Certrec’s Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) Program Assessment, Root Cause, Corrective Action, and Compliance Training Expertise Helps Busy Engineering and Licensing Professionals Avoid or Effectively Resolve Supplemental Inspections Due To Performance Indicator Issues
Fort Worth, TX (PRWEB) December 19, 2013 — Certrec, a leading regulatory licensing and compliance service provider for NRC and NERC compliance, announced today that MSPI experts within its Office of Assessment and Recovery have successfully helped several nuclear facilities resolve Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) issues related to White Performance Indicators in 2013 – returning them to Green status.
Twelve nuclear plants were in Columns 2, 3, and 4 of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Action Matrix with White Performance Indicators during Q1 through Q3 of this year. These Performance Indicators were a result of unplanned scrams, unplanned power changes, and issues with emergency AC power and high pressure injection systems.
Often serious MSPI issues are not recognized or not acted upon. Plant personnel may fail to recognize serious low margin issues, even when indicators are Green. Errors in reporting Performance Indicator data may be caused by errors in Basis Documents, by failure to follow procedures, by incomplete information, or by lack of rigor in the review and validation of MSPI data.
These issues and oversights are causing plants to exceed Performance Indicator thresholds, resulting in NRC Supplemental Inspection follow up (95001, 95002, or 95003) as prescribed by the NRC Action Matrix.
“Prompt actions to correct problems and successfully complete supplemental inspections are crucial,” says Ted Enos, President of Certrec. “The longer a Unit remains in Columns 2 or 3, the greater the risk of moving into a higher column with the attendant additional inspection. Our MSPI experts are skilled at understanding these issues and helping engineering and compliance professionals make the changes necessary for plant safety and increasing their MSPI margin.”
“Performance Indicator issues like these may be related to a lack of understanding of MSPI requirements,” notes Enos. “Our Office of Assessment and Recovery staff includes an author of the MSPI requirements and other career experts who are able to cut through the complexity of the Mitigating Systems Performance Index.”
For instance, when one facility reported inaccurate MSPI data, Certrec’s experts identified the inaccuracies and quickly revised the documentation. However, the corrections moved the facility into the White category. Certrec assisted with understanding the underlying causes of the White Performance Indicator to ensure that remaining Performance Indicators were accurately reported.
Certrec’s experts then trained management and staff in how to recognize, monitor, resolve and mitigate areas of MSPI systems that have low margin. As a result, Certrecs’ training program and changes to the facility’s procedures have been extended across the fleet. Certrec also supported preparation for the associated NRC 95001 Supplemental Inspection.
Earlier this year, Certrec’s Office of Assessment and Recovery helped a second nuclear facility reduce Performance Indicator vulnerability by assessing the state of their MSPI program – including a review a licensee’s operator narrative logs, MSPI margin and derivation reports, corrective action and event reports, and NRC Integrated Inspection Reports. Certrec validated the accuracy of submittals, rewrote parts of their MSPI Basis Documents, updated MSPI procedures, and revised the plant’s Root Cause and Corrective Action Program. The plant has now regained Green status.
“We are pleased that Certrec’s experts were able to resolve numerous MSPI issues related to White Performance Indicators for clients this year,” notes Enos. “We look forward to assisting other units and fleets in avoiding exceeding the white threshold in 2014.”
Information about Certrec’s capability to address MSPI issues, enhance MSPI programs, and train MSPI staff may be obtained by calling Tom Houghton at 817.738.7661.
About Certrec:
Certrec is a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions for the energy industry with the mission of helping ensure a stable, reliable, bulk electric supply. Since 1988, Certrec’s SaaS applications and consulting know-how have helped hundreds of power-generating facilities manage their regulatory compliance and reduce their risks.
Certrec’s engineers and business teams bring a cumulative 1,500 years of working experience in regulatory areas of compliance, engineering, and operations, including nuclear, fossil, solar, wind facilities, and other Registered Entities generation and transmission.
Certrec has helped more than 200 generating facilities establish and maintain NERC Compliance Programs. We manage the entire NERC compliance program for 80+ registered entities in the US, Canada, and Mexico that trust us to decrease their regulatory and reputational risk. Certrec is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and has successfully completed annual SOC 2 Type 2 examinations.
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