ML033320004

PSEG Quarterly Leadership Forum Slides

ML033320004
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek
Issue date:	10/30/2003
From:	Miller H Region 1 Administrator
To:
References
FOIA/PA-2005-0194
Download: ML033320004 (14)

Text

PSEG QUARTERLY LEADERSHIP FORUM October 30, 2003 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS ROLE Hubert J. Miller Regional Administrator, NRC Region I

OVERVIEW

• NRC Reactor Oversight Program

• Observations on Industry Deregulation and Consolidation

• Perspective on Salem & Hope Creek

• NRC Future Directions

NRC MISSION

• Issue licenses for the peaceful use of nuclear materials in the U. S.

• Ensure licensees use nuclear materials safely, and are prepared to respond to emergencies

• Ensure nuclear plants are designed, constructed, and operated in a safe fashion

NRC GOALS

• Maintain safety by establishing regulatory oversight framework that ensures continued safe operation

• Enhance public confidence

• Improve effectiveness, efficiency, and realism of processes and decision making

• Reduce unnecessary regulatory burden

REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROGRAM

• Historical Approach

- SALP and Plant Watch List

• Current Oversight Program

- Improved objectivity - performance indicators

- Strong risk focus

- Predictability

- Public access

• No change in fundamental objectives -

inspection continues to be strong element

REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS Strategic Performance Areas Safety Cornerstones Baseline Inspection Performance Indicator Results Results Significance Significance Threshold Threshold Action Matrix Regulatory Response

INDUSTRY DEREGULATION

• Significant consolidation of ownership

• Fleet operators have emerged

• With continuing focus on safety, search for efficiencies (e.g., outages and staffing)

INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION IN REGION I Year Sites Units Owners 1993 21 30 17 2003 17 26 9 2003

• 10 owner operators departed

• 4 new owners bridging other 3 regions

• Virtually all Region I plants operate as merchant plants

OBSERVATIONS

• General improvement in plant performance

• Improved governance and competition have driven better management

- Work control and planning

- Coordination among organizations

- Equipment and material condition

• Safe plant is a reliable, economic plant

• Continued industry benchmarking and INPO processes

• Potential pitfalls and challenges remain

POTENTIAL PITFALLS

• Industry average trends can be deceiving

- Davis Besse event

• Underestimation of efforts required to consolidate operations

• Inconsistencies in rigor of technical work

• Legacy issues - underestimation of hidden backlogs

• Change management issues

• Staff self-censorship

APPROACHES FOR SUCCESS

• Strong corrective action program -- continued low threshold for problem identification

• Effective engineering and technical support

• Penetrating self-assessment and surveys --

assessment of behaviors and safety culture best leading indicator

• Relentless commitment to high standards --

long term view on resources

PERSPECTIVES ON SALEM & HOPE CREEK

• Most challenging single site

- 3 units, 2 technologies

• Historical Perspective

- Plant events, outages, NRC Watch List

- Periods of improvement over long term

PERSPECTIVES ON SALEM & HOPE CREEK

• Current Perspective

- Performance indicators all green

- Numerous green and 1 white finding

- Substantive crosscutting issues in problem identification and resolution

- Plant events and equipment issues --

challenges organizational effectiveness improvement efforts

• Impact of Current Initiatives

NRC FUTURE DIRECTIONS

• Continued effective oversight

- Disciplined, aggressive inspection

- Integrated assessment of results and themes

• Response to emergent, generic issues

• Security and emergency preparedness

• Effective communications