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NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I
475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 | | CONTACT: |
Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov
Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov |
or vld@nrc.gov
I-96-38
Contact: Diane Screnci FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victor Dricks June 14, 1996
SEABROOK PLANT RATED "SUPERIOR" IN THREE CATEGORIES,
"GOOD" IN FOURTH IN NRC ASSESSMENT REPORT
The Seabrook Nuclear Power Station received performance
ratings of "superior" in plant operations, engineering and plant
support, and "good" in maintenance in the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission's latest systematic assessment of licensee performance
(SALP) of the facility.
The SALP report was sent June 13 to Northeast Utilities
Service Company (NU), which operates the plant near Portsmouth,
New Hampshire. It evaluates the plant's performance from January
8, 1995, through May 4 of this year.
NRC and NU officials will discuss the report during a
meeting set for 1 p.m. June 26, at the Science and Nature Center
at the site. The meeting will be open for public observation.
NRC officials will be available afterwards to speak with
reporters, state and local officials, and members of the public.
NRC systematic assessment reports rate licensees in four
functional areas - plant operations, maintenance, engineering and
plant support - and assign Category 1, 2 or 3 depending on
whether their performance in those areas was superior, good or
adequate. The report on Seabrook gives the plant a Category 1
rating in plant operations, engineering and plant support, and
Category 2 in maintenance. Performance improved in plant
operations from "good" to "superior" during the most recent
evaluation.
In a letter to the licensee, Region I Administrator Thomas
T. Martin said: "Overall, NRC observed safe and very effective
performance at Seabrook Station during the assessment period,
with a good focus on programmatic and performance improvement."
Mr. Martin added that NRC has not observed any impact on safe
operation at Seabrook Station from the permanent and temporary
resource allocations to other sites within Northeast Utilities
but he said NRC will continue to monitor Seabrook's performance.
. Mr. Martin had these comments on Seabrook's performance in
the four rated categories:
PLANT OPERATIONS
"Operations management provided very effective oversight
with a primary emphasis on safety. Operations personnel
maintained a clear, safety-conscious questioning attitude.
Control room operations were well controlled with good
communications and effective oversight, which resulted in
excellent responses to plant transients and several automatic
system isolations. Nevertheless, there were several minor
performance-related examples of operations not being completely
effective in meeting programmatic and management expectations."
ENGINEERING
"Overall excellent performance continued in the engineering
area. Engineering demonstrated a strong safety perspective as
evidenced by thorough safety evaluations. Knowledgeable
engineering personnel, who were active in various nuclear
industry groups, were implementing well-developed engineering
programs and procedures. Plant design modifications were of high
quality. Engineering management demonstrated effective control
and prioritization of engineering work backlog. The engineering
organization performed comprehensive evaluations of emergent
operational issues. However, in some instances, engineering
resolutions of some longstanding problems were not timely or
fully effective."
PLANT SUPPORT
"Performance in the radiation protection area was a licensee
strength. Continued effective plant chemistry greatly helped in
maintaining a low radiological source term, which contributes
substantially to plant maintainability and routine operational
activities. Excellent performances in the radiological effluent
and environmental monitoring programs were again noted.
Performance in the emergency preparedness area continued to be
excellent. The security program was effectively carried out.
However, NRC found a number of weaknesses in fire protection
program implementation, and concluded that fire protection
performance, albeit adequate, is not consistent with other plant
support functions."
. MAINTENANCE
"The Maintenance Department made significant improvements
during the assessment period through enthusiastic support of
self-assessment, problem identification, and problem resolution
processes. Strong management involvement fostered the
performance of maintenance activities in a safe and controlled
manner. Safety-related surveillance activities were carefully
controlled, coordinated, and implemented. Notwithstanding,
several programmatic weaknesses were evident during planning,
development, and implementation of on-line maintenance which
resulted in unnecessary challenges to plant operations."
#
SALP reports are available on the NRC's internet web site
(http://www.nrc.gov/OPA) and by e-mail subscription. To receive
SALP reports by e-mail as they are issued, send an e-mail to
listproc@nrc.gov with the following message: subscribe salp
yourfirstname yourlastname.
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