1 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Configuration Management Activities, Including Margin Management David Hembree INPO June 30, 2009

2 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations INPO CM Focus Areas Plant-specific issues Including issues with product quality (e.g., design changes, technical evaluations), configuration control, reactor engineering, and engineering leadership. Causes often involve engineering fundamentals. Industry issues –Margin management –Nuclear fuel performance (including channel distortion) –Transformer/switchyard/grid issues –Gas accumulation –Digital modifications (under development) –Cable condition (under development)

3 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Margin Management Ongoing department focus area –Fundamental to plant safety –Key cause of long-term shutdowns –Average of five AFIs per year –Some are executive summary issues 2008/9 activities –Exelon procedure posted as Nuclear Exchange –Good practice published in early 2009 discusses elements of comprehensive process Feedback/suggestions for future action?? Deborah Williams Mayo Oppenhimer

4 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Margin Management Extensive efforts at some plants to reconstitute design basis, upgrade calculations, and quantify/improve margins –Kewaunee –Point Beach –Others –Other Margin Efforts –Byron -- Operations questions engineers on amount of margin when making operability decisions Deborah Williams Mayo Oppenhimer

5 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Margin Management Signs of decline in focus on margin management at many plants Procedure in place, but little ongoing action to implement Action plans established but plans lack interim dates and are not closely tracked Margin lists only updated once every two years (just before INPO comes) Engineers identify design margin issues, but operations and maintenance not engaged to identify operating margin concerns Deborah Williams Mayo Oppenhimer

6 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Engineering Fundamentals Engineering management effectiveness –Exec summary issue for several evaluations Fundamentals at individual level –Knowledge/skill –Knowledge worker human performance –Advocacy and technical conscience Carl Faller

7 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Nuclear Fuel Integrity Industry goal of zero failures by 2010 Review visits to all sites Evaluation team review/follow-up Fuel vendor assist visits Currently, about 88 percent w/o failures Greatest challenges: –Grid-to-rod fretting (particularly at B&W and CE NSSS plants) –Debris-related failures –“Surprise” failures Scott Hawn Bob Burnham Jim Doxsey

8 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Transformer/Switchyard/Grid Continuing concern as event initiator; affects reliability of offsite power Evaluation activities Review visits completed at all sites Several follow-up visits in 2009 Evaluation teams looking at switchyard PMs and transformer lifecycle management Guideline recently issued; plan to request utility self-assessment Engaging CEOs and CNOs to help improve nuclear/transmission alignment Shawn Simon Wes Frewin Julio Gomez

9 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Gas Intrusion Ongoing events affecting important systems SER 2-05 revised in early 2008; NRC generic letter issued Supporting industry efforts to address issues –working with industry to develop training materials Evaluation teams looking into gas intrusion situations and site corrective actions Carl Faller

10 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Other Activities Engineering project management; vendor oversight Developing new engineers Digital issues and cyber security Cable monitoring Julio Gomez Doug Kinsman Mayo Oppenhimer Wes Frewin Deborah Williams David Shen

11 CMBG 2009 Copyright 2009 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Meetings and Seminars Technical working meetings Transformer/switchyard/grid (May 19-20) Engineering human performance (at Palo Verde-July 21-23) Engineering as technical conscience (at Exelon-July 27-29) Digital upgrade (at Southern Nuclear-Sept 9-10) PWR/BWR Reactor engineering (Dec 8-10) General working meetings Engineering Managers forum (at FP&L-March 2-3) Design engineering managers (June 2-3) System engineering managers (June 3-4) Program engineering managers (Aug 5-6) Training/development New engineering manager seminar (June 9-11) New engineering directors seminar (Sept 22-24)