IR 05000255/2016005

Mid-Cycle Assessment Letter for Palisades Nuclear Plant (Report 05000255/2016005)

ML16239A329
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	08/31/2016
From:	Eric Duncan Division Reactor Projects III
To:	Arnone C Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
IR 2016005
Download: ML16239A329 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES ust 31, 2016

SUBJECT:

MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT (REPORT 05000255/2016005)

Dear Mr. Arnone:

On August 10, 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its mid-cycle performance review of Palisades Nuclear Plant. The NRC reviewed the most recent quarterly performance indicators (PIs) in addition to inspection results and enforcement actions from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. This letter informs you of the NRCs assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility.

The NRC determined that overall, Palisades Nuclear Plant operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives. The NRC determined the performance at Palisades Nuclear Plant during the most recent quarter was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix because all inspection findings had very low (i.e., green) safety significance, and all PIs indicated that your performance was within the nominal, expected range (i.e., green). Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct ROP baseline inspections at your facility.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2018. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. The inspections listed during the second half of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the end-of-cycle performance review. The NRC provides the inspection plan to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should circumstances warrant any changes. This inspection plan does not include security related inspections, which will be sent via separate, non-publicly available correspondence.

In response to the accident at Fukushima, the Commission issued Order EA-12-049, Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events, and Order EA-12-051, Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation. The NRC conducted audits of licensee efforts towards compliance with these Orders, and the information gathered will aid staff in development of the ultimate Safety Evaluation for the site. The NRC staff received the Palisades Nuclear Plant Final Compliance letter for Order EA-12-049 and Order EA-12-051 on December 16, 2015. On August 22, 2016, the NRC issued the Palisades Nuclear Plant Safety Evaluation, and will confirm full implementation of the orders discussed above by performing Temporary Instruction 191, Inspection of the Implementation of Mitigation Strategies and Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation Orders and Emergency Preparedness Communication/Staffing/Multi-Unit Dose Assessment Plans, starting on September 26 of this year.

In Staff Requirements Memorandum - SECY 16-0009, Recommendations Resulting from the Integrated Prioritization and Re-Baselining of Agency Activities, the Commission approved the NRC staff recommendation to discontinue the formal mid-cycle assessment process beginning in calendar year 2017. This will be the final mid-cycle assessment letter. The staff will continue to conduct quarterly assessment meetings and communicate changes in the assessment of licensee performance in accordance with the guidance in Inspection Manual Chapter 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program.

In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Please contact me at 630-829-9620 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Eric Duncan, Chief Branch 3 Division of Reactor Projects Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20 Enclosure:

Inspection Plan cc: Distribution via LISTSERV