ML20236K876

Responds to Sztaba Expressing Concerns Re Safe Operation of State of CT Nuclear Power Plants.Plants in State Not Rated Among Most Troublesome in Nation.Licensee Performance Monitored in Publicly Available SALP Repts

ML20236K876
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone, Haddam Neck, 05000000
Issue date:	11/03/1987
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Dodd C SENATE
Shared Package
ML20236K877	List: ML20236K876 ML20236K886
References
NUDOCS 8711100006
Download: ML20236K876 (7)

Text

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<The Honorable ~ Christopher J. Dodd United: States Senate M, , ' Washington, DC:'P0510 d 'd/[ '

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Dear Senator Dodd:

By:1etter" dated September 10,'1987, Mr. Stan Sztaba expressed his concern to you

!about the safe; operation' of Connecticut's nuclear power plants. This concern

?was raised by the. enclosed article that' appearen .in the Stamford Advocate on

. September.9,1087,:which stated that "Two Connecticut nuclear power plants zranked amon9fthe 15 most troublesome in the. nation in 1986...." The article's  !

conclusion was. based on the number of Licensee. Event Reports (LEPs) submitted

' Lto the Nuclear' Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1986 (57 for Millstone 3 and.48 j

~ Lfor Haddam Necki and the eight forced power reductions at Haddam Neck.in 1986.

The NRC does'not rate.any'of the Connecticut nuclear power plants among the

' most troublesome in -the nation. The number of LERs filed for Millstone 3 and Haddam Neck in 1986 are indicative of the need for improvement; however, the LEDs themselves do not- indicate' unsafe operation.

, <The NPC'is continually monitoring the licensee's performance in the operation Lof fits plants through its inspection and licensing programs. The results of this assessmentLare issued periodically as the " Systematic Assessment of

Licensee Performance /SALP) Report," which is available to the public. The Lla test- such report for Haddam Neck was SALP Report No. 50-213/86-99 issued Vune 10 1087, which covered the period March 1,1986 through March 31, 1987.

The: latest.such report for Millstone 3 was SALP Report No. 50-493/85 08 issued May'14, 1987, which covered the period September 1, 1985 through February 28, 1087 The -SALP reports assess licensee performance in selected functinnal areas, which cover all, significant aspects' of plant operations related to nuclear

' safety and.the environment,.e.g., Plant Operations, Maintenance and 1

Modifications, Surveillance, Fire Protection, Engineering Support, licensing '

Activities, Refueling / Outage Management, Radiological Controls Emergency Preparedness, Security and Safeguards, Training and Qualification Effectiveness, and Quality Assurance. Each selected functional area is

. classified into one n' three performance categories:

Ca tenary 1. Reduced NPC attention mav be appropriate. Licensee management

-attention and _ involvement are aggressive and oriented toward nuclear safety;

'icensee resources are amole and ef fectively used so that a high level of 1

perfonnance with respect to operational safety is being achieved.

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.l The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd h l

L  : Category 2.

.NPC. attention should be maintained at normal levels. Licensee management attention and involvement are evident and concerned with nuclear 1'  : safety; licensee' resources are adeouate and reasonably effective-so that  !

satisfactory performance with respect to operational safety is being achieved..

Category 3. Both'NRC and licensee attent'a. ?nuld be increased. Licensee management attention or-involvement is tcceptable and considers nuclear safety, but weaknesses-are evident; lv.ensee resources appear strained or not effectively used so that minimally sa'is'actory performance with respect to

operational safety ~is being achieved.

In the, latest SALP reports, Millstone 3 was rated Category 1 in six functional  !

areas and Category 2 in five functional areas: Haddam Neck was rated Category 1 {

'in one functional area, Category 2 in ten functional areas, and Category 3 in '

.'one functional area (fire protection).

