ML20248B590

Corrected Response to 890523 Request for Comments on Press Article Discussing Low Ratings in Radiation Controls & Overall Operation in Recent Months at Plant

ML20248B590
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	06/06/1989
From:	Stolz J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Larson J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 8906090112
Download: ML20248B590 (3)

Text

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%o l k UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j

g ef WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 l

050~061989 Mrs. Julia G. Larson i

l.

200 Villanova Road i

Glassboro, New Jersey 08028 j

Dear Mrs. Larson:

I am responding to your May 23, 1989 letter to Dr. Thomas E. Marley regarding the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

Your letter requested our comments on a recent newspaper article discussing low ratings in radiation d

controls and overall operation in recent months.

I We believe the source of information for the newspaper article to be the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) report issued by the U.S.

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Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on April 17, 1989.

A copy of-that report is enclosed for your information.

SALP reports are issued for all nuclear power plants in the United States approximately once every 15 months.

These reports are intended to provide feedback to utilities regarding their strengths and weaknesses and to provide a rationale for allocation of NRC inspection ressurces.

The purpose of and criteria for this process are more fully explained in the enclosed report.

In the case of a Category 3 rating the licensee's performance does not significantly exceed that needed to meet minimal regulatory requirements.

Facilities that fail to maintain adequate level of safety performance are subject to shutdown of the facility.

In the enclosed Oyster Creek SALP report, you will note that a Category 3 rating was given for plant operations (Section IV. A) with an " improving" trend.

This indicates that improvements have been made in the operation over l

the previous assessment period, for which a Category 3 rating was also given, but the improvement wasn't extensive enough to warrant a Category 2 rating.

1 In the radiological controls section of the report (Section IV.B) the NRC i

noted that GPU Nuclear's program remains adequate but that continuing weaknesses were identified that contributed to a noticeable degradation in l

program effectiveness.

Consequently a Category 3 rating was given for the i

most recent period compared to Category 2 for the previous period. However, the noted weaknesses deal with issues such as work planning, event analysis and reduction of radiation exposure to on-site workers.

None of these issues directly affect control of rediation to the environs outside the site boundary.

In fact, the SALP report lists as one of GPU Nuclear's strengths their program to reduce the release of liquid radioactive effluents from the site.

GPU Nuclear l

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krs. Julia G. Larson,

p has recognized the need to improve performance in the areas discussed in the NRC's report and presented plans for improvement to the NRC d: ring a SALP Management meeting on May 8,.1989.

I trust these comments respond to your concerns.

Sincerely,.

~

L o 1 F. Stolz, Directo r ject Directorate I-ivision of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation'

Enclosure:

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Mrs. Julia G. Larson

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has recognized the need to improve performance in the areas discussed in the NRC's' report and presented plans for improvement to the NRC during a SALP Menagement meeting on May 8, 1989.

I trust these connents respond to your concerns.

Sincerely, Al John F. Stolz, Director Project Directorate I.4 Division of Reactor Projects I/II.

Office of Huclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

As stated DISTRIBUT70hi w/o enclosure iDocket::FHed77fy T. mum &y/$niezek J. Partlow S. Varga B.'Boger J. Stolz l

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[ LETTER TO MRS. JULIA LARSON) l

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

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