ML20247D705

Discusses NRC Performance Review of Licensed Activities on 961231-980101.Concludes That NRC Decided to Increase Insp Effort in Packaging & Shipping of Nuclear Fuel & Seek to Reduce Level of Insp in Area of Safeguards

ML20247D705
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	05/08/1998
From:	Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Femreite B SIEMENS POWER CORP. (FORMERLY SIEMENS NUCLEAR POWER
References
NUDOCS 9805180034
Download: ML20247D705 (6)

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f UNITED STATES 7

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION a

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REGION IV 611 HYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400 o

ARLlNGTON, TEXAG 760118064 May 8, 1998 B. N. Femreite, Vice President Manufacturing h

Siemens Power Corporation 2101 Horn Rapids Road P.O. Box 130 Richland, Washington 99352-0130

SUBJECT:

NRC PERFORMANCE REVIEWOF LICENS IES

Dear Mr. Femreite:

During April 1998, managers and staffin Region IV and the Offi Commission (NRC) licensed activities. The review ev ear Regulatory January 31,1996, through January 1 1998 i

NRC senior management assesses y,our pe. This review provides you establishing the NRC inspection program for your licensed activities rformance, and will be used as a basis for Your performance was evaluated in five major areas which incl d d safeguards, radiological controls, facility support and licensing activitiu NRC's review, in the form of strengths, areas nee, ding impro es. An outline of the Corporation facility during an open meeting on June e

emens Power you to discuss your view of your performance in the same major areasuri Overall, our review indicates that Siemens has continued to exhibit with attention to safety. The efforts of your criticality safety update p quality of the criticality safety analyses and follow through implement t Performance in the areas of radiological controls and facility su a on of the program.

performance trends have been generally positive. Some areas ne dippo the packaging and shipping of nuclear fuel, the depth and ex l e ngimprovementinclude incident investigation process, and individuals' performance a dp oration in your radioactive waste minimization and volume re

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made substantial progress decommissioning of the lagoons and waste reduction as a i e or s. However, we see the full presentation of the performance review results is provided i ths gnific n e enclosure.

Based on this review the NRC has decided to increase its i shipping of nuclear fuel, seek to reduce the level of inspection in thnspec current levels of performance continue, and reduce the inspection eff t i e area of safeguards if operations, radiological controls and facility support.or n the areas of safety 9805180034 980500 PDR C

ADOCK 07001257 PDR

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D 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400 AR LINGTON, T EXAS 760118064 May 8, 1998 B. N. Femreite, Vice President Manufacturing Siemens Power Corporation 2101 Hom Rapids Road P.O. Box 130 Richland, Washington 99352-0130

SUBJECT:

NRC PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF LICENSED ACTIVITIES

Dear Mr. Femreite:

During April 1998, managers and staff in Region IV and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) reviewed your program for conducting Nuclear Regulatory.

Commission (NRC) licensed activities. The review evaluated your performance for the period January 31,1996, through January 1,1998. This review provides you with feedback on how NRC senior n.anagement assesses your performance, and will be used as a basis for establishing the NRC inspection program for your licensed activities.

Your performance was evaluated in five major areas which included safety operations, safeguards, radiological controls, facility support, and licensing activities. An outline of the NRC's review, in the form of strengths, areas needing improvement, and challenges, is enclosed. The results of the review will be discussed with you at the Siemens Pewer Corporation facility during an open meeting on June 10,1998. During the meeting, we expect you to discuss your view of your performance in the same major areas.

Overall, our review indicates that Siemens has continued to exhibit a good level of performance with attention to safety. The efforts of your criticality safety update program are evident by the quality of the criticality safety analyses and follow through implementation of the program.

Performance in the areas of radiological controls and facility support was good and MC&A

. performance trends have been generally positive. Some areas needing improvement include the packaging and shipping of nuclear fuel, the depth and exploration of issues during the incident investigation process, and individuals' performance and accountability in carrying out

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established procedures and programs. We recognize that you have made substantial progress in your radioactive waste minimization and volume reduction efforts. However, we see the decommissioning of the lagoons and waste reduction as a significant continuing challenge. The full presentation of the performance review results is provided in the enclosure.

