ML20248M026

Forwards SALP Rept 50-354/98-99 for Period of 961110-980516

ML20248M026
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	06/08/1998
From:	Miller H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Keiser H Public Service Enterprise Group
Shared Package
ML20248M027	List: IR 05000354/1998099 ML20248M026
References
50-354-98-99, NUDOCS 9806120258
Download: ML20248M026 (4)

See also: IR 05000354/1998099

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June 8,1998

Mr. Harold W. Keiser

Executive Vice President

Nuclear Business Unit

Public Service Electric & Gas Company

Post Office Box 236

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Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038

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SUBJECT: HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION - SYSTEMATIC ASSESSMENT OF

LICENSEE PERFORMANCE (SALP), REPORT NO. 50-354/98-99

Dear Mr. Keiser:

This letter forwards the Hope Creek Generating Station SALP report for the period

November 10,1996, to May 16,1998 (Enclosure 1). This assessment was conducted

using the SALP process that was implemented by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC) on July 19,1993. The SALP process rates licensees in four functional areas:

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Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Plant Support. The plant support area includes

radiological and effluent controls, chemistry, security, emergency preparedness, fire

protection, and housekeeping.

Hope Creek's performance during this SALP period has improved in all functional areas.

Operation since the fall 1997 outage has been nearly event-free. Several human

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performance issues associated with operations and maintenance procedure violations,

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attention to detail, and work controls were evident during the outage but were reduced

significantly after plant restart. Though some equipment issues remain, material condition

of the facility improved as a result of the numerous modifications installed during the

outage. The plant support functional area improved markedly, particularly with respect to

security and emergency preparedness.

Performance in the Operations functional area was rated Category 2. Operators performed

very well during most major planned evolutions and responded well to a number of

transients during the period. The operators also conducted an error-free reactor plant

startup after the refueling outage despite having to react to a number of equipment failures

that occurred. However, at times, control room operators did not exhibit a conservative

decision-making approach. Operator training and requalification was generally good

throughout the assessment period. Nonetheless, a decline in performance was recently

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identified during the administration of an NRC initiallicensing examination,

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Mr. Harold W. Keiser

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Performance in the Maintenance functional area was rated Category 2. Improvements in

the on-line maintenance program and in the material condition of the plant were observed,

in addition, the work control process improved notably after the refueling outage. The

corrective maintenance backlog was reduced by more than half by the end of the

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assessment period. Some issues continued to challenge the organization, demonstrating

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the need for further corrective actions. For example, weak management . oversight of both

maintenance personnel and the work control process prior to and during the startup

following the refueling outage resulted in extended unavailability of some safety systems.

Performance in the Engineering functional area was rated Category 2. Throughout the

period, management oversight and involvement in engineering activities typically produced

good results. As a result of heightened focus en Salem during its restart and of the staff

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reorganization, the backlog of engineering activitien grew. Nonetheless, items in the

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backlog were properly reviewed for impact on safety and suitably prioritized. Sound

engineering principles were generally observed in design activities. System engineering

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underwent a transition and the effectiveness of system monitoring was somewhat

inconsistent as was the quality of engineering support provided to operations and

maintenance. The use of industry operating experience improved. Licensing submittals

were usually timely and technically sound.

Performance in the Plant Support functional area was rated Category 1. The radiation

protection program was effective. The radioactive liquid and gaseous effluent control

programo, along with the radiological environmental monitoring program and the

meteorological monitoring program were well maintained and implemented. The chemistry

program was also effectively implemented. Significant, positive changes were made to the

emergency preparedness and security programs. The fire protection program was

effectively implemented.

Overall station performance with respect to the problem identification process was good.

The threshold for documenting deficient conditions at the station continued to be low.

Good performance in self assessments was observed, including timely correction of

- deficiencies. The Station Operations Review Committee, Nuclear Review Board, and

Quality Assurance organization continued to provide effective oversight of station

activities.

The schedule for planned NRC inspections of your facility was recently provided with our

May 29,1998 Plant Performance Review letter. We will inform you of any changes. The

routine resident inspection effort was not included in this schedule.

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' Mr. Harold W. Keiser

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We have scheduled a management meeting with you to discuss our assessment. The

meeting will be held at 2:00 pm on July 8,1998, at the PSE&G Processing Center and will

be open to the public. At the meeting, you and your staff should be prepared to discuss

our assessment and any initiatives you have ongoing or plan to take to address the issues

detailed in our evaluation.

We appreciate your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Original Signed By:

Hubert J. Miller

Regional Administrator

Docket No. 50-354

Enclosure:

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Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance Report No. 50-354/98-99

cc w/ encl:

L. Storz, Senior Vice President - Nuclear Operations

E. Simpson, Senior Vice President - Nuclear Engineering

E. Salowitz, Director - Nuclear Business Support

A. F. Kirby, Ill, External Operations - Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co.

J. A. Isabella, Manager, Joint Generation

Atlantic Electric

M. Bezilla, General Manager - Hope Creek Operations

J. McMahon, Director - Quality Assurance & Nuclear Safety Review

D. Powell, Director - Licensing, Regulation and Fuels

R. Kankus, Joint Owner Affairs

A. C. Tapert, Program Administrator

Jeffrey J. Keenan, Esquire

Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate

William Conklin, Public Safety Consultant, Lower Alloways Creek Township

State of New Jersey

State of Delaware

Chairman Jackson

Commissioner Dicus

Commissioner Diaz

Commissioner McGaffigan

institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)

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Mr. Harold W. Keiser

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Distribution w/ encl:

Region 1 Docket Room (with concurrences)

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident inspector

PUBLIC

H. Miller, RA/W. Axelson, DRA

J. Linville, DRP

S. Barber, DRP

L. Harrison, DRP

C. O'Daniell, DRP

J. Wiggins, DRS Director

L. Nicholson, DRS Deputy Director

M. Oprendek, DRP

J. Lanning, DRP

Distribution w/ encl: (Via E-Mail)

8. McCabe, OEDO

J. Callan, EDO

S. Collins, NRR

B. Boger, NRR

J. Lieberman, OE

R. Capra, PDI-2, NRR

R. Ennis, NRR

R. Correia, NRR

F. Talbot, NRR

DOCDESK

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

Distribution VIA E-Mail:

Region i Staff (Refer to SALP Drive)

DOCUMENT NAME: G :\\ BRAN C H 3\\1 -H C\\S ALP \\98 AH C S LP.J C L

T3 receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment! enclosure

"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure

"N"=

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DATE

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06/ 6/98

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