- The. Millstone _3 SALP~ report reflected careful and safe performance of initial plant operation with improving performance as the. SALP period progressed. The

-Haddam Neck SALP report reflected continuing safe operation with numerous perfonnance weaknesses. In response to the NRC's SALP report, by letter dated July 17. 1987, the'Haddam Neck licensee stated its goal to return to Category 1 performance in all functional areas and identified several initiatives it has I taken to (1) reduce operator, equipment, and maintenance personnel contributions to unnecessary' trips, (2)- improve radiological controls, (3) reduce maintenance backlog, (4) maintain acceptable containment leakage, (5) ensure licensing issues are fully supported and addressed in a tirrely manner, (6) improve coordination between site and corporate staff, and (7) i:.iprove management involvement in the fire protection area.

We trust this information addresses your constitt.nt's concerns. .

Sincerely

,;v.

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.a t *i. W d Victor Stello, Jr.

( Executive Director for Operations

Enclosu re

-Article from S+ am'ord . Advoca te

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( c 1The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd  :

h l1' Category 2. .NRC attention'should be maintained at normal levels. Licensee '

management attention and involvement are evident and concerned with nuclear

. safety;: licensee resources are adeouate and reasonably effective such that

. satisfactory performance with respect to operational. safety is being

~ achieved.:

Category 3.' Both NRCland licensee attention should be increased. Licensee

. management attention or involvement is acceptable and considers nuclear safety. but weaknesses.are evident;. licensee resources appear strained or not effectively'used such that minimally satisfactory performance with respect to operational; safety .is being' achieved.

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-in 'the latest SALPkeports, Millstone 3 was rated Category 1 in six functional: areas.and? Category 9 in five functional areas, and Haddam Neck was  ;

. rated Categoryf1 in one. functional area, Category ? in ten functional areas -l

.and Category 3 inione functional area (fire protection).

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The Millstone 3 SALP ref\ected careful 'and' safe performance of initial plant 7' 1 operation with improving ' rformance as the SALP period progressed. The

.Haddam Neck-SALP reflected ontinuino safe operation with numerous perfomance weaknesses. In response to heLNDC's_SALP report, by letter dated July 17, 1987, the Haddan Heck licens ~

stated his goal.to return to Category 1 performance in all functional reas and identified several initiatives he has

taken to

(1)' reduce' operator equipment, and maintenance personnel contributions to unnecessary t ips, (2) improve radiological controls,

'f3) reduce maintenance. backlog,14) maintain acceptable containment leakage, (5) assure licensing issues are #pily suppnrted and timely addressed,

~(6)- improveL coordination between tite-and corporate staff, and D) improve management involvement in the fire \ protection area. '

We. trust this information addresse our. constituent's concerns. i 4

Sincerely,

\

l Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

Article from

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• 4- UNITED STATES E" ..7, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g

.; WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 '-

1 EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL FROM: .DUE: EDO CONTROL: 003205 DOC DT 09/21/87 SEN.-CHRISTOPHER J. DODD 13 FINAL. REPLY: I TO: lh / ^t h } 0 OCA FOR SIONATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 1135 l

' EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC: ROUTING:  ;

ENCLOSES LETTER FROM STAN SZTABA RE SAFETY OF RUSSELL CONNECTICUT'S NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS MURRAY DATE: 10/06/87 AGSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: MURLEY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

MARK ENVELOPE ATTN: MR. LOWELL STERN l

NRR RECEIVED: OC'IOBER 6,1987 i ACTION: DRPR:VARGA I ACTION )

NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGM A DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR,S 0, FICE j STAROSTECKI E5l BY 0 % 10,I W 7 .-- , I fOSSBURG l I

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. OFFICE.OF THE SECRETARY I

.. CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET JPAPER' NUMBER:' CRC-87-1135 IOGGING DATE: Oct l

2 87 '

' ACTION OFFICE: EDO.

AUTHOR:. C.J. Dodd AFFILIATION:

U.S. SENATE i

.,  ? LETTER DATE:- / f18 S7 F.ILE CODE:

C<. ..

L  ;

SUBJECT:

_ Safety of Connecticut's nuclear power plants

) i

. ACTION: ' Direct-Reply ~.

in V DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack

.1 SPECIAL HANDLING: None ,

NOTES

Stan Sztaba

?

.DATE DUE: .Oct 19 87 i

< SIGNATURE:. .

DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:' l

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. Rec'd Off. EDO I Date - I b - 5' ~ 9 )

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