A decline in radiological protection program implementation was observed; however, a recent followup inspection confirmed that the licensee had initiated appropriate I
corrective actions to address the deficiencies identified.
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The evaluation matrix was utilized in determining the appropriate agency response to the identified performance concems. All evaluation factors were cor.sidered to have been met with the exception of demonstrating sustained successful plant performance The question that remained to be addressed in this area was the ability to manage tv.o units at power. The senior managers determined that, based on Unit 1 performance l
and Unit 2 restart inspection rrVits, additional focused inspections of dual unit operations were not necessary.
Although some areas for improvement remained, the senior managers determined that sufficient progress had been made to warrant reduction of NRC attention to routine
' inspection. As a result, LaSalle will receive a routine level of oversight under the auspices of the NRC inspection program.
James E. Dyer, the Region lll Administrator, has discussed the bases for our conclusions with regard to LaSalle with you. The agency's intended actions as a result of the GMM are consistent with those that were conveyed in the Plant Performance Review (PPR) letter dated March 26,1999, and were discussed in a public meeting on April 6,1999, An NRC Commission Meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners' Conference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on May 6,1999, to review the results of the latest meeting of NRC senior managers.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
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Sincerely, I_
7 Wi" am D. Travers Executive Director for Operations i
Docket Nos. 50-373; 50-374 i
' cc: ' See Attached List i
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O. Kingsley 1 activities. The trend of performance indicators showed clear improvement in performance and recent Plant lasues Matrix entries were noted to be more positive. A decline in radiological protection program implementation was observed; however, a recent followup inspection confirmed that the licensee had initiated appropriate corrective actions to address the deficiencies identified.
The evaluation matrix was utilized in determining the appropriate agency response to the identified performance concems. - All evaluation factors were considered to have been met with the exception of demonstrating sustained successful plant performance.
The question that remained to be addressed in this area was the ability to manage two units at power. The senior managers determined that,' based on Unit 1 performance and Unit 2 restart inspection results, additional focused inspections of dual unit operations were not necessary.
. Although some areas for improvement remained, the senior managers determined that sufficient progress had been made to warrant reduction of NRC attention to routine inspection. As a result, LaSalle will receive a routine level of oversight under the auspices of the NRC inspection program; James E. Dyer, the Region fil Administrator, has discussed the bases for our conclusions with regard to LaSalle with you. The agency's intended actions as a result of the SMM are consistent with those that were conveyed in the Plant Performance Review (PPR) letter dated March 26,1999, and were discussed in a public meeting on April 6,1999.
An NRC Commission Meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners' Conference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on May 6,1999, to review the results of the latest meeting of NRC senior managers.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations Docket Nos. 50-373; 50-374 License Nos. NPF-11; NPF-18 cc: See Attached List Distribution:
I See Attached List DOCUMENT NAME:
- Concurred via telecon.
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e in the box; "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy
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cc:
Mr.' O. Kingsley, President -
Commonwealth Edison Company Nuclear Generation Group -
LaSalle Station Manager Commonwealth Edison Company 2601 N. 21st Road Executive Towers West lil Marseilles, Illinois 61341-9757
.1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Robert Cushing Chief, Public Utilities Division Phillip P. Steptoe, Esquire Illinois Attorney General's Office 1
Sidley and Austin -
100 W. Randolph Street One First National Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60601 Chicago, Illinois 60603 Document Control Desk-Licensing Assistant Attorney General Commonwealth Edison Company 100 W. Randolph Street 1400 Opus Place, Suite 400 Suite 12 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 i
Chicago, Illinois 60601 Commonwealth Edison Company U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Site Vice President - LaSalle LaSalle Resident inspectors Office 2601 N. 21st Road 2605 N. 21st Road Marseilles, Illinois 61341-9757 Marseilles, Illinois 61341-9756 Mr. David Helwig
' Chairman Senior Vice President LaSalle County Board of Supervisors Commonwealth Edison Company LaSalle Countj T.ourthouse Executive Towers West lli Ottawa, Illinois 61350 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
' Attorney General 1
500 S. Second Street Mr. Gene H. Stanley
- Springfield, Illinois 62701 PWR Vice President Commonwealth Edison Company Chairman Executive Towers West lll Illinois Commerce Commission 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Leland Building Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 527 E. Capitol Avenue Springfield, Illinois 62706 Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Facility Safety 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, Illinois 62704 Regional Administrator U.S. NRC, Region 111
- 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, Illinois 60532-4351 m-
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' Mr. Christopher Crane BWR Vice President Commonwealth Edis,on Company Executive Towers West lll 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Mr. R. M. Krich Vice President - Regulatory Services Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West lli 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Commonwealth Edison Company Reg. Assurance Supervisor-1.aSalle 2601 N. 21st Road Marseilles, Illinois 61341-9757 Ms. Pamela B. Stroebel Cwior Vice President and General Counsel Commonwealth Edison Company P.O. Box 767 Chicago, Illinois 60690-0767 r
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DISTRIBUTION: for letter to Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley (LaSalle)
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