ML20150D986

Provides Summary of NRC 880628 & 29 Discussions of Nuclear Plant Performance.Shortcomings Noted in Sequoyah 2 Secondary Sys Maint & Personnel Performance as Areas Contributing to Series of Reactor Trips During Initial Operations

ML20150D986
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry, Sequoyah, 05000000
Issue date:	07/08/1988
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	White S TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
References
NUDOCS 8807140269
Download: ML20150D986 (2)

Text

' JUL 8 1988 Mr. S. A. White Senior Vice President, Nuclear Power Tennessee Valley Authority 6N 38A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2081 .

Dear Mr. White:

On June 28 and 29, 1988, NRC senior managers met to review the performance of operating nuclear power plants licensed by the NRC. These meetings are conducted biannually to focus NRC resources on those plants and related issues of greatest safety significance. At this meeting, the Browns Ferry and Sequoyah Unit 1 facilities were categorized as requiring substantial improvement. Plants in this category have been identified as having significant weaknesses that warrant maintaining the plants in a shutdown condition until the licensee can demonstrate to the NRC that adequate programs have both been establ %hed and implemented to ensure substantial improvement.

With regard to Sequoyah Unit 2, which was previously categorized as requiring substantial improvement, the NRC notes that TVA has implemented the initial phase 3 of its corrective action program, Comission approval prior to startup was granted, and operational performance to date has been generally satisfactory. Therefore, Sequoyah Unit 2 is now categorized as requiring clase monitoring. Plants in this category are continuing to receive increased NRC attention from both headquarters and the regional Office.

A sumary of NRC discussions relating to Browns Ferry and Sequoyah is provided belcw:

Matters discussed included TVA's reorganization of the Office of Nuclear Power, recent operating performance at Sequoyah Unit 2, and the status of completion of various technical programs at Discussion of crganizational Sequoyah Unit 1 and Browns Ferry.

issues centered on the need for TVA to identify experienced, proven managers for permanent assignment to key positions now being filled by temporary contract personnel.

In reviewing operational performance at Sequoyah Unit 2 since startup on May 13, 1988, NRC management noted shortcomings in personnel performance and secondary systems maintenance as areas contributing to the series of reactor trips experienced during initial operations. Subject to successful completion of comitments and planned programs for Sequoyah Unit 1, restart activities for this unit were censidered to be progressing satisfactorily.

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY yo 8807140269 080700 PDR ADOCK 05000259 PNV p

'9 Mr. S.-A. White JUL 8 1988-Browns Ferry discussions highlighted the fact that many technical programs described in the Browns Ferry Nuclear Perfonnance Plan have yet to be approved and fully implemented. TVA estimates startup of Browns Ferry Unit 2 in the December 1988 - February 1989 time frame.

An NRC Consnission meeting open to the public has been scheduled for July 13, 1988, to review the results of this latest meeting of NRC managers.

Mr. James Partlow, the Director of the Office of Special Projects, has recently discussed the basis for our conclusions with regard to the Browns Ferry and Sequoyah facilities with you.

. If you have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.

Sincerely, Cricinal c1 Cnod by Ector Stellef Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations Distribution:

V. Stello, Jr. , EDO J. M. Taylor, DEDRO T. Rehm, A0/ED0 J. M. Partlow, OSP T. E. Murley, NRR T. O. Martin, DEDRO EDO r/f

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: ..----- f'-- :: D E D g 0 NAME : T 0 Martin:ph :JMTaal r  : V Stello  :  :

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DATE :07/ 1 /88 :07/T/88 :07/ /88  :  :  :