ML17347B532
| ML17347B532 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 01/22/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Fascell D HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17347B533 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9001300097 | |
| Download: ML17347B532 (8) | |
Text
'L ~~ RGcII+
gC ClO IA
+>>*++
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 EDQ Principal Correspondence Control FROM'ep.
Dante B. Fascell TQ:
DUE:
0004'TI7>
DOC DT: 12/05/8'7 FINAL REPLY:
FOR S IBNATURE QF:
E>;ecutive.Direc tor DESC ENCLOSES LETTER FROM JUDIT W.
EDELSQN CONCERNING TRUKEY POINT DATE: 12/08/89 CRC NO: 8'V-1305 ROUTING:
Ebneter.
RII ASSISNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Murley SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
NRR RECEIVED:
DECEMBER ll. 1989 ACTIDR:
~DRPR:VARGA j NRR ROUTING:
HURLEY/SNIEZEK IIIIIRAGLIA PARTLOM CRUTCHFIELD GILLESPIE NOSSBURG tlON O'tRECfOB B
/5
/
- BY
~
A g's.
I. l I
h
V Vr ~
v
~ ~
k 0
~
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
CRC-89-1305 EDO LOGGING DATE: Dec 8 89 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
LETTER DATE:
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
Dante B. Fascell U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Dec 5 89 FILE CODE:
Constituent's inquiry regarding safety of Turkey Point Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA to Ack.
NOTES DATE DUE:
Judith W. Edelson Dec 22 89 SIGNATURE:
AFFILIATION:
DATE SIGNED:
Ccc'd Off. EDO ate Time---
ll; i
%DO-.0 0497'
UNITEDSTATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
++*++
January 22, 1990 The Honorable Dante B. Fascell United States House of Representatives Mashington, D.C.
20515 Dear Congressman Fascell:
I am responding to your letter of December 5, 1989, in which you forwarded a
letter dated NoveIIber 8, 1989, from Judith W. Edelson.
Ms. Edelson was concerned about the safety of the Turkey Point nuclear plant and requested your support in forcing its shutdown.
The Turkey Point plant in the Miami area has had its share of operating problems
>II the past, and concern over Turkey Point's operation is understandable.
NRC recognized this in the early 1980's and stepped up its inspection and oversight activities, which resulted in several fines, a series of Orders requiring improvements, and a number of meetings with the licensee.
NRC monitoring of the site was increased by assigning more inspectors and paying special attention to the operating data from the plant.
In early 1984, the licensee, Florida Power and Light Company (FPL), committed to a major improvement effort called the Performance Enhancement Program (PEP).
Since that time, FPL has spent several hundred million dollars to improve plant equipment.
In addition, FPL is now in the process of upgrad'ing the emergency electric power supplies at the plant and will be adding two large safety-related diesel generators.
Alt,hough major improveoants were and are being made at the plant, it has been apparent the last few years that further improvements were needed, especially in the areas of 'management and operations.
This need was indicated by numerous citations by NRC for failure to follow procedures, operational errors by plant personnel, and a less than aggressive maintenance effort.
Beginning in 1987, FPL has made widespread management changes at the Turkey Point site and at corporate headquarters.
New, experienced personnel have been placed in key positions.
On June 1, 1989, the NRC staff briefed the Commission on the perforIIance of selected operating nuclear power plants.
Turkey Point was again identified as a plant whose performance would be closely monitored.
During the discussion it was apparent that the Commission and staff are troubled by the inability of the licensee to achieve sustained good performance at Turkey Point.
However, there are signs that the improveaents in plant equipment, licensee marIagement, and engineering programs are beginning to'have an effect.
The plant operational experience in 1988 was better than in any year to date.
In
- addition, the latest NRC Systematic Assessment of Licensee Per formance (SALP),
which was issued on October 19, 1989, indicates that Turkey Point has operated with improved performance.
The staff's SALP is arI integrated Agency effort to evaluate a licensee's performance.
A copy of the Turkey Point SALP is enclosed for your information.
The staff will maintain its high level of attention to this plant until we are certain that the improvemnts are permanent.
QQ$ +QQQ9 Q<QQQ25Q
= =-7 9OOa22 pDR p9OCK pDC H
1 The Honorable Dante B. Fascell With regard to the change in the number'of SALP functional areas eva'luated, the changes to the SALP process were implemented in June 1988 on a nationwide basis to incorporate experience gained and to make the process more efficient and effective.
Nore specifically, functional areas were redefined to focus more on diagnostic activities such as self-assessment and root cause analyses of plant events.
The redefinition of functional areas also included regrouping of 'licensee activities, resulting in the reduction of a number of separate functional areas and the addition of two new areas.
The changes have resulted in a more comprehensive method for assessing the quality of licensee performance, while, promoting consistency of SALP reports among NRC regional offices.
There has been no reduction in the scope and range of activities which the NRC oversees by the SALP process.
These improvements in the SALP process apply to all licensed nuclear power plants.
Ns.
Edel son also raises the issue of radiation-induced damage to the reactor vessels (embrittlement).
The staff routinely monitors the degree of embrittle-ment of all licensed reactor pressure vessels.
For the Turkey Point plant, the staff evaluated the degree of reactor vessel embrittlement most recently in January 1989 in conjunction with the issuance of an amendment to Turkey Point's operating licenses.
The staff concluded that embrittlement is not currently a
safety problem for the Turkey Point reactor pressure vessels.
The scheduled hearing referenced by Ms. Edelson in her letter is related to this amendment and the litigation of limited issues concerning the licensee's determination of vessel embrittlement.
(This hearing has been rescheduled for February 27, 1990.)
The staff will continue to monitor the extent of reactor pressure vessel embrittlement at the Turkey Point plant and will take appropriate action should embrittlement become a concern in the future.
Based on this information, we do not believe that the shutdown of the Turkey Point plant or the replacement of its reactor vessels is warranted.
I hope this information adequately responds to your request.
If I can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sin cere ly, Original Signed By:
James M. Taylor.
James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations En c losure:
SALP Report
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
%W W
A AH%%
NAME AQr WWWWW W
DATE:1/@90
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
'%A WW%%%
&&WWWW&&WS
- SHof 3n
- GEdison
- AGog
~
%%W%%HW%%W%%
W
- I/(y/90 ': 1/ 90:12/28/89
~
~
~
~
~ 1/
90
- HBerkow
~
~
- ec stor+
&&WHO%%%%%%&
%WWWWWWW&
- Gl.a inas:
BCa lure
&WW
- 1/4/90: 1/4/90 NAME :SVarga DATE:1/4/90
- JPart low:TMurley: J
- 1/4/90
- 1/9/90
- 1 P
WWW
~
W&WWWWWO W
&0 W
~ WWW WW
~
~ 0 WWWWWWWW~
90 A\\%%%%%
/~zg o
Document Name:
LETTER TO FASCELL
1
~
4 f)f'I t I
apt')
11 4
- III, I I 11
~Jl I'I r>h<<>4<<1II I
N 1
II
~ )
thfl I,
I )IIIlllf I
'i! ')I I
p
> l!i 4
I
~,
'I I
1 ~ I
~
aa 1
~
11 1
11<<1 I
< if',)I 1
~
V I )al I
I
~ II 4 'Ilf<<
1 I
H>
) I".,
I
> tl
.<<1
. III.JI
<<II)<< i)l "II II I
~ I 11 J I> I I
I lf I=
AII 1 ah
\\<<
~ <<l<<W A)4 p)y
>4 1
'I
'I 1 f>>I~ Il VIAV all "1, I
I
" II li
~
1I
~ I 0
i')
11 )
<<4)<<3 l<<) T I
a Al Ar
'fJf
'rat 4
l)441 WJ) )
1,)4)
VII I 'fi) ff.v-J<<i r
) lf
))
i ifl I'II'I fff "r 4 0 A
<<I I
<<l 1.fff
) I
)ff' r'llf'fIl "-
I f I
I
~
1
'zV a
41 il I(1 1
-1
~ I I, 1 I Ii 0
I 14 I
"I
~
I
)lv>>
a fl>
~ I /Jr v>> v ar
~\\
0
~
~
eaa>> 0>>
~ ae
~
~
~ v
~ v ~
w
~
lee
=
~
~
I a
0 I>> 04>>
~
Q ~
I I IAJ ~
~ 1
~
I
.14) ~
I VIA>I tv "~"
> a><< ~
v
~ 4>>) I 1
t tt t ~
0 (I
QI
~
~ ~
I istt ibution:~
~
~
~
0-20,00-251)
RC PDR w/cy of incoming Local PDR w/copy of incoming EDO ¹0004973 EDO Reading PD22 Rdg File SECY (CRC-89-1305)
- JTaylor, EDO TMurley/J. Sniezek J.
Partlow S.
Varga G. 'Lainas H. Berkow OGC D. Mossburg, PNS (EDO¹000497 Bever ly Clayton S.
Hoffman w/cy of incoming G.
Edison w/cy of incoming T.
Go@
D. Miller J., Taylor F. Miraglia D. Crutchfield M. Sinkule, RII S.
- Ebneter, RII F.
Gi llespieCA')
w/cy of incoming
~ r C
Ir o ~
II