(more)

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Public Affairs, Region I

475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19401

Phone: 610/337-5330 Fax: 610/337-5241

Internet: dps@nrc.gov or nas@nrc.gov

I-96-75 November 20, 1996

Contact: Diane Screnci FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Neil A. Sheehan

BEAVER VALLEY NUCLEAR PLANT RATED "GOOD" IN THREE AREAS,

"SUPERIOR" IN FOURTH AREA OF NRC ASSESSMENT REPORT

The Beaver Valley nuclear power plant received performance

ratings of "good" in three areas and "superior" in the fourth area

of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's latest systematic assessment

of licensee performance (SALP) of the facility.

The SALP report was sent November 15 to Duquense Light

Company, which operates the facility near Shippingport,

Pennsylvania. It evaluates the plant's performance from June 4,

1995, through September 28 of this year.

NRC systematic assessment reports rate licensees in four

functional areas ˇ plant operations, maintenance, engineering, and

plant support ˇ and assign ratings of Category 1, 2 or 3 depending

on whether performance in those areas was superior, good or

adequate. The report on Beaver Valley gives the plant a Category

1 (superior) rating in maintenance, and a Category 2 rating in

operations, engineering and plant support, indicating "good"

performance.

In a letter to Duquesne Light, NRC Regional Administrator

Hubert J. Miller said, "Overall, the NRC observed good safety

performance at Beaver Valley Power Station. Senior station

management demonstrated a conservative operating philosophy and has

taken steps to improve performance standards and expectations. The

problem identification and corrective action processes generally

have been effective in identifying and correcting material

deficiencies and human performance issues."

The administrator had these comments on Beaver Valley's

performance in the four rated categories:
-2-

OPERATIONS

Overall performance in operations was good and has improved

since the last assessment period. Operator knowledge, skills, and

handling of normal plant startup and shutdown evolutions were very

good. Operator response to degraded plant conditions and

transients was also good. Operators usually displayed a

questioning attitude in identifying problems. Some problems in

routine control room activities occurred early in the assessment

period; however, emphasis on self-checking practices led to

improved performance later in the period. Strained senior reactor

operator (SRO) staffing levels contributed to some performance

problems, such as missed surveillances. NRC will follow closely

the effectiveness of current management steps to improve SRO

staffing.

MAINTENANCE

Maintenance programs have been effectively implemented with

excellent management oversight ensuring reliable operation of plant

safety equipment. Improvements were noted in procurement and nonoutage backlog management. We will follow your current efforts to

improve maintenance planning and work control processes as they are

important to further backlog reduction. Some weaknesses were noted

in the quality and scheduling of equipment testing, and in vendor

oversight.

ENGINEERING

Engineering performance was good. Management attention to

engineering activities and improvement initiatives was considered

a strength. The quality of technical work and design changes was

good; however, some corrective actions for identified deficiencies

were not timely. A number of equipment problems impacting plant

operations occurred during the period underscoring the importance

of directing system engineering focus on plant material condition.

PLANT SUPPORT

The radiological controls program was generally aggressive and

properly focused, but was not successful in obtaining consistent

worker adherence to controls. Superior performance was exhibited

in the effluent controls and environmental monitoring areas. The

security program continued to be effective. The EP program

maintained excellent offsite rapport with offsite agencies and an

excellent training program, but exercises revealed some weaknesses

in response and technical assessment.

EDITORS: A copy of the full SALP report is available from this

office. SALP reports are also 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
-3-

(more)

following message: subscribe salp yourfirstname

yourlastname.