ML20239A272
| ML20239A272 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 08/28/1998 |
| From: | Miller H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Maret G VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20239A274 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-271-98-99, NUDOCS 9809080358 | |
| Download: ML20239A272 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000271/1998099
Text
.-
ib
August 28,1998
Mr. Gregory A. Maret.
Director of Operations
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
185 Old Ferry Road
Brattleboro, VT 05301
' SUBJECT:
' VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION SYSTEMATIC
-
' ASSESSMENT OF LICENSEE PERFORMANCE (SALP) REPORT
NO. 50-271/98-99
' Dear Mr. Maret:
This letter forwards the SALP report for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station for the
period January 19,1997, through July 18,1998 (Enclosure 1). The U.S. Nuclear
' Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted this assessment using the SALP process the
agency implemented on July 19,1993. In this process, the NRC evaluates the
performance of licensees in four functional areas: Operations, Maintenance, Engineering,
and Plant Support. The Plant Support area includes radiological and effluent controls,
.' chemistry, security, emergency preparedness, fire protection, and housekeeping. -
Overall, performance at Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station during the assessment
period was good. Senior management was involved in plant activities at a level that
resulted in several improvements to plant performance. Management established a
lowered threshold for problem reporting, improving problem identification. Particularly
noteworthy was management's implementation of the Configuration Management
improvement Project, which improved identification of design and licensing issues.
Oversight committees appropriately focused on the resolution of operational problems and
human performance weaknesses. Equipment performance and overall plant material
- condition was veiy good and resulted in a high state of readiness of standby safety
systems. Several weaknesses, specifically, procedure quality, event reporting, and
oversight of contractor activities, were identified across functional areas and as such
require additional management emphasis.
Performance in the Operations area was rated Category 2. Operator performance during
.
- normal operations, planned evolutions, and plant transients was typically very good.
Improved operator communications resulted in better control of plant evolutions.
- However, operator errors have continued since the previous SALP period to contribute to
plant events, and the quality of some procedures used to control plant operations has been
L
_ poor.
l-
[
Performance in the Maintenance area was rated Category 2. Personnel performance of on-
line preventive and corrective maintenance activities was typically error free. Maintenance
l
.' activities were effective as evidenced by reliable equipment and safety system
t
performance.' While noting the very good plant material condition, weaknesses, such as
poor oversight and control of some refueling outage activities, detracted from the typical
I
good performance in this area. Inadequate control of work activities resulted in problems
-
\\
"
9809080358 980828
,
lp8
ADOCK 05000271
8
PH
o
-
_ _ _ _ - _ - - - _ - - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ - _ - _ _ -
. _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
_
.
'
Mr. Gregory A. Maret
2
in conducting torus modifications, vital battery testing, and motor-operated valve work.
- Also, deficiencies were observed in some surveillance procedures.
)
Performance in the Engineering area was rated Category 2. The Configuration
.
Management improv6 ment Project activities have been effective in identifying several
L
design and licensing basis issues.' However, root cause evaluations and corrective actions
l
for some issues were not comprehensive. In addition, the backlog of engineering activities
]
l=
continued to challenge the organization. As a result, required NRC notifications were
sometimes delayed and supplemental reports were frequently required due to the delay in
.
completing root cause analyses and in formulating long-term corrective actions.
i
Performance in the Plant Support area was rated Category 2, a decline from the previous
assessment period. Although overall performance in radiation protection was good, work
controls, as well as coordination and communication of radiological plans and controls for
the torus modifications, were initially weak. In addition, while the security program
performance was satisfactory overall, problems were noted in the perimeter alarm system
and in personnel searches, reflecting an inattention to detail in some important security
program areas. Performance in fire protection, effluent controls, chemistry, emergency
preparedness, and housekeeping was good.
We have scheduled a management meeting with you at 1:00 pm on Wednesday,
September 16,1998. The meeting is open to the public. At the meeting, you should be
prepared to discuss our assessment and the initiatives you have ongoing or plan to take to
address the weaknesses detailed in our evaluation.
Enclosure 2 provides the schedule of NRC inspections of your facility planned for the next
year. We willinform you of any changes. The routine resident inspection effort is not
included in this schedule. We appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By W. Axelson for:
Hubert J. Miller
Regional Administrator
Docket No. 50-271
Enclosures:
-1.
Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance No. 50-271/98-99
2..
Inspection Plan
1
l
l
_ - -_-- . _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ -
_ - .
.
___
_
_-
.
.
Mr. Gregory A. Maret
3
cc w/ encl:
R. McCullough,. Operating Experience Coordinator - Vermont Yankee -
i
G. Sen, Licen. sing Manager, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
l
D. Rapaport, Director, Vermont Public interest Research Group, Inc.
'
D. Tefft, Administrator, Bureau of Radiological Health, State of New Hampshire
Chief, Safety Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
. D. Lewis, Esquire
G. Bisbee, Esquire
J. Block, Esquire
T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
D. Katz, Citizens Awareness Network (CAN)
. M. Daley, New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, Inc.'(NECNP)
-
State of New Hampshire, SLO Designee
State of Vermont, SLO Designee
Commonwealth'of Massachusetts, SLO Designee
I
- Chairman Jackson -
Commissioner Diaz
Commissioner McGaffigan
Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
j
_
_=
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ -
-
, . _ _ - - _
-
_ - _ - - _ _ - - _ _ _ _ _ - _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _
_ _ _ .
- _ - - - -
- - - - - .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ - _ - _ _
"
!
I
!.
Mr. Gregory A. Maret
4
Distribution w/ encl:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
l
Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident Inspector
H. Miller, RA/W. Axelson, DRA
D. Screnci, PAO
C. Cowgill, DRP
R. Summers, DRP
C. O'Daniell, DRP
G. Morris, DRS
L. Peluso, DRS
DRS Director
DRS Deputy Director
J. Lanning, DRM
Marie Oprendek, DRP
Distribution w/ encl (VIA E-MAIL):
B. McCabe, OEDO
J. Callan, EDO
S. Collins, NPR
B. Boger, NRR
J. Lieberman, OE
C. Thomas, NRR
R. Croteau, NRR
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
DOCDESK
I
~
NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 5\\1-VY\\VYSALP98.000
t of this document, indicate in the box: *C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
"N"=
tl/DRP//L}
Rl/DRP
rl
DRPE/NRR l
Rl/DRS
DRA/g
RA/ ORAM _
,
- Cowgill
JCrie,njak@ CThomas"
JWigginsQ
WAffJion'
HMijler
V
-.88// 7/9 8
08/$08
08/1N98
08/j "98 L
08y)f98
OEj})f/98
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
'
'
curred via teleconference