San Onofre (SONGS)

[MeterSwangin]

I am very familiar with this.  Some of my surveys were subpoenaed as evidence.  Sorry, even this baseless suit can not justify the directives issued as described.

SONGS has a solid RP program now which contains virtually no residue from the hot particle problems of the 1980s or the B.S. lawsuits of the 1990s.

And I don't know what you are talking about with this PerCon nonsense.  SONGS went from 250-some PerCons a few outages ago to 43 last outage.  Standard good-program stuff...worker behavior improvements, decon, new clean PCs, etc.  No rocket science, no nutty plastics and respirators overreaction.  No silly "directives."  stop making stuff up.

[MeterSwangin]

It is very clear MS that you do not take knocks against the home plant well.  That is understandable. Heck, I still defended the Giants against slams from Dodger fans when the Giants were on their way to a 100-loss season.

I will try not to antagonize you again by pointing out shortcomings at SONGS.  But, I do not make this stuff up as you implied.  I have worked many outages at SONGS, although I admit the last one was back in '07.  I have seen the RP program in action first hand, up close, and very personal.

I am not alone either.  I do not believe desertdog was making stuff up when on 03/17/08 he wrote in reference to SONGS (by the way, there is no mention of a respirator):

"Secondly and just as importantly, how much money and DOSE are we spending to limit these PCE's?  At a plant last fall (that myself and some others affectionately refer to as "The Bad Place") supervisors were having us send crews into RCP shrouds that were <10 K dpm/100cm2  wearing PC's, plastics, and faceshields to do routine fit up work.  Another supervisor in the Rad Waste Bldg was sending crews into areas with no smears > 1K dpm/100cm2 in double PC's to prevent any possible chance of the big bad PCE.
While I agree we don't want unnecessary contams and we definitely need to make a fuss about uptakes,  making a big deal about minor ones that come about due to doing real work in a nuclear plant does more harm than any perceived good."

I understand SONGS is improving, and that is a good thing.  This industry needs all sites to operate at their full potential.  But it is not healthy to live in denial.

It was good of you clarify that the bad stuff you cited did not happen at SONGS.

[desertdog]

It was good of you clarify that the bad stuff you cited did not happen at SONGS.

I'm not sure how you gleaned that from Mutant's response. I suppose it goes with strong tendencies of denial when faced with a situation of which you are uncomfortable with confronting honestly. I would think this tendency would need to be turned around so that the plant could improve in performance to deserve a higher rating.  I wish you good luck in this endeavor.

[RDTroja]

IMO, there may be a few explanations for the string of responses by MS when faced with the truth about SONGS:
MS would make a great Cub fan.

Now that's funny. (Sorry, Marlin.)

[Brett LaVigne]

I'm not sure how you gleaned that from Mutant's response. I suppose it goes with strong tendencies of denial when faced with a situation of which you are uncomfortable with confronting honestly. I would think this tendency would need to be turned around so that the plant could improve in performance to deserve a higher rating.  I wish you good luck in this endeavor.

Exactally! Your a wordsmith dd

One of the biggest challenges SONGS has had is that they believe THEY are the ones with it all figured out. Their arrogance has always been amazing! Yet they slip farther and farter down. Step one: Admit you have a problem and need help.

I have been to little ole boilers down south and in the mid-west basically run by local farmers converted to nuke workers or doing each part time. Their RP programs would make SONGS green with envy if they had any sense about them. Nope, were doing it right and everyone else is wrong.

I hear they are getting better and that is great, I look forward to opinions about how the SGR went.

[MeterSwangin]

One of the biggest challenges SONGS has had is that they believe THEY are the ones with it all figured out. Their arrogance has always been amazing!

That opinion is badly out of date.

Four years ago the site was subjected to 16 hour sessions with the Site VP.  Took him all summer to do.  We got buttons that simply said "I am convinced."

Convinced that the industry bar had moved, but SONGS had not.  Metrics mostly low, standards no longer best-of, performance below average.  Convinced things needed to change.  Convinced into humility.

