ML20237C309
| ML20237C309 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cooper  |
| Issue date: | 08/17/1998 |
| From: | Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Horn G NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20237C311 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-298-98-99, NUDOCS 9808210087 | |
| Download: ML20237C309 (6) | |
See also: IR 05000298/1998099
Text
_ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ ___ _ __- _ _
l
'
p*Mou q
fg
UNITED STATES
g
g
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
i
E
ij
REGION IV
l
0,,,
%,
,d,4
611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE. sulTE 400
ARUNGTON. TEXAS 76011 8064
- +...+
August 17, 1998
G. R. Horn, Senior Vice President
of Energy Supply
Nebraska Public Power District
141415th Street
Columbus, Nebraska 68601
SUBJECT: SYSTEMATIC ASSESSMENT OF LICENSEE PERFORMANCE (SALP)
REPORT 50-298/98-99
Enclosed for your review is the SALP report for the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) for the period
of January 12,1997, through July 11,1998. A meeting to discuss thi.s report with you and your
staff has been scheduled for 2 p.m., on September 3,1998, at your CNS facility near Brownville,
During this meeting, you are encouraged and expected to candidly comment on our report.
Although this meeting is a forum between the Nebraska Public Power District and the NRC, it will
be open to observation by members of the public and other interested parties.
In accordance with NRC policy, I have reviewed the recommendations of the SALP Board and
concur with the ratings and the views. Overall, safety performance at the Cooper Nuclear Station
continued to improve. There are, however, still areas of concern, especially in engineering.
Performance in the Plant Support functional area improved to Category 1, indicating an overall
superior safety focus. The areas of Operations and Maintenance were rated as Category 2,
/
which indicated a good level of performance. Engineering performance was rated as Category 3,
,
'
indicating acceptable performance. This was the third consecutive Category 3 rating in this area. /
,
While improvements have been made in overall engineering performance, significant
management attention and oversight are still needed.
Performance in the operation 0 ares improved noticeably over the assessment period. Both
!
management and staff derr.onstrated a conservative operating philosophy and established
performance expectations that produced positive results throughout the site organization; the
formality of control roorr operations was improved. The interpretation and implementation of
Technical Specificatier. requirements, however, continued to occasionally challenge the
operations staff.
Maintenance performance was characterized by continued strength in the performance of craft
personnel and the establishment of an improved work control process. The overall material
condition of the plant was good, but there were a number of hardware problems which indicated
weaknesses in performance monitoring and maintenance implementation. Additionally, a number
of surveillance test procedure weaknesses were identified throughout the assessment period.
While performing acceptably overall, the engineering functional area continued to demonstrate
substantive weaknesses. The engineering organization did not provide consistently timely,
D
o
a
.
L
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ --_____ _ _ -
,
.
j
Nebraska Public Power District
-2-
I
effective, and comprehensive engineering support to operations and maintenance activities.
Weaknesses in maintaining the design and licensing basis of the plant challenged t.ngineering's
ability to effectively support the operation and maintenance of plant systems and components.
{
Late in the assessment period, the strategy for achieving engineering excellence at CNS was
finalized. This strategy provides the basis for establishing quality engineering. Its implementation
will be a focal point of future NRC inspection.
1
in the area of plant support, overall performance improved to a superior level. The conduct of
physical security activities was again recognized as being excellent. In the radiological controls
area, the low source term and the effective implementation of the as low as is reasonably
,
achievable (ALARA) program resulted in personnel exposure rates which reflected superior
I
performance. Performance in emergency preparedness was judged to be good, with weaknesses
noted in the ability of control room staff to develop protective action recommendations.
Housekeeping and fire protection activities were noted as being effective, having improved during
the assessment period.
Corrective action effectiveness was noted as a continuing problem throughout the Cooper
organization. A corrective action improvement plan, which was implemented during this SALP
period, has resulted in some improvements in the identification of issues. While this is a positive
indicator, the full benefits which are expected from this initiative have yet to be realized. The
quality of self assessment activities was mixed and some organizations are not yet conducting
effective and inciteful self-assessments. The establishment and communication of consistent
performance expectations continues to be an area where management attention is warranted.
'
The Engineering area received a third c'
rutive Category 3 rating for this assessment period.
Normally, the NRC would require a de' Ad <* scussion of your view of performance in this area
and a detailed description of the actio,.. , a plan to implement to improve performance. Over the
4
past year, however, CNS and the NRC have engaged in several public meetings to address the
ongoing performance shortcomings in the Engineering area. In this regard, a special meeting has
been scheduled for August 21,1998, to address the specific actions that are being implemented.
,
Your discussion of engineering performance at the September 3,1998, SALP public meeting
should address your overall view of engineering performance and highlight the corrective actions
'
which you are taking to improve performance. However, since CNS has already docketed a
strategy for achieving engineering excellence, your written response to this SALP report need
only address those performance issues and corrective actions which have not already been
j
aGdressed. Such information, if submitted, should be provided within 30 days of the meeting;
additionally, whiie not required, any comments you have concerning tha other SALP functional
I
areas would be welcomed.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of
Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the SALP report will be placed in the NRC's Public
Document Room.
i
l
!
C ..
. . .
,
.
