ML20235H273
| ML20235H273 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/23/1987 |
| From: | Virgilio M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8709300431 | |
| Download: ML20235H273 (12) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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September 23, 1987
.y MEMORANDUM FOR:
Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, V & Special Projects THRU:
Gary M. Holahan, Assistant Director For Regions III & V FROM:
Martin J. Virgilio, Director Project Directorate III-1 l
Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, V
& Special Projects
SUBJECT:
NRR PARTICIPATION IN REGION III RESIDENT INSPECTOR SEMINAR On Thursday, September 17, 1987, representatives from Project Directorates III-1, III-2 and III-3, participated in a Region III Resident Inspector Seminar held at the Holiday Inn, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Bill Guldemond (RIII) and I selected and presented current issues that we perceived as important to the PMs/ pes and Resident Inspectors (RIs).
Rather than lecture to the audience, we presented issues and stimulated discussion.
Issues that were presented and discussed included; communication, PMs/ pes as inspectors, SALP improvements, 10 CFR 50.59 improvements and SIMs.
Enclosed is a copy of the slides we utilized in the seminar.
In general, we accomplished our objective of promoting discussion among the participants.
Based on my assessment of the tone and context of the discussions there appears to be a common respect between RIs and PMs.
It was apparent that there is a lack of understanding of the duties, responsibilities, working environments, and organizational responsibilities.
This meeting corrected a number of misunderstandings that appeared to exist.
Feedback was excellent.
The more important issues that we received feedback on are summarized below:
PMs were not perceived by the RIs to be the focal point for Headquarters communications particularly when an event occurs at the plant.
The Regional staff and Residents are responding to calls from several NRR organizational units and Headquarters offices.
They found this to be inefficient.
RIs do not believe that Headquarters is responsive to requests for assistance on Technical Specifications interpretations, particularly those that involve a documented response.
RIs do not believe that they are sufficiently involved in policy
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They appeared most concerned with policy that will have the greatest impact on their day to day activities (e.g. NRC 1
Manual Chapter revisions, technical specification improvements).
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Contact:
M Virgi1io 8709300431 870923 PDR ORG NRRB d'h 49-24553 PDR
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Crutchfield September 23, 1987 CertainRIsexpressedfrustrationoverthehighturnov$rratefor PMs on their assigned facilities.
RIs were' supportive with regard to having PMs participate more in the SALP narrative development, particularly with respect to incorporating the findings and conclusions from Headquarters Inspection..
efforts.
PMs appeared skeptical-about the value of their insights in all functional areas.
The RIs encouraged all Headquarters personnel that anticipate visiting a: Region III plant to'take the Region III radiation protection training.
This would expedite entry into any Region III plant.
The RIs and (Region III staff present at the Seminar) did not appear to have a good understanding of the Agency's schedular goals for SIMs.
Region III staff at the Seminar acknowledged t.he good communication that has developed between the Resident Inspectors and PMs with regard to PM site visits; however, they noted that Headquarters / Region communication on visits by Headquarters staff needed to be improved.
Certain RIs raised a number of concerns related to having PMs in the field as inspectors, in particular, with regard to inspection findings.
These concerns were addressed by RIs that had incorporated PM inspection findings in their own inspection reports.
A number of PMs that had taken the NRR " Fundamentals of Inspection Course" expressed their insecurities, with regard to how unprepared they felt about inspection.
Most RIs responded with assurance that this training appeared'to be more comprehensive than anything they ever received.
RIs and PMs appeared enthusiastic about exr. hanging places as a broadening work experience but skeptical Ps to how much they could learn in a matter of a few weeks.
PMs and RIs were most supportive of NRC's initiatives to improve the 10 CFR 50.59 process.
In their opinion, these improvements should be completed before we implement technical specification improvements that will delete systems important to safety from plant-specific technical specifications.
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l D. Crutdfield September 23, 1987 i
In summary, I believe the interaction was healthy and the results of the meeting were positive.
I recommend that we similarily support future Region i
III Resident Inspector Seminars with representatives from each of our PDs and a preplanned agenda.
i Original signed by Martin J. Virgilio, Director Project Directorate III-1 Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV V
& Special Projects
Enclosure:
As stated cc:
W. Guldemond, RIII DISTRIBUTION Central File PD31 Memo File NRC & Local PDRs GHolahan L01shan DDilanni PShemanski TAlexion LKelly JStefano TWambach TColburn DWagner SSands MVirgilio JSniezek GHol [ahan D/PD31:DRSP AD:.D 5 MVirgilio:ts 9p3/87 9/g/87 I
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NRR PROJECT MANAGER / REGION III RESIDENT INSPECTOR INTERFACE MEETING o
SEPTEMBER 17, 1987 e
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s, COMMUNICATIONS S'
FREQUENT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PMS/ PES AND RESIDENT INSPECTORS IS ESSENTIAL.
PROVIDES PM WITH INSIGHT ON REGION AND LICENSEE ACTIVITIES AND PLANT PERFORMANCE, PROVIDES RESIDENT INSPECTORS INSIGHT ON HEADQUARTERS INTIATIVES, INTENT 8 INTERPRETATION OF REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, STATUS OF LICENSING ACTIONS UNDER REVIEW.
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REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE THAT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES NEED TO BE COORDINATED WITH MANAGEMENT.
