ML20248J027

Forwards Outline of NRC Review of Licensee Performance in Areas of Safety Operations,Safeguards,Radiological Controls, Facility Support & Licensing Activities

ML20248J027
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	05/08/1998
From:	Merchoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Femreite B EXXON TECHNOLOGY HOLDING CORP.
References
NUDOCS 9806080352
Download: ML20248J027 (6)

Text

1

1. *% UNITED ST ATES g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION -

REClON IV af 611 RYAN PLAZA ORIVE, Suff E 400 o ARLINGTON, TEXAS 760114064 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 REVIEWOF 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 l Commission (NRC) licensed activities. The review evaluated your perforrr.ance for the period January 31,1996, through January 1,1998. This review provides you with feedback on how i NRC senior management 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 Power Corpeid;cn 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 thd Siemens has continued to exhibit a good level of performarim with attention to safety. The efforts of your criticality safety update program are evkient by the quality of the criticality safety analyses and fol'ow through implementation of the program, Performance in the areas of radiological coduols 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 invc:U: i procese, and individuals' performance and accountability in carrying out established procedures and programs. We recognize that you have made substantial progress in your radioactive waste min!n,1zation 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.

Based on this review the NRC has decided to increase its inspection effort in pack' aging and 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. /

P O 57 C; _ ,

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3 Siemens Power Corporation In accordance with 10 CFR 2.700 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 discuss them with you.

$incerely,

/.

Ellis W. Merschoff Regional Adminis tor Docket No.: 70-1257 License No.: SNM-1227 1

Enclosure:

Licensee Performance Review cc w/ enclosure:

L J. Maas, Manager Regulatory Compliance Siemens Power Corporation 2101 Horn Rapids Road P.O. Box 130 Richland, Washington 99352-0130 Washington Radiation Control Program Director 4

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• l ENCLOSURE I

SIEMENS POWER CORPORATION LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW JANUARY 31,1996 - JANUARY 1,1998 The following is a summary of program strengths, s,eas 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.

Program Strenath_s l

. Criticality Safety Analyses (CSA) format and technical quality

. Flow-down from CSA and implementation of nuclear criticality safety (NCS) limits 3 and controls

. Process Safety Management Program for chemical safety

. Identification cnd management involvement in responding to abnormal events Areas Needina improvement

. Personnel errors and performance lapses

. Depth and exploration of all issues identifieo during incident investigations Challenges 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 tha hazard analysis when constructing and installing new systems l

P j .

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

Procram Strenoths -

- Ongoing efforts to reduce material flow paths involving high uncertainty measurements Areas Needino Improvement

- Reduction of the inventory for scrap material backlog l - Prolected Challenaes to Performance L

No significant challenges to performance in safeguards were identified C. PERFORMANCE AREA: RADIOLOGICAL CONTROLS l This area is comprised of radiation protection, environmental protection, waste l managernent, and transportation.

Proaram Strenoths

- 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 i

- Packaging and shipment of fuel product Chajiences to Performance

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

- liquid waste treatment system

. Continuation of waste minimization and reduction of waste stored onsite l

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.

! O 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

. Formalized operator training and qualification program

. Areas Needina improvement

. - No significant areas needing improvement in facility support were identified Challenoes to Performance

. No significant challenges to performance in facility support were identified E. PERFORMANCE AREA: LICENSING ACTMTIES This area is comprised of safety licensing and the fundamental nuclear material control plan.

Prooram Strenaths

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

Areas Needina improvement

. Requisite support for license aniendment submittals

. Clarify commitments in the Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan and implement material control and accounting (MC&A) cnbcal procedures in the areas of physical inventory, tamper-indicating devices, MC&A training, independent assessment, and item control program Chr": -:+s to Performance

.-. Identification of all the vulnerabilities for operations from an integrated perspective without the benefit of an Integrated Safety Analysis or similar process

,,