ML20246P303

Responds to Re Plant.Discusses Util Performance Improvement Plan to Correct Identified Weaknesses in Addition to short-term Corrective Actions

ML20246P303
Person / Time
Site:	Calvert Cliffs
Issue date:	07/17/1989
From:	Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Mikulski B, Sarbanes P SENATE
References
NUDOCS 8907200162
Download: ML20246P303 (4)

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Npmq<% hRC PDR MCallahan UNITED STATES Local PDR BCalure

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i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 PDI-1 Rdg FGillespie

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k ***** / JPartlow SVarga WRussell, RI JTaylor CHAtRMAN BClByton JB1aha DCrutchfield HThompson 0GC BBoger JDYer VStello SECY The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes BHallums United States Senate DMossburg Washington, D.C. 20510 CVogan i LTripp, RI

Dear Senator Sarbanes:

JWiggins, RI I am responding to your letter of June 14, 1989, concerning the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The Commission agrees that the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E), in addition to the short-term corrective actions already identified, must effectively implement its Performance Improvement Plan to correct identified weaknesses at the facility. We consider it essential that our licensees remain accountable for the safe operation of their facilities, are able to assess their own shortcomings, and can develop and implement appropriate corrective actions to resolve identified problems.

i BG&E has committed to institute corrective actions for the pressurizer heater leakage identified at Unit 2 and the weaknesses  !

manifested in (1) the control of system status. (2) the control of work activities, and (3) procedural control and compliance. On May 25, 1989, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a Confirmatory Action Letter reiterating our understanding of these commitments and the necessity for NRC concurrence with the corrective actions taken. These commitments will ensure that immediate, short-term corrective actions are implemented prior to the restart of either unit at the Calvert Cliffs site.

With regard to longer-term efforts to finprove facility per-formance, on April 7, 1989, BG&E submitted to the NRC a Performance Improvement Plan, which was developed to identify the root causes of the facility's declining performance and to specify the actions that will be taken to improve performance. The licensee will also submit by July 31, 1989, a revision to the Plan to provide an in-depth analysis of the actions and resources required to attain the goal of improved plant performance. To ensure that BG&E has adequately assessed the root causes and that appropriate corrective ac tions are identified, scheduled, and implemented, the NRC has established a Calvert Cliffs Assessment Panel, composed of senior NRC managers from our Region I and headquarters offices, to evaluate BG&E's performance improvement efforts as outlined in the Plan.

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I~can assure you that the NRC will continue-to maintain its increased inspection coverage at the facility and to verify the adequacy of BG8E's efforts to correct identified weaknesses. It is.our hope that, through the combined efforts of the licensee'and the NRC, Calvert Cliffs can be restored to its prior status as a high quality plant. We will keep you fully informed of our-activities at Calvert Cliffs to ensure that the. facility will be.

operated safely.

Sincerely, M.

Kenneth M. Carr.

Identical ltr for: The Honorable Barbara A. M:Nilski United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 i

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FROM: DUE: 07/03/89 EDO. CONTROL: 0004555-DOC DT 06/14/89 FINAL REPLY:-

S n.' Paul S. Sarbanes' fi S;n. Barbara A. Mikulski 1

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Chairman.2ech FOR SIGNATURE OF:. ** PRI ** CRC'NO: 89-05B4 Chairman

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CONCERNSABOUT THE OPERATIONAL SAFETY: VIOLATIONS Stello AT CALVERT' CLIFFS Taylor Thompson '

- DATE: 06/21/89 Blaha-Russell, RI' ASSIGNED'TO - CONTACT:

NRR Murley

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- SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

NRR RECEIVED: JUNE,21 1989..

' ACTION:-

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NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK PARTLOW MIRAGLIA CRUTCHFIELD GILLESPIE M0SSBURG I

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PAP'ER NUMBER:' CRC-89-0584 ' LOGGING DATE: Jun 20 89 L

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-AUTHOR:. B.A..Mikulski/Sarbanes '

AFFILIATION: UNITED STATES SENATE LETTER DATE: Jun 14 89 FILE CODE:'

SUBJECT:

Concerns about the operational safety violations at "

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, Calvert Cliffs l

ACTION:. Signature of Chairman i

DISTRIBUTION: RF, DOC 'i SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA to Ack.

NOTES:

DATE DUE:. Jul 5 89 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

' AFFILIATION:

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June 14,.1989 1

1 Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr. I Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717.H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Zech:

We are writing to express our concerns about the operational

. safety violations at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant.

We have been fortunate in Maryland-that, until very recently, there have been no serious problems at Calvert Cliffs, such as those that characterized the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Plant. Indeed, for.over a decade, Calvert Cliffs was widely regarded as a model plant.- However, the safety and procedural violations which led the NRC last December to place the facility.

on the " watch list" of nuclear pirats requiring.close monitoring, and the new violations recently cited by the NRC's special team inspection, have undermined public confidence in the operations and management of the nuclear station.

'To their credit, Baltimore Gas and Electric officials acknowledge the downward slide in their nuclear safety record and have expressed a commitment to make procedural compliance and plant safety the first priority in operating Calvert Cliffs. The Company's recent decision to delay start-up of the two reactors until corrective procedural and maintenance actions are taken is a positive first step in demonstrating this commitment. However, further efforts and effective implementation of a corrective action plan will be needed before confidence in the facility can be restored.

There is no room for complacency in the operations of an atomic power plant. Every precaution must be taken to ensure that nuclear power plants operate under the strictest of safety procedures. In this regard, the NRC's actions with respect to Calvert Cliffs appear to be timely and appropriate.

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i L2ndo W. Zoch, Jr.

' June 14, 1989 ,

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We ask that you continue to keep us informed of the NRC's efforts to assure that the management and employees of the j facility will follow the strict. procedures required to safely run the plant.

l Sincerely, j BaTbara A. M fk u ls k'i Paul S. Sarbanes United States Senator United States Senator

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