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l Based on this review the NRC has decided to increase its inspection effort in packaging and l

shipping of nuclear fuel, seek to reduce the level of inspection in the area of safeguards if current levels of performance continue, and reduce the inspection effort in the areas of safety operations, radiological controls and facility support.

9805180034 980508 PDR ADOCK 07001257 C

PDR i

i Siemens Power Corporation In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

Should you have any questions or comments, we would be pleased to dNeuss them with you.

Sincerely,

'l.

Ellis W. Merschoff l

Regional Administ tor l

Docket No.: 70-1257 License No.: SNM-1227

Enclosure:

I Licensee Performance Review l

cc w/ enclosure:

L. J. Maas, Manager Regulatory Compliance Siemens Power Corporation 2101 Hom Rapids Road P.O. Box 130 l

Richland, Washington 99352-0130 1

Washington Radiation Control Program Director I

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4 ENCLOSURE I

SIEMENS POWER CORPORATION LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW JANUARY 31,1996 - JANUARY 1,1998 The following is a summary of program strengths, areas needing improvement, and challenges for performance of Siemens Power Corporation in the conduct of NRC licensed activities.

A.

PERFORMANCE AREA: SAFETY OPERATIONS This area is comprised of criticality safety, chemical process safety, plant operations, fire protection, and management controls.

Proaram Strenaths Criticality Safety Analyses (CSA) format and technical quality Flow-down from CSA and implementation of nuclear criticality safety (NCS) limits 1

and controls I

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Process Safety Management Program for chemical safety Identification and management involvement in responding to abnormal events Areas Needina Improvement Personnel errors and performance lapses Depth and exploration of all issues identified during incident investigations -

Challenaes to Performance For reporting thresholds based on " triple barrier / controls," each barrier / control in -

the CSA must be independent and technically sound

- Consistency between installed mitigation features and that described in the hazard analysis when constructing and installing new systems

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. DRAFT - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

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' B.

PERFORMANCE AREA: SAFEGUARDS This area is comprised of material control and accounting and physical security.

Proaram Strenaths Ongoing efforts to reduce material flow paths involving high uncertainty

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measurements j

k Areas Needina Improvement Reduction of the inventory for scrap material backlog j

Projected Challenoes to Performance

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No significant challenges to performance in safeguards were identified C.

PERFORMANCE AREA: RADIOLOGICAL CONTROLS This area is comprised of radiation protection, environmental protection, waste management, and transportation.

Procram Strenaths Well developed radiation and environmental protection programs with emphasis on ensuring worker and public doses are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)

Areas Needina improvement l

Packaging and shipment of fuel product Challenoes to Performance l.

Cleanup and decommissioning of the liquid waste lagoons and installation of new l

liquid waste treatment system Continuation of waste minimization and reduction of waste stored onsite D.

PERFORMANCE AREA: FACILITY SUPPORT This area is comprised of programs and systems that support safe operations throughout the facility including maintenance and surveillance, training, and emergency preparedness.

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.. Proaram Strenoths Well organized and implemented computerized preventative maintenance and instrument calibration program Labeling and identification of process and auxiliary support systems Configuration control program 4

Formalized operator training and qualification program Areas Needina Improvement No significant areas needing improvement in facility support were identified Challenges to Performance I

No significant challenges to performance in facility support were identified E.

PERFORMANCE AREA: LICENSING ACTIVITIES I

This area is comprised of safety licensing and the fundamental nuclear material control

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plan.

l Program Strenaths No significant program strengths in the area of safety licensing were identified.

l Areas Needina impmvement Requisite support for license aniendment submittals l

Clarify commitments in the Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan and I

implement material control and accounting (MC&A) critical procedures in the f

areas of physical inventory, tamper-indicating devices, MC&A training, i

independent assessment, and item control program i

Challenoes to Performance Identification of all the vulnerabilities for operations from an integrated perspective l

without the benefit of an integrated Safety Analysis or similar process

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