A sad part of moving from humility to change to renewed pride is all the uninformed, ignorant opinions flung about by knuckleheaded travelers who 1) haven't been there in years, and 2) are self-appointed experts on how to do what they have sworn to never do....lead.

[Longtime Nuke]

I have also worked at San Onofre recently and agree that the site very openly recognizes the need to change and shook the "arrogance" thing several years ago. 

Been there lately?  Really sweeping change...getting good everywhere.  Especially chemistry, RP, security and (lately) training.

[RDTroja]

That opinion is badly out of date.

Four years ago the site was subjected to 16 hour sessions with the Site VP.  Took him all summer to do.  We got buttons that simply said "I am convinced."

Convinced that the industry bar had moved, but SONGS had not.  Metrics mostly low, standards no longer best-of, performance below average.  Convinced things needed to change.  Convinced into humility.

A sad part of moving from humility to change to renewed pride is all the uninformed, ignorant opinions flung about by knuckleheaded travelers who 1) haven't been there in years, and 2) are self-appointed experts on how to do what they have sworn to never do....lead.

Quite a bit of arrogance and ignorance to be flung around by such a humble individual.

You just proved it didn't work even a little bit. Talking the talk is pure BS. Walk the walk and get back to us later when you really have it figured out.

[retired nuke]

Fall below that 7 mg/cm² skin threshold much?

I gotta remember that one - I can just see the blank looks it will cause....

[MeterSwangin]

Very recently, SONGS has made a huge overt step towards improving overall performance.  Edison has broken the strangle hold that Bechtel has had on the site over the past 35 or so years.  There is a new body broker, Shaw/S&W.  Let the scrambling begin!

You have to wonder if SONGS is headed the way of Comanche Peak. 

Today the Bechtel craft traded in their yellow hardhats for the new Shaw hats....light powder blue.  Too relieved to still have jobs to bitch much about the seriously gay looking PPE....yet.

[perdeim]

Can  anyone please tell me if Bartlett is still at SONGS ? they do not list it on there website .

Thanks

[perdeim]

Does anyone have info on phone number for NSS ?

   Thanks For the info

[perdeim]

 Thanks Mutant you really had me , NSS was a good company just hoping they would come back just a dreamer i guess .

[MeterSwangin]

Thanks Mutant you really had me , NSS was a good company just hoping they would come back just a dreamer i guess .

If you have any questions about working at San Onofre just ask here.

There are several pundits lurking who have not been there in years (or have worked anywhere, one wonders?)  They have lots of strong opinions and advise.

But if you have an opinion, duck!

[Laundry Man]

Thanks Mutant you really had me , NSS was a good company just hoping they would come back just a dreamer i guess .

Not sure which NSS you worked for?  They did a hack of a job on Numanco.
LM

[radbitch]

Does bechtel still have people onsite for the SGR project or did they all switch hats? Is the entire site Bechtel free?
TIA

[radbitch]

Rechtel is still driving the SGRO bus.

Thanks for the info..
I'm currently @ CR-3 working with (not 4) Bechtel and inquiring minds wanted to know!

[Domegren]

I'm a nuke mechanic just past my five year point without plans of reenlisting. I've been spending a lot of time researching to find out how to prepare for getting out. I always hoped that I'd end up working at a power plant like SONGS primarily for its location since I grew up in Orange County. From what I'm hearing it seems like people are generally happy with the work environment but they aren't able to save much money. I have plans on finishing my degree in nuclear engineering technology through Excelsior College before I get out. Does anybody know if there are frequent job openings for somebody with my qualifications? If so, about what kind of hours and pay would I be looking at?

[MeterSwangin]

I'm a nuke mechanic just past my five year point without plans of reenlisting. I've been spending a lot of time researching to find out how to prepare for getting out. I always hoped that I'd end up working at a power plant like SONGS primarily for its location since I grew up in Orange County. From what I'm hearing it seems like people are generally happy with the work environment but they aren't able to save much money. I have plans on finishing my degree in nuclear engineering technology through Excelsior College before I get out. Does anybody know if there are frequent job openings for somebody with my qualifications? If so, about what kind of hours and pay would I be looking at?

