ML20239A638
| ML20239A638 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 10/29/1986 |
| From: | Murley T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20239A629 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-87-438 NUDOCS 8709180040 | |
| Download: ML20239A638 (3) | |
Text
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,e KINO OF PRUSSIA. PENNSYLVANIA 19406 b.I Docket No. 50-410 MEMORANDUM FOR:
Harold R. Denton, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Thomas E. Murley, Regional Administrator
SUBJECT:
NINE MILE POINT UNIT 2, LOW POWER LICENSE RECOMMENDATION This memorandum provides the Region I assessment and recommendation for issuance of a Low Power Operating License for NMP-2.
This plant had a history of problems during construction. Because of some concerns we had in 1983, I asked the Director, It., to schedule a Construction Assessment Team (CAT) inspection in November 1983. The team found a number of deficiencies in the plant and in the QA programs. The deficiencies led to 4
an enforcement action comprised of a 5100,000 civil penalty and an order requiring an independent audit of both Unit 1 operations and Unit 2 construction, a quality improvement program, and an independent review of the licensee's corrective p
action program including the adequacy of its implementation.
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC) senior management responded promptly'and positively.
In early 1984 they brought in an independent organization to assess their operations. This assessmsnt led to significant organizational changes to strengthen NMPC management of construction and the addition of experienced cons-truction management people from outside the company. As a result, they slowly but steadily corrected their construction management and QA problems.
In addition, during this period the President of NMPC has given close personal attention to the progress of these improvement activities.
In July 1986, as a result of resident inspector activities observing electrical connector replacements on Unit 1, we received some allegations that raised ques-tions concerning the quality of operations at Unit 1, and by extension, poten-tially at Unit 2.
We sent a team to the site to conduct a diagnostic inspection of the issues as well as the overall operation of Unit 1.
We requested that the licensee conduct their own investigation of the specific issues identified in the allegations and of any broader issues they might indicate.
The diagnostic team inspection concluded that there were no immediate technical safety issues resulting from the allegations, however, the team did conclude that
.there were programmatic weaknesses in the NMPC management system, in that:
1.
Methods within the organization to identify shortcomings and potential problems have not been effectively implemented. As a result, problems
.are frequently not brought to the attention of management for resolution.
t 8709180040 870916 PDR FDIA WETTERH87-438 PDR
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NN Harold R. Denton, Director 2
2.
Once identified, problems are not always dealt with in sufficient depth to find root causes.
3.
The NMPC.0perational QA program is not as effective as it should be in helping the line organization to find and correct problems.
In the course of the diagnostic inspection, we found additional material that raised questions about the effectiveness of their overall QA program at Unit 2.
In order to resolve these. issues we sent a QA audit team to conduct an onsite follow-up inspection. The team determined that there were no safety issues and i
no unresolved hardware issues. However, similar to the above diagnostic inspec-tion, the QA audit team concluded that some programmatic issues existed, pri-marily due to organizational problems, and these issues need to be corrected.
As a result of our followup to these issues Region I believes that the senior management of HMPC recognizes these weaknesses and has committed to take the necessary actions to correct them, although it will take some time to fully implement all of the corrective actions.
Therefore, we will monitor their progress carefully until we are satisfied that the weaknesses are corrected.
To put this in perspective, however, we believe that the overall management of Unit 1 is effective and that the weaknesses discussed above do not represent a fundamental problem that would seriously question the ability of NMPC to operate
. Unit 2 safely.
Accordingly, I and the Region I staff recommend the issuance of a low Power Operating License for Nine Mile Point, Unit 2.
This recommendation is based upon the Region I evaluation documented in the attached Initial Operating License Review Report and upon the following specifics:
1.
We have concluded that Niagara Howhawk Power Corporation is
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essentially ready to load fuel at Nine Mile Point Unit 2 and is capable of operating the plant safely at low power.
2.
The construction and preoperational testing inspection programs have i
shown that the Nine Mile Point Unit 2 plant has been constructed substantially in conformance with the construction permit and the application, as amended, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulatior.s of the Commission, as required by 10 CFR 50.57(a)(1) and(2).
3.
Each Region I professional staff member was requested by memoranda dated December 8, 1985 and September 9, 1986 to identify eny unad-dressed safety concerns which he or she might have concerning Nine Mile Point Unit 2.
One concern was raised that action to resolve problems with the design and operability of the Main Steam Isolation Valves (MSIVs) be completed prior to issuance of the license. These issues were already under regional and NRR licensing staff review.
All regional personnel are now satisfied with the peogram described in the following paragraph to resolve the MSIV issues.
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l-Harold R. Denton, Director 3
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A remaining issue concerns the closure time and leakage requirements of the MSIVs. As the valves are a unique ball valve design, we are particularly concerned about the resolution of these problems and will continue to follow them closely including offsite prototype valve testing. However, we believe it is acceptable to issue the low power license at this point and to require that the MSIV requirements be individually assessed as to their impact on initial criticality and power operation requirements. This issue has been carefully reviewed by the NRR and regional staffs, and we are in agreement with the NRR licensing approach. The following actions are planned by Region I to evaluate the licensee's performance during initial operations:
1.
Three resident inspectors are assigned to the Nine Mile Point site.
The initial operations of Unit 2 will be assigned priority such that coverage will be provided by the resident inspectors to ensure confor-mance with the Technical Specifications.
2.
Region-based startup testing specialists will be assigned such that onsite coverage of fuel loading and startup testing will be provided.
3.
A special team inspection will review the licensee's operations in an in-depth, diagnostic manner during the power ascension program. The team will review the effectiveness of their management controls in addition to the safety of their daily operations. The inspectors will utilize the inspection techniques developed during similar team inspec-tions at TMI, Pilgrim and Peach Bottom. This effort is expected to involve in excess of 500 inspection hours.
In conclusion, I find that Nine Mile Point Unit 2 has been constructed substan-tially in accordance with Construction Permit CPPR-112, the FSAR, and NRC requirements, and that the licensee is capable of operating the plant safely at low power subject to the conditions of the license.
4W Thomas E. Murley Regional Administrator
Attachment:
Initial Operating License Review Report w/ enclosures cc: w/ attachment V. Stello, E00 J. Sniezek, DEDROGR J. Taylor, IE J. Davis, NMSS R. Bernero, NRR E Adensam, NRR
. Haughey, NRR I
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