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NRC INSPECTION MANUAL LPEB

INSPECTION PROCEDURE 71715

SUSTAINED CONTROL ROOM AND PLANT OBSERVATION

PROGRAM APPLICABILITY: 2515

71715-01 INSPECTION OBJECTIVES

01.01 To provide an opportunity for the resident inspector, an

offsite inspector or regional management to evaluate a licensee's

control room and plant performance over a sustained period. The

resident inspector should gain new insight from the sustained

control room observation and the offsite inspector's independent

view (if an offsite inspector is used).

01.02 This procedure has been established to permit long-term,

continuous observation of control room activities. More than one

inspector is generally required for this type of sustained

observation. However, due to varying circumstances, it may be more

appropriate for regional management to assign the task to a single

inspector, in which case the direction regarding two or more

inspectors is inapplicable.

71715-02 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

02.01 Inspectors. This inspection shall be conducted by the

senior resident inspector, resident inspector, region-based

inspector, or an offsite inspector designated by management for this

purpose. Management may choose to represent the second inspector.

Inspectors who are not part of the site resident staff should become

familiar with control room protocol regarding access and administrative controls prior to the initiation of the inspection.

02.02 Inspection Items. For a period of time determined to be

appropriate by regional management, observe operational activities

conducted by the licensee. The inspector should obtain the licensed

operators' views on what detracts from their ability to monitor and

operate the plant. The inspector should evaluate the following

conditions or practices as appropriate.

a. Operators are attentive and responsive to plant parameters and

conditions. Operators are aware of the reasons for annunciators that are in the alarm condition.
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b. Plant evolutions and testing are planned and properly

authorized. When a more complex special evolution or

non-routine evolution takes place, a
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pre-evolution briefing of the shift crew and other personnel

affected by the evolution may be appropriate.

c. Procedures are used and followed as required by plant policy.

d. Equipment status changes are appropriately documented and

communicated to appropriate shift personnel, when they occur.

e. The operating conditions of plant equipment are effectively

monitored, and appropriate corrective action is initiated when

required.

f. Backup instrumentation, measurements, and readings are used

as appropriate when normal instrumentation is found to be

defective or out of tolerance. Equipment out of service

controls are adequate.

g. Logkeeping is timely, accurate, and adequately reflects plant

activities and status.

h. Operators follow good operating practices and maintain shift

professionalism in conducting plant operations. Operators are

aware of ongoing plant activities and surveillance testing.

Administrative controls are adequate to ensure in-plant work

activities are being performed with the knowledge of control

room personnel.

i. The control room environment is adequate for conduct of

duties; i.e. lighting, noise levels, traffic volume, number

of alarms, ventilation, heating and cooling are acceptable.

j. Communication between workers and first line supervisors, as

well as interdepartmental communications, are appropriate and

follow any plant specific communications procedures. 

k. Shift turnovers are professional and provide the oncoming

shift an adequate update from the last time they were on

shift.

l. Blocking/tagging and valve lineups are conducted in accordance

with plant procedures and are adequate to provide isolation

or proper system lineup for existing plant conditions.

m. The administrative burden on the control room supervisor does

not prevent adequate supervision of shift activities.

n. Manipulation of plant controls that may effect reactivity

changes is performed by licensed operators, or by individuals

enrolled in an approved operator licensing training program

who are under the direction and in the presence of a license

operator.

o. Overall material condition of the plant does not hinder the

effectiveness of the operators in conducting normal plant

evolutions as well as non-routine evolutions.
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p. Technical Specification limiting conditions for operation are

satisfied. Entry into LCO action statements are controlled

and tracked. Additional surveillance activities required by

action statements are performed and tracked.

q. Abnormal conditions and equipment problems are evaluated

promptly to determine the impact on plant safety, equipment

operability, and reportability. Plant management is informed

of abnormal conditions as required by plant policies.

71715-03 INSPECTION GUIDANCE

General Guidance. This procedure is intended to be used when

regional management determines that as a result of plant events or

poor licensee performance it is necessary to conduct a continuous

surveillance of licensee performance. This procedure was developed

based on the assumption that the inspection would continue for

approximately 72 hours; however, other factors may indicate that a

shorter or longer surveillance period is required. Regional

management can use this procedure to allow one resident to

participate in the inspection of another facility thereby enhancing

the inspection techniques of both residents. Management participation in the implementation of this procedure is left to the

discretion of regional management.

Specific Guidance

03.01 Inspection Requirements 02.01. If the inspection period

is of short duration, both inspectors should be present during the

period. If the period is greater than four hours, the inspectors

should divide the observation period so that at least one inspector

is observing plant activities during the entire period.

03.02 Inspection Requirement 02.02. The criteria listed in this

section provides only broad guidance for evaluating operational

activities. The inspectors should pay particular attention to the

performance of licensed and non-licensed (auxiliary) operators.

Approximately 25 percent of the observation time should be spent

observing operator performance outside the control room. Backshift

observations should be included as feasible, depending on the

duration of the inspection. The regions should modify these

criteria as necessary.

03.02.a No inspection guidance.

03.02.b Inspection Requirement 02.02b. When evaluating complex

or non-routine evolutions, the inspector may consider the following

supporting activities:

- Effectiveness of written communications, such as daily

orders or

special orders, in directing plant operations.

- Adequacy of management involvement during the evolution.
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- Appropriateness of any risk assessment to understand the

risk associated with the activity.

03.02.c-q No inspection guidance.

71715-04 RESOURCE ESTIMATE

On the average, about 72 hours of direct inspection are needed to

accomplish the inspection requirements of this inspection procedure.

END