ML20209E332

Discusses Results of NRC Review of GE Program for Conducting NRC Licensed Activities for Period of 970818-990514. Determined That GE Continues to Operate Facility Safely & Demonstrated Number of Strengths.Review Outline Encl

ML20209E332
Person / Time
Site:	07001113
Issue date:	07/06/1999
From:	Reyes L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Kline J GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
References
NUDOCS 9907140206
Download: ML20209E332 (6)

Text

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July 6,1999 General Electric Company ATTN: Mr. J. E. Kline Manager, Manufacturing GE Nuclear Energy P O. Box 780 Wilmington, NC 28402

SUBJECT:

NRC PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF LICENSED ACTIVITIES

Dear Mr. Kline:

The NRC recently reviewed your program for conducting NRC licensed activities for the period August 18,1997 through May 14,1999. This review provides you with feedback on how NRC senior management assesses your performance, and will be used as a basis for establishing the NRC inspection program for your facility.

Your performance was evaluated in the five major areas of safety operations, safeguards, radiological c6ntrols, facility support, and special topics. An outline of the results of the NRC's review, in the form of strengths, areas needing improvement, and challenges, is enclosed. The results of the review will be discussed with you at your facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, during a meeting open to the public on August 6,1999. During that meeting, we expect you to discuss your view of your performance in the same major areas.

Our review determined that General Electric continued to operate the facility safely and

. demonstrated a number of strengths. In addition, we recognized your efforts to provide for open communications with NRC and your efforts to rer,uce the volume of low-level radioactive waste stored at your site. Our review also identified that certain program elements r;eeded improvement. We noted that within these ele'nents, improved implementation of the configuration management program offered the greatest potsntial impact on safety.

As a result of our previous review, we communicated to you in our letter of October 20,1997, that we would decrease the NRC inspection effort at GE. Based upon this review and on your demonstrated performance strengths, the NRC has decided to maintain this reduced level of '

inspection at your facility with some redistribution of inspection effort to focus on the areas needing improvement. The NRC also intends to continue to focus inspection effort on the various waste reduction and decommissioning projects at your site.

In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

9907140206 990706 PDR ADOCK 07001113

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F GE 2-v Should you have any questions or comments, I would be pleased to discuss them with you.

Sincerely, Luis A. Reyes Regional Administrator Docket No. 70-1113 License No. SNM-1097

Enclosure:

Licensee Performance Review

- Summary Outline cc w/ encl:

Charles M. Vaughan, Manager

- Facility Licensing GE Nuclear Energy P. O. Box 780, Mail Code J26 Wilmington, NC 28402 Mel Fry, Director Division of Radiation Protection N. C. Department of Environmental l Health & Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive Raleigh, NC 27609-7721 Distribution w/ enc!:

E. McAlpine, Ril D. Ayres, Ril D. Collins, Ril P. Harich, NMSS C. Emelgh, NMSS P. Hiland, Rill W. Britz, RIV B. Spitzberg, RIV M. Virgilio, NMSS E. Ten Eyck, NMSS

' C. Emeigh, NMSS P. Ting, NMSS PUBLIC Concurrences: (See Page 3)

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4 LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE PERIOD: AUGUST 18,1997 to MAY 14,1999

SUMMARY

OUTLINE The following is a summary of the program strengths, improvements, and challenges for the performance of GE Nuclear Energy in the conduct of NRC licensed activities.

A. SAFETY OPERATIONS (Comprised of Chemical Safety, Criticality Safety, Plant Operations, Fire Safety, and Management Controls) 3.afety Operations Proaram Strenaths  !

l e Use of engineered safety features with minimum use of administrative controls l e Effective system for internally identifying, responding to, and correcting safety issues and problems  !

i e Excellent hazardous gas detection system in the Dry Conversion Process area Safety Operations Needina Imorovement e Adherence to plant procedures for cutting and welding Projected Challenaes to Performance in Safety Operations

• Ensure continued operator adherence to administrative controls B. SAFEGUARDS (Comprised of Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) and Physical Protection)

Safeauards Procram Strenaths e None Safeauards Needina Imorovement e None Projected Challences to Performance in Safeauards e Ensure effective implementation of computer program modifications due to Y2K l

Enclosure

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2 C. RADIOLOGICAL CONTROL (Comprised of Radiation Protection, Environmental Protection, Waste Management, and Transportation)

Radioloaical Control Proaram Strenaths e Strong and effective worker dose control program Radioloaical Controls Needina Imorovement e Transportation of, and packagings for, radioactive material Projected Challenaes to Performance in Radioloaical Control e Continue reduction in stored radioactive waste, including related licensing activities D. FACILITY SUPPORT (Comprised of Maintenance and Surveillance, Training, and Emergency Preparedness)

Facility Sucoort Proaram Strenoths e Strong and effective maintenance support of active engineered controls to prevent hydrofluoric acid releases in Dry Conversion Process e Rigorous training in Dry Conversion Process operations e Effective interface with offsite emergency organizations Facility Sucoort Areas Needina imorovement e implementation of configuration management system with emphasis on maintaining safety controls Projected Challenaes to Performance in Facility Support

• Ensuring appropriate emergency response organization staffing

e 3

E. SPECIAL TOPICS (Comprised of Licensing, the Fundamental Nuclear Material Control (FNMC) Plan, and the Security Plan)

Special Topics Proaram Strenaths e Licensee has responded to staff's questions promptly and completely, especially when concerning decommissioning, and has shown initiative in planning and l performing decommissioning.

)

e Competent and experienced MC&A licensing staff providing proactive and effective modifications and updates of the FNMC Plan to improve the MC&A program and activities.

I Special Topics Needina improvement e None Projected Challences to Performance in Soecial Topics

• None 1

l 1