IR 05000255/2012503

IR 05000255-12-503; Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc; 10/29/2012 - 11/02/2012; Palisades Nuclear Plant, Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection

ML12334A055
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	11/28/2012
From:	Richard Skokowski NRC/RGN-II/DRS/PSB1
To:	Vitale A Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
IR-12-503
Download: ML12334A055 (11)

Text

ber 28, 2012

SUBJECT:

PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT NRC BASELINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BIENNIAL EXERCISE INSPECTION REPORT 05000255/2012503

Dear Mr. Vitale:

On November 2, 2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed a Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise inspection at your Palisades Nuclear Plant.

The enclosed report documents the results of this inspection, which were discussed on November 2, 2012, with you and other members of your staff.

The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.

The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel.

No findings were identified during this inspection.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any), will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records System (PARS)

component of NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS),

accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/ By Don E. Funk Acting For/

Richard A. Skokowski Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20

Enclosure:

Inspection Report 05000255/2012503; w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

REGION III==

Docket No: 50-255 License No: DPR-20 Report No: 05000255/2012503 Licensee: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Facility: Palisades Nuclear Plant Location: Covert, MI Dates: October 29 through November 2, 2012 Inspectors: R. Jickling, Senior Emergency Preparedness Inspector J. Beavers, Emergency Preparedness Inspector J. Lennartz, Senior Resident Inspector Approved by: R. Skokowski, Chief Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

IR 05000255/2012503; 10/29/2012 - 11/02/2012; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Baseline Emergency

Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection.

This report covers a one week period of announced baseline inspection by two regional inspectors, and one resident inspector. The NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors is described in NUREG-1649, Reactor Oversight Process, Revision 4, dated December 2006.

NRC-Identified

and Self-Revealed Findings

Cornerstone: Emergency Preparedness

No findings were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

No violations were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

1EP1 Exercise Evaluation

.1 Exercise Evaluation

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors reviewed the October 30, 2012, biennial emergency preparedness exercises objectives and scenario to ensure that the exercise would acceptably test major elements of the licensees emergency plan and to verify that the exercises simulated problems provided an acceptable framework to support demonstration of the licensees capability to implement its plan. The inspectors also reviewed records of other drills and exercises conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012, to verify that those drills scenarios were sufficiently different from the scenario used in the October 30, 2012, exercise.

The inspectors evaluated the licensees exercise performance, focusing on the risk-significant activities of emergency classification, notification, and protective action decision making, implementation of accident mitigation strategies, and correction of past exercise weaknesses in the following emergency response facilities:

• Control Room Simulator (CRS);

• Technical Support Center (TSC); and

• Emergency Operations Facility (EOF).

The inspectors also assessed the licensees recognition of abnormal plant conditions, transfer of responsibilities between facilities, internal communications, interfaces with offsite officials, readiness of emergency facilities and related equipment, and overall implementation of the licensees emergency plan.

The inspectors attended post-exercise critiques in the CRS, TSC, and EOF to evaluate the licensees initial self-assessment of its exercise performance. The inspectors later met with the licensees lead exercise evaluators and managers to obtain the licensees findings and assessments of its exercise participants performances. These self-assessments were then compared with the inspectors independent observations and assessments to assess the licensees ability to adequately critique its exercise performance. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This exercise evaluation inspection constituted one sample as defined in Inspection Procedure (IP) 71114.01-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA1 Performance Indicator Verification

.1 Drill/Exercise Performance

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Drill/Exercise Performance Indicator (PI) for the period from the first quarter 2011 through the third quarter 2012. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used. The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI, assessments of PI opportunities during pre-designated control room simulator training sessions, and performance during other drills. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This inspection constituted one drill/exercise performance sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.2 Emergency Response Organization Drill Participation

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Drill Participation PI for the period from the first quarter 2011 through the third quarter 2012. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the NEI Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used.

The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI; performance during the 2011 and 2012 drills; and revisions of the roster of personnel assigned to key ERO positions. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This inspection constituted one ERO drill participation sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.3 Alert and Notification System

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Alert and Notification System (ANS)

PI for the period from the first quarter 2011 through third quarter 2012. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the NEI Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used. The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI and results of periodic scheduled ANS operability tests.

Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This inspection constituted one ANS sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA6 Management Meetings

.1 Exit Meeting Summary

On November 2, 2012, the inspectors presented the biennial exercise inspection results to Mr. T. Vitale and other members of the licensee staff. The licensee acknowledged the issues presented. The inspectors confirmed that none of the potential report input discussed was considered proprietary.

.2 Public and Media Briefing

On November 2, 2012, the inspector summarized the NRC's preliminary exercise inspection conclusions at a public and media briefings hosted by the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Region VII Field Office staff at the Van Buren County Emergency Operations Center in Paw Paw, Michigan.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

A. Vitale, Site Vice President

T. Williams, General Manager Plant Operations

C. Arnone, Nuclear Safety Assurance Director

B. Dotson, Licensing Specialist

J. Fontaine, Senior Emergency Planner

D. Malone, Emergency Planning Director

J. Miksa, Design Engineering Manager

B. Nixon, Training Manager

C. Plachta, Quality Assurance Manager

J. Standridge, Fleet Senior Emergency Preparedness Project Manager

B. VanWagner, Dry Fuel Storage Manager

D. Watkins, Radiation Protection Supervisor

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

T. Taylor, Senior Resident Inspector

LIST OF ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed, and Discussed

None Attachment