NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-97-25

March 7, 1997

The Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, operated by Centerior Service Co., has received performance ratings of "good" in operations and "superior" in maintenance, engineering, and plant support, the four areas of review in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff's latest Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) report for the facility. The plant is located at Oak Harbor, Ohio.

The assessment covers the period from January 22, 1995, through January 18 of this year.

The NRC staff and Centerior officials will discuss the evaluation during a meeting set for 9:30 a.m. CST on March 21. The meeting will be in the Administration Building at the Davis-Besse site.

The meeting will be open to public observation. NRC officials will be available afterwards to speak with reporters, state and local officials, and members of the public.

NRC SALP reports rate utilities in four functional areas -- plant operations, maintenance, engineering, and plant support -- and assign ratings of Category 1, 2, or 3 depending on whether their performance in those areas is superior, good or acceptable. The report on Davis-Besse gives the plant a "Category 2" rating -- indicating good performance -- in operations and a "Category 1" rating -- indicating superior performance -- in maintenance, engineering, and plant support.

NRC Regional Administrator A. Bill Beach, in a letter to the utility, noted that "conduct of nuclear activities at Davis-Besse was excellent overall and was properly focussed on nuclear safety."

He added, "Good performance in the control room was evident throughout the period. Though few plant challenges occurred, operator response to transient conditions and equipment problems was excellent.

"However, detracting from otherwise excellent performance were issues related to procedural adherence, inattention to detail, and a lack of questioning attitude identified on several occasions throughout the assessment period."

"Plant engineers provided excellent coordination of system activities and were consistently involved in the testing, maintenance, and operation of their assigned systems," he continued. "Plant equipment was well maintained, supported by rigorous implementation of mature predictive and preventive maintenance programs.

Functional Area Current Period Previous Period

Operations 2 1

Maintenance 1 1

Engineering 1 1

Plant Support 1 1