Nebraska Public Power District
3-
Should you have any questions about the SALP report, I would be pleased to discuss them with
you.
Sincerely,
Ellis W. Merse
Regional Admi strator
Docket: 50-298
License: DPR-46
Enclosure:
NRC Inspection Report 50-298/98-99
cc w/ enclosure:
John R. McPhail, General Counsel
Nebraska Public Power District
l
P.O. Box 499
Columbus, Nebraska 68602-0499
J. H. Swalles, Vice President of
. Nuclear Energy
Nebraska Public Power District
P.O. Box 98
Brownville, Nebraska 68321
B. L. Houston, Nuclear Licensing
and Safety Manager
Nebraska Public Power District
P.O. Box 98
Brownville, Nebraska 68321
Dr. William D. Leech
MidAmerican Energy
907 Walnut Street
P.O. Box 657
l
Des Moines, Iowa 50303-0657
Mr. Ron Stoddard
Lincoln Electric System
1040 O Street
y
P.O. Box 80869
Lincoln, Nebraska 68501-0869
L
- _ - _ -
. _ _ _
- .
' Nebraska Public Power District
-4-
Randolph Wood, Director
,
_ Nebraska Department of Environmental
Quality
P.O. Box 98922
. Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922
Chairman
Nemaha County Board of Commissioners
Nemaha County Courthouse
1824 N Street
- Aubum, Nebraska 68305
Cheryl Rogers, LLRW Program' Manager
Environmental Protection Section
Nebraska Department of Health
301 Centennial Mall, South
P.O. Box 95007
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5007
R. A. Kucera, Department Director -
.of Intergovemmental Cooperation
'
Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Kansas Radiation Control Program Director
l
'
,
4
,-
I
._ --_ - -
_ _ _ - - _ -
- _ _ ____ _ _,
Nebraska Public Power District -
-5-
E-Mail report to T. Frye (TJF)
E-mail report to D. Lange (DJL)
E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)
E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)
! E-Mail report to Richard Correia (RPC)
E Mail report to Frank Talbot (FXT)
bec to DCD (IE40)
bec distrib. by RIV:
Regional Administrator
Resident inspector
DRP Director
DRS-PSB
Branch Chief (DRP/C)
MIS System
Branch Chief (DRPfrSS) .
RIV File
Project Engineer (DRP/C)
Carol Gordon
The Chairman (MS:~ 16-G-15)
Records Center, INPO
Deputy Regional Administrator
C. A. Hackney, RSLO
Commissioner Dieus
B. Henderson, PAO
Commissioner Diaz
B. Murray, DRS/PSB
Commissioner McGaffigan-
.
SRis at all RIV sites
'
L. J. Callan, EDO (MS: 17-G-21)
Associate Dir. for Projects, NRR
Associate Dir. for insp., and Tech. Assmt, NRR .
SALP Program Manager, NRR/lLPB (2 copies)
J. N. Hannon, NRR Project Director
J. R. Hall, NRR Project Manager
~
L
DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\_CNS\\CN899SF.KEB
I
To resolve copy of document, Indicsee in box: "C" = copy without enclosures "E"
Copy with enckpfes "N"
RIV:DD:DRP
D:DRS
D:PDIV-1
/
RW//
KEBrockman;df r/A
ATHowell
JNHannon
JEDy/
Ei4M0forecfioff
8/ 6 /98 -
W
8/17/98 (E)
8/17/98 (T)
8]//98
8// 7/98
'
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
I
i
l
_____:____--_-____.=___-.-______---____-_-------------_-
- - _ _ - - . - . = - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - ~
.
-
. - _ .
- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
i
'
,
j
Nebraska Public Power District
-5-
i
E Mail report to T. Frye (TJF)
E-mail report to D. Lange (DJL)
E Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)
E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)
l
E Mail report to Richard Correia (RPC)
E Mail report to Frank Talbot (FXT)
bec to DCD (IE40)
t
l
bec distrib. by RIV:
Regional Administrator
Resident inspector
DRP Director
DRS-PSB
Branch Chief (DRP/C)
MIS System
Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
RIV File
Project Engineer (DRP/C)
Carol Gordon
The Chairman (MS: 16-G-15)
Records Center, INPO
Deputy Regional Administrator
C. A. Hackney, RSLO
Commissioner Dieus
B. Henderson, PAO
Commissioner Diaz
B. Murray, DRS/PSB
Commissioner McGaffigan
SRIs at all RIV sites
L. J. Callan, EDO (MS: 17-G-21)
Associate Dir. for Projects, NRR
Associate Dir. for insp., and Tech. Assmt, NRR
SALP Program Manager, NRR/lLPB (2 copies)
i
J. N. Hannon, NRR Project Director
'
J. R. Hall, NRR Project Manager
l
\\
i
' DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\_CNS\\CN899SF.KEB
)
To receive copy of document, Indicato in box: 'C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclofwfos "N"
!
RIV:DD:DRP
D:DRS
D:PDIV-1
/
RW//
l
KEBrockman;df /0
ATHowell
JNHannon
JEDy/
Mpechoff
8/ h . /98
-W
8/17/98 (E)
8/17/98 (T)
81 / /9 8
8//7/98
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
'
210 M
f
-
. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_
_
J