A finding of very-low safety significance, and an associated
NCV of
Technical Specification (TS) 5.4.1 was identified by the NRC inspectors for the failure to implement and maintain procedures to ensure adequate operation of a meteorological tower. The licensee entered this issue into their Corrective Action Program (
CAP) as
CAP 501000001091, dated July 27, 2017. The licensee had initiated efforts to assess and remove unnecessary vegetation growth. The inspectors determined that the performance deficiency was more-than-minor in accordance with
IMC 0612, Appendix B, Issue Screening, because the finding impacted the Plant Facilities/Equipment and Instrumentation Attribute of the
Public Radiation Safety Cornerstone, and adversely affected the cornerstone objective of ensuring adequate protection of public health and safety from exposure to radioactive materials released into the public domain as a result of routine civilian nuclear reactor operation. Specifically, existing meteorological tower procedures did not include the assessment and subsequent removal of trees that could impair the correct operation of sensors located at the 10 meter elevation of the tower. The finding was determined to be of very-low safety significance in accordance with
IMC 0609, Appendix D,
Public Radiation Safety Significance Determination Process, dated February 12, 2008. The violation was of very-low safety significance (Green) because: it was not a failure to implement the Effluent Program, nor did public dose exceed Appendix I or Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 20.1301(e) criteria. The inspectors concluded that the most significant contributing cause of the performance deficiency involved the Resolution cross cutting component in the area of problem identification and resolution because this issue was previously entered into the licensees
CAP in 2015 and closed with no action taken. [P.3]
