ML20249A681

Notation Vote Approving W/Comments SECY-98-119, Remaining Issues Related to Recovery of Millstone Nuclear Power Station,Unit 3

ML20249A681
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	06/03/1998
From:	Mcgaffigan E NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Hoyle J NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
Shared Package
ML20249A676	List: ML20249A675 ML20249A677 ML20249A679 ML20249A680 ML20249A681
References
SECY-98-119-C, NUDOCS 9806180085
Download: ML20249A681 (2)

Text

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NOTATION VOTE RESPONSE SHEET TO: John C. Hoyle, Secretary FROM: COMMISSIONER MCGAFF!GAN

SUBJECT:

SECY-98-119 - REMAINING ISSUES RELATED TO RECOVERY OF MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER S (ATION, UNIT 3 Approved X Disapproved Abstain Not Participating _

Request Discussion COMMENTS:

See attached comments.

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'J SIGNATURE (( 0 Release Vote / x/

3 im DATE Withhold Vote / /

Entered on "AS" Yes x No ,

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COMMISSIONER MCGAFFIGAN'S COMMENTS ON SECY-98-119 I concur in the staff's judgment that Northeast Utilities (NU) has taken appropriate corrective actions to support restart of Millstone Unit 3. I want to conmend the staff for their outstanding performance over the long process that has led to this decision. I am sure that they will continue to perform admirably both in their oversight of Millstone Unit 3's operations and their con'cinuing' assessment of Millstone Unit 2's readiness for restart. I have no-

' doubt that if problems arise, the staff will promptly take appropriate action.

I also want to commend NU. particularly Bruce Kenyon, for the remarkably changed environment at Millstone. If problems arise at Unit 3. I am sure he will be.the first to take any necessary steps, including plant shutdown.- I do not expect a zero defects performance from NU. No company in America, even Motorola with its six sigma quality program, achieves zero errors. What is important.is how a licensee reacts to errors. Under Bruce Kenyon. NU's reaction has been uniformly commendable. 4 The challenge ahead for NU. as both Mr. Kenyon and Mr. Amarello of the employees group' stated at yesterday's briefing, is to achieve excellence, not just adequacy for restart. The achievement of that goal is now in the hands of NU's empowered self-critical employees.  ;

I therefore concur in moving Millstone Unit 3 to category 2 of the_ Watch List and in empowering the EDO to make further decisions with regard to Unit 3's entry into Mode 2 pursuant to the normal agency process.

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. # 'o UNITED STATES

!' NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON. D C. 20555-0001 p

\l****+ ,o8 June 15, 1998

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SECRETARY L. Joseph Callan l MEMORANDUM TO: I E cutive Director for Operations l

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FROM: J dy'l) ~

SUBJECT:

STAFF REQUIREMENTS - SECY 98-119 - REMAINING ISSUES RELATED TO RECOVERY OF MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER STATION, UNIT 3, AND BRIEFING ON REMAINING ISSUES j RELATED TO PROPOSED RESTART OF MILLSTONE UNIT 3, 8:30 A.M. AND 1:00 P.M., FRIDAY, JUNE 2,1998, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE)

The Commission, after considering the comments provided by representatives of Northeast Nuclear Energy Company, Sargent and Lundy, members of the public, and the NRC staff during their presentations at the June 2 Commission briefing, and the staffs assessment of the  :

l licensee's readiness for restart contained in SECY 98-119, concurs in the NRC staffs conclusion that the licensee has taken appropriate corrective actions to support the restart of Millstone Unit 3. The Commission therefore approven the staffs proposal to change the watch list status of Millstone Unit 3 from a Category 3 to a Category 2 plant; authorizes the restart of Unit 3, subject to satisfactory completion of all remaini19 issues requiring NRC verification; and designates the Executive Director for Operations as the senior manager responsible for verifying that the appropriate aspects of Inspection Manual Chapter 0350 are completed a f)t approving commencement of actions to restart Unit 3.

(SECY Suspense: As appropriate) c7 (EDO) in taking this action, it is the Commission's intention that Millstone Unit 3 should operate in accordance with its license and the staff should conduct appropriate inspections for a category 2 plant. The Independent Corrective Action Verification Program can be terminated for Unit 3 and the third party oversight provided by Little Harbor Consultants should be eliminated as soon as feasible in accordance with the Commission's Staff Requirements Memorandum of May 19, 1998. The Commission recognizes that although the licensee's corrective action program is adequate to support the restart of Unit 3, the lasting effectiveness of the corrective action program can best be assessed by evaluating long-term performance. Therefore, the Commission supports the staffs plans to perform another team inspection in this area within a year of the actual restart date for Unit 3, and to monitor carefully Unit 3 inspection findings as wc,i as related Unit 1 and Unit 2 inspection findings that reflect on Millstone site-wide processes SECY NOTE: This SRM and the Commission Voting Record on SECY 98-119 will be made publicly available when the SRM is issued. SECY 98-119 was f

l provided to participants in the June 2 Commission briefing on Saturday, May 29,1998, and was made available to the general public at the June 2 Commission meeting.

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2 in order to identify any adverse trends that might develop. The staff is directed to submit a plan for Special Project Office demobilization to the Commission. Additionally, the staff should evaluate lessons learned from the Unit 3 ICAVP effort and apply them to the Unit 2 process.

(SECY Suspense - not later than 9/01/98)

(EDO) cc: Chairman Jackson Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan OGC CFO CIO OCA OlG Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (by E-Mail)

PDR DCS

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