IR 05000255/2024001

NRC Inspection Report No. 05000255/2024001

ML24130A083
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	05/10/2024
From:	Dave Hills NRC/RGN-III/DRSS
To:	Mlynarek M Holtec Decommissioning International
References
IR 2024001
Download: ML24130A083 (1)

Text

SUBJECT:

PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000255/2024001

Dear Mike Mlynarek:

On March 21, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at Palisades Nuclear Plant. On April 11, 2024, the NRC inspectors discussed the results of this inspection with you and other members of your staff. The results of this inspection are documented in the enclosed report.

During the inspection, the NRC inspectors reviewed the following aspects of onsite activities spent fuel pool safety; decommissioning performance; and material control and accounting. The inspection consisted of an examination of activities at the site as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations.

No violations of more than minor safety significance were identified during this inspection.

May 10, 2024 This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely, David E. Hills, Chief Decommissioning, Reactor, and ISFSI HP Branch Division of Radiological Safety and Security Docket No: 50-255 License No: DPR-20

Enclosure:

IR Nos. 05000255/2024001

Inspection Report

Docket No:

50-255 License No:

DPR-20 Report No:

05000255/2024001(DRSS);

Licensee:

Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC Facility:

Palisades Nuclear Plant Location:

Covert, MI Inspection Dates:

January 01, 2024, to March 31, 2024 Inspectors:

G. Flanders, Health Physicist V. Myers, Senior Health Physicist Approved by:

David E. Hills, Chief Decommissioning, Reactor, and ISFSI HP Branch Division of Radiological Safety and Security

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Palisades Nuclear Plant NRC Inspection Report Nos. 05000255/2024001(DRSS)

This U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection was a routine, announced inspection of decommissioning activities being conducted at the facility. A brief summary of the areas reviewed are described below. Based on the results of the inspection no violations of more than minor safety significance were identified.

Spent Fuel Pool Maintenance, Surveillance, and Safety

The licensee safely stored spent fuel in the SFP. SFP equipment, instrumentation, alarms, leak detection, and power supplies were available and consistent with requirements.

Decommissioning Performance and Status Review

The inspectors determined that decommissioning activities were in accordance with the regulations and license requirements. Decommissioning staffing, qualifications, and training were appropriate to the requirements and current decommissioning status. The material condition of structures, systems and components (SSCs) supported the safe storage of spent fuel and conduct of safe decommissioning.

Material Control and Accounting

The licensee established a management structure for ensuring effective functioning of the Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) program. Licensee personnel were trained and qualified to control and account for the special nuclear material (SNM) in its possession, which included personnel who performed tamper proof seal applications and performed physical inventory activities in accordance with procedure and regulatory requirements. The licensee implemented adequate measures for reporting and reconciling SNM accounting records to physical inventory results. The results of the performance test of the item control program indicated that controls were sufficient to maintain current knowledge of identity and location of SNM bearing items and to serve as a basis for resolution of possible indicators of item loss.

Report Details Summary of Facility Status The Palisades Nuclear Plant is a permanently shut-down and defueled power reactor. During this inspection period, the licensee did not conduct any major decommissioning activities as defined in 50.2.

1.0 Spent Fuel Pool Maintenance, Surveillance, and Safety at Permanently Shutdown Reactors (IP 60801)

1.1 Inspection Scope The purpose of this portion of the inspection was to evaluate the licensees programs that ensure the safe storage of spent fuel in the spent fuel pool (SFP).

1.2 Observations and Findings The inspectors reviewed surveillance records associated with Technical Specification requirements and records associated with fuel movements conducted over the inspection period. The inspectors walked down the fuel pool, fuel pool cooling system, and component cooling water systems to assess material condition and alignment with descriptions in the Defueled Safety Analysis Report. The inspectors also reviewed the maintenance rule functional failure evaluation and corrective actions for the SFP level switch.

No findings were identified.

1.3 Conclusions The licensee safely stored spent fuel in the SFP. