ML20132E778

Rept of Interview W/Af Gibson Re Deficiencies in Reactor Operator Training Program at Facility & 830923 Meeting W/Util at Region II Concerning Util Refusal to Submit Ltr to Nrc.Portions Deleted

ML20132E778
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	09/25/1984
From:	Mark Resner NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTOR & AUDITOR (OIA)
To:
Shared Package
ML20132E314	List: AECM-83-0681, Provides Addl Info Re Discrepancies Discovered in Operator & Senior Operator License Applications & Corrective Actions, Per .Discrepancies Identified Between License Applications & Training Records Occurred Prior to 1982 ML20132E309 ML20132E376 ML20132E398 ML20132E429 ML20132E458 ML20132E480 ML20132E489 ML20132E522 ML20132E527 ML20132E559 ML20132E569 ML20132E586 ML20132E617 ML20132E643 ML20132E705 ML20132E711 ML20132E778 ML20132E812
References
FOIA-85-419 NUDOCS 8510010168
Download: ML20132E778 (2)

Text

.

U... NucLd AR REGUL ATORY COMMisslON office of Impector an: Auditor Sectc-ter 25, 1954

,, o.i..ir..........

Report of Interview Albert F. Gibson, -Chief, Operations Branch (GB), Division of Reactor Safety (DRS), Region II, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission, was interviewed concerning his knowledge of the deficiencies in the Reactor Operator Training Program (ROTP) at Grand Gult Nuclear Station (GGNS) as they relate to the restart of GGNS on September 25, 1983. He also w's interviewed with respect to a September 23, 1983, meeting between Mississippi Power and Light (MP&L) and Region !! officials wherein MP&L allegedly refused to submit a letter they brought to the meeting for the purpose of providing it to NRC. He provided the following infomation:

In general, he noted that in his official capacity, he would have been the individual to provide the input at the Regional level with respect to the '

competence of licensed operators at GGNS. Concerning the September 25, 1983, restart of GGNS, he does no.t recall beino specifically asked about the compe-tence of the licensed opera. tors. However, he was aware that low power testing

> s going to start on September 25, 1983, and would have spoken up if he i<slieved the operators were not competent to operate the plant. In his essessment of.tche. discrepancies with ROTP, most of the evidence indicated that the problem was mismanagement on the part of MP&L as opposed to incompetence of the licensed operators.

• He recalled that,the discrepancias in ROTP were first disclosed during an NRC training assessment at GGNS on February 15-17, 1983. It was believed at that time that the discrepancies were a problem related to misplaced or missing documentation.

An operational readiness inspection on August 15-September 1,1983, at GGNS -

tollowed up on the discrepancies note'd in the initial training assessment. As a result of the findings in this inspection which indicated the discrepancies were more serious than originally believed, an enforcement panel was convened in Region II en September 20, 1983. The panel discussed the deficiencies in the qualification cards for Reactor Operators (RO) with respect to an appropriate enforcement action. Tha panel deadlocked on a decision in that regard. The panel also discussed the discrepancies in the sense that they Because the panel which was comprised were a Material False Statement (MFS).

of John Michae.1 Puckett, Director, Enforcement and Investigative coordination Start, Richard C. Lewis, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, and himself, could not reach a decision with respect to enforcement action, the matter was elevated to James P. O'Reilly, Regional Administrator, for a decision. It was decided on September 20, 1983, that the violation involved was Severity Level III and that the issue concerning an MFS on the part of MP&L would be referred to the Office of Investigations (01).

8510010168 850923 PDR FOIA REBERB5-419 PDR Se=tenber 13, 1994 ,,

Atlanta, Georcia ,,,,, 84-35 _

@@ o........... S a erber 25, 1984

., $wrk E. Pe mer. Investicater Twls COCUWENT IS emoet mTY Os NaC es (C ANED TO ANCTwsm AGENCv et AND 175 CONTENTS Amt NOT TO 88 DISTaisvTE Ovtsect Tat mtCliveNG AGENCv vettwow? *E muisse0N 08 TMt OF *ect os ens *ECTom AND Avoitom.

WetevP A

- 2-With respect to the deficiencies in ROTP at GGNS, he not'ed that October 4, l 1953, was the first date that he care to theHe realization thaton recalled that the problems that date, MP&L were more than just a paper work problem.

met with Regio.n II officials to brief them on MP&L's incuiry into the training deficiencies. " Based on the information MP&L provided on October d, 4,1983, he hadand additional information in that regard that Recion II had develo OB, DRS, discussions with It was

'about suspension anc/or revocati on o f operator icenses at G NS.

resolved from the discussions that there was no strongievidence to indicate N operator incompetence, and in consideration of the fact that there was fuel in the reactor, it was prudent not to suspend or revoke operator licenses.

He noted that it was notThe unusual purpose for MP&L to review for reviewing thedraft draftMP&L lettersletters is an with Region II at meetings.

' effort on the licensee's part to be more responsive to NRC. It is not a method of doing business that Region II encourages, however, MP&L routinely practices business with Region 11 in this manner. -

• • m*

S e#

O 9

0 4

e 4

e