ML20248M026
| 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: |
| References | |
| 50-354-98-99, NUDOCS 9806120258 | |
| Download: ML20248M026 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000354/1998099
Text
--.
_ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ - _ -
_ _ _ _ - _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
-_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ - _
l
l.
.
I
June 8,1998
Mr. Harold W. Keiser
Executive Vice President
Nuclear Business Unit
Public Service Electric & Gas Company
Post Office Box 236
l
Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038
i
l
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:
l
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
j
performance issues associated with operations and maintenance procedure violations,
I
i
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
,
identified during the administration of an NRC initiallicensing examination,
j
I
f
9eo612025e 900608
ADOCK 05000354
G
l
f.#
'
i
'
j
.
Mr. Harold W. Keiser
2
i
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
j
assessment period. Some issues continued to challenge the organization, demonstrating
j
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
i
!
reorganization, the backlog of engineering activitien grew. Nonetheless, items in the
q
backlog were properly reviewed for impact on safety and suitably prioritized. Sound
engineering principles were generally observed in design activities. System engineering
7
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.
I
1
i
l
!
l
!
1
____ _____,_ _ ___
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
. _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_
.
.
' Mr. Harold W. Keiser
3
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:
1.
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)
i
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
.
.
1
Mr. Harold W. Keiser
4
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"=
No copy
OFFICE
RI/DRP
,/ l
Rl/DRP
l
Rl/DRP
_ ,,
.
sl
Rl/JJV
,
l
NAME
JLinville QV/
RCrienjak W
JWigginsQ'/ fj(1
RCapra O/'/,%
H#liller
l
DATE
06/05/981
06/ 6/98
06/5/98n/M1 06/5/98' (1tr b
06/T/98
'
OFFICIAL RECORD' COPY
'
..
._