REGION PROJECT SECTION CHIEFS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRIORITIZING REQUESTS FROM HEADQUARTERS.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DRSP RESPONSIBLE FOR TIA PROGRAM.
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- 4-es PMS/ PES AS INSPECTORS AN-0BJECTIVE 0F THE REORGANIZATION OF NRR IS TO INCREASE INVOLVEMENT OF PMS/ PES IN ON-SITE ACTIVITIES.
PARTICIPATION It( INSPECTIONS.
SITE VISITS TO EXPEDITE LICENSING ACTIONS AND H.O.
INITIATIVES.
NRC'S OBJECTIVES OUTLINED IN A JUNE 2, 1987 MEMO FROM J. SNIEZEK.T0 REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS.
PMS/ PES WORK AS INSPECTORS ASSIGNED TO REGION / SITE FOR 1 TO 2 WEEKS, PMS/ PES UNDER DIRECTION OR SENIOR RESIDENT / REGIONAL SUPERVISOR.
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PMS/ PES AS INSPECTORS a.;
l NRC INSPECTION MANUAL CONTAINS STATEMENTS OF POLICY, DEFINES AND DELEGATES RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES, ESTABLISHES REQUIREMENTS, AND PROCEDURES.
ESTABLISHES GROUND RULES ON OBJECTIVITY, CONDUCT, DOCUMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
ALL PM/PE SITE VISITS SHOULD BE COORDINATED WITH PROJECTS SECTION CHIEFS.
DOCUMENTED, WITH INPUT PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS WHEN APPROPRIATE.
FUNDAMENTALS OF. INSPECTION COURSE CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED TO KEY NRR STAFF.
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.n SALP IMPROVEMENTS P
SALP IS AN EVOLVING PROGRAM.
IMPROVE NRC REGULATORY PROGRAMS BY FOCUSING ATTENTION ON AREAS OF CONCERN.
DIRECT NRC RESOURCES IMPROVE LICENSEE PERFORMANCE INTERNAL NRC STAFF MEETINGS AND DISCUSSION DURING AUGUST 1987 FOCUSED ON THE PROGRAM AND POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS 1
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NRR DEVELOPING DRAFT MANUAL CHAPTER 0516 REVISION COMBINE CERTAIN FUNCTIONAL AREAS TO ELIMINATE OVERLAP (FIRE PROTECTION, LICENSING ACTIVITIES, OUTAGES, QUALITY PROGRAMS AND ADMIN CONTR0 LING, IRAINING, AND QUALIFICATION EFFECTIVENESS).
ADD NEW FUNCTIONAL AREAS (SAFETY ASSESSMENT, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT)
CLARIFY PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES.
REVISED EVALUATION CRITERIA (ADD TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION EFFECTIVENESS)
PROVIDE FOR MORE TIMELY ASSESSMENTS.
PROMOTE NRR/ REGION TEAM APPROACH THROUGH MORE RESIDENT /PM INTERACTION DURING ASSESSMENT NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT.
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.10 CFR 50.59 REVIEW IMPROVEMENTS RECENT EXPERIENCE UNDERSCORES NEED FOR SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR LICENSEE USE IN APPLYING 50.59 TO JUDGE THE ACCEPTABILITY OF CHANGES WITHOUT NRC APPROVAL.
TESTS FOR UNREVIEWED SAFETY QUESTION OFTEN TOO NARROWLY INTERPRETED.
TECH SPEC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES RELOCATION OF LESSER IMPORTANT SPECIFICATIONS TO LICENSEE CONTROLLED DOCUMENTS.
HENCE, FURTHER RELIANCE ON 50.59.
COMMISSION ENCOURAGED INDUSTRY TO PURSUE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES AS PART OF TECH SPEC IMPROVEMENT POLICY STATEMENT.
JOINT EPRI/NSAC AND AIF WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED.
- 4 JUNE 1987 T. MURLEY DIRECTED NRR STAFF TO DEVELOP POLICY ANDPROCEDURESFORMONITORINGIflDUSTRYPEdFORMANCEIN 50.59 EVALUATIONS.
ENCOURAGED REGION PARTICIPATION.
REVIEW JOINT INDUSTRY CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES.
DEVELOP DRAFT REG GUIDE.
t DEVELOP DETAILED STAFF GUIDELINES FOR REVIEW.
DEVELOP STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM, JULY 30, L987, IST WORKING GROUP MEETING AUGUST 20, L987, 2ND WORKING GROUP MEETING
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SAFETY ISSUES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SIMS)
A ONE-TIME EFFORT IS )BEING MADE TO UPDATE'THE INFORMA IN THE RITS/SIMS PRINTOUTS.
ALL REGIONS INVOLVED.
NRR'S. RESPONSIBILITY IS TO UPDATE THE "lMPOSITIION INIT
" IMPOSITION COMPLETED" AND IMPLEMENTATION COMPLE THE REGIONS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO UPDATE THE " IMPLEMENT VERIFICATION" FIELD USING TRACKING SYSTEMS,'INSPECTIOR REPORTS, ETC.
NRR WILL TRY TO COMPLETE EFFORT BEFORE OCTOBER 16, L987, CONCURRENTLY WITH REGION'S' EFFORT.
EFFORT TO BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER 1, L987, d
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