ML20237D066
| ML20237D066 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rancho Seco |
| Issue date: | 12/11/1987 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Wilcox C SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8712230026 | |
| Download: ML20237D066 (2) | |
Text
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r DEC 11Igp Mr. Clifford Wilcox President, Board of Directors Sacramento Municipal Utility District Post Office Box 15830 Sacramento, California 95852-1830
Dear Mr. Wilcox:
On November 17 and 18, 1987, NRC senior managers met to review the performance of operating nuclear power plants licensed by the NRC. These meetings are conducted biannually to focus NRC resources on those plants and related issues of greatest safety significance. At this meeting the Rancho Seco facility was I
categorized as requiring substantial improvement.
NRC places plants in this category that have experienced degradation in performance, and for which the licensee has yet to fully establish and implement a viable program for correcting the problems. These plants are shutdown and will require NRC review and approval for startup. Based on Rancho Seco being in this category, prior to approval for startup, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District will have to establish an acceptable program to ensure substantial improvement in plant performance.
A summary of NRC discussions held relating to Rancho Seco is provided below:
The bulk of the licensee's effort for the last six months has been devoted to resolving the large number of open items resulting from the eariier problem identification program. Considerable progress has been made in improving the quality and timeliness of engineering work, and the major modification efforts are nearing completion. The preventive maintenance program and the planned power ascension test programs appear to be satisfactory. A recent NRC team inspection involvin headquarters, regional and contractor personnel (ASTRP)g found that ongoing technical work was much improved over that found in the past.
Even though considerable progress has been made, much remains to be done. The most pressing concerns are completing modification work items, finishing procedures and test documents, and training people in preparation for restart.
In short, an " operations perspective" needs to be formed. Many items requiring NRC review and I
approval are not being submitted in a timely manner.
l l
8712230026 871211 PDR ADOCK 05000312 P
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- s DEC '11 1987 The procedure for the very important loss of power test (LOP) was not given.to NRC for review until after preparatory. portions of the test had started. NRC i
comments and concerns will probably delay restart.
Several other items are in this same situation. The net effect of this is to keep both NRC and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District preoccupied with completing plant readiness and thereby inhibiting a needed focus on operations.
Forming an " operations perspective" too late was found by NRC to be the cause of poor-operating experience during startup of other plants (see l
NUREG-1275, Operating Experience Feedback Report - New
. Plants).
An~ NRC Commission meeting open to the public has been scheduled for December 17, 1987, to review the results of the latest meeting of NRC f
managers. Mr. John B. Martin, the Region V Administrator,.has discussed the' l
basis for our conclusions with regard to the Rancho Seco facility with members of your staff.
l If you have'any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely, Original si6 nod by Victor Stello Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations DISTRIBUTION:
V Stello Jr.
JM Tay' lor T Rehm J.B. Martin, RV T.E. Murley, NRR TO Martin EDO r/f Central File
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