San Onofre is and will be hiring maintenance folks of all kinds.  HVAC, welding, I&C, rad monitoring, machinists...you name it.  Move quickly into management position (supervision, planner, quality, etc.)  Basic 1st line supv. pay starts around $8K/mo with all the OT you can eat.

[HydroDave63]

Once again the NRC is not too pleased with the SONGS team (95-002, column 3).  The SONGS team is not living up to the bill of goods they sold to the NRC to keep the keys. Be careful placing your career eggs in the SONGS basket.  Do a lot of research before you accept an offer for what you think may be your last job and plunk down $750,000.00 for a 1-br condo overlooking I5.

Such as this lil ol memo found here :  http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/sano_2009q2.pdf

It's often a bad thing when the letter has the phrase "This is the fourth consecutive assessment cycle where substantive crosscutting issues were identified in human performance and problem identification and resolution."

[MeterSwangin]

Once again the NRC is not too pleased with the SONGS team (95-002, column 3).  The SONGS team is not living up to the bill of goods they sold to the NRC to keep the keys. Be careful placing your career eggs in the SONGS basket.  Do a lot of research before you accept an offer for what you think may be your last job and plunk down $750,000.00 for a 1-br condo overlooking I5.

It has been tough.  Column 2, by-the-way, not 3 (yet.)

Ask any of the dozens of very high dollar consultants onsite...this kind of trouble is an opportunity.   New groups, promotions, new initiatives springing up everywhere.  Yeehaw!

Making electricity is boring.  Ever spend an entire summer doing routine surveys and sampling clean air?  Making excellence is much cooler.  Not easy or fast, but cool.

[Longtime Nuke]

Once again the NRC is not too pleased with the SONGS team (95-002, column 3).  The SONGS team is not living up to the bill of goods they sold to the NRC to keep the keys. Be careful placing your career eggs in the SONGS basket.  Do a lot of research before you accept an offer for what you think may be your last job and plunk down $750,000.00 for a 1-br condo overlooking I5.

Recent years at Column-4 Palo Verde have proved the most opportune, lucrative of my career.  Plants in recovery are where the smart money runs.....

[HydroDave63]

It has been tough.  Column 2, by-the-way, not 3 (yet.)

Ask any of the dozens of very high dollar consultants onsite...this kind of trouble is an opportunity.  

And it has been since the early 90s, opportunity for consultants, with lovely views of the beach from the 'Queen Mary", or the box of donuts known as K-50. Yet complacency marches on, whether 120 day outages or misaligned diesels for a few years. But hey, making electricity (while being compliant) sounds boring...  

Think back, why was it that when H.B. Ray was Nuclear VP, things ran well, what has changed??

[MeterSwangin]

Think back, why was it that when H.B. Ray was Nuclear VP, things ran well, what has changed??

THAT is the greatest question.  Really.

Consensus from the new leadership, INPO, and consultants is that the plant didn't change at all.  Kept doing things just like when SALP 1 for years in the 1990s.  No decline, just kept doing what worked.

What changed was the status quo.  The bar changed.  What used to be handled with a find/fix now gets a CR, prompt investigation, review board, effectiveness review, and OE writeup.  SONGS kept doing the find/fix, and is now in the ditch.

Consider RP for a minute.  In the 1990s it was SALP 1 / INPO 1 behavior to put it back if you found a magenta tool outside the RCA.  Now it is a mid-level human performance error demanding investigation, corrective action, trending, prompt mgt action, etc.  No activity on the tool.  Would you really call a plant that just put it back today "broke?"

Yes.

[gbrownell]

I spent 6 years working contract security at San Onofre in the 80's. I'm now trying to find employment there during the current outage. Does anybody know who the "Temp" employers are for the more entry level positions? (firewatch/janitorial/transportation) Very much appriciate some direction. Volt, Manpower, and a few others were there during the Unit 1 retro fit and construction of 2 & 3. I loved working there. At one time there were close to 6,0000 workers on site during construction.

Greg