ML20108D013

Identifies Challenges During SALP Period,Including Earlier Identification & Resolution of Plant Matl Conditions That May Have Implications for Plant Safety or Availability

ML20108D013
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	04/29/1996
From:	Hutchinson C ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
GNRO:96-00050, GNRO:96-50, NUDOCS 9605070242
Download: ML20108D013 (4)

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ENTERGY l"22"'" "*""

Port Geson, MS 39150 M 601437 2800 April 29,1996 c. n. Hutchinson we <wnm cwws Cafand GtM PJTiOilf StCt!On U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Station P1-37 Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention: Document Control Desk

Subject:

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Docket No. 50-416 License No. NPF-29 SALP Report Response GNRO: 96/00050 Gentlemen:

At Grand Gulf we've held a longstanding belief that the SALP process serves a valuable purpose in re-focusing our attention on those activities important to maintaining strong safety performance. The recent SALP report and SALP exit conducted by Region IV confirmed our belief.

We found the SALP Board's analysis of our performance to be fair, insightful, perceptive and objective. In many areas it validated our conclusions and confirmed that we are on the right track towards continuous improvement of our programs and processes. In other areas it provided fresh viewpoints that will lead to enhanced performance.

We particularly appreciate the high quality discussion during the SALP exit meeting on April 18. As the amount of information in the written SALP report declines it becomes more difficult to understand the conclusions and messages of the SALP Board. The frank review of SALP Board deliberations that was presented in the exit meeting was essential to our understanding. To borrow the SALP metaphor, the SALP exit merited a rating of superior performance.

The unusual problems we experienced last SALP period with automatic scrams appear to be largely behind us. The difficulty we had in determining common threads amongst the scrams led us to conclude that they resulted primarily from a lessened intensity and focus on trip-critical activities across most functional areas. Based on the feedback during the SALP exit, we believe you concur. As you noted, we have 1 0 restored focus and taken a number of steps to prevent recurrence, resulting in an  !

extended period of scram-free operation. S Ub 96 N09d242 960429 PDR O

ADOCK 05000416 PDR d' 9/4 Q

. GNRO-96/00050 Page 2 of 5 For the new SALP period, our specific challenges are clear:

. Earlier identification and resolution of plant material conditions that may have implications for plant safety or availability, e Enhanced oversight of craft activities that could lead to undesirable safety or availability consequences, and

. Additional attention to configuration management.

We're confident that concentration in these areas coupled with a general emphasis on continuous performance improvement, a mature safety culture and critical self-assessment will result in an even stronger SALP assessment in i8 months.

Yours t. -

a CRH/MJM:be cc: (see next page) i I

, GNRO-96/00050 Page 3 of 5 l l

cc: Ms. S. C. Black (w/a) (NRC/NRR)

Mr. A. Heymer (NEI)

Mr. R. B. McGehee (w/a)

Mr. N. S. Reynolds (w/a) .

Mr. J. E. Tedrow (w/a) l Mr. H. L Thomas (w/o) l Mr. J. W. Yelverton (w/a)  !

Mr. L. J. Callan (w/a)

Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 Mr. J. E. Dyer Director, Division of Reactor Safety l U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission l Region IV ';

611 Ryan Plaza Drivre. Suite 800 Arlington, TX 76011 6

Mr. T. P. Gwynn Director, Division of Reactor Safety U S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Re gion IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 -

Mr. J. N. Donohew, Project Manager (w/2)

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 13H3 Washington, D.C. 20555 Ms. E. G. Adensam OffTe of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 13H3 Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. A. C. Thadani Associate Director for Technical Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 13H3  ;

Washington, D.C. 20555 l

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. ~ GNRO-96/00050 Page 4 of 5 cc: (cont) Mr. E. W. Merschoff Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region ll 101 Marietta St, Suite 2900 Atlanta, GA 30323-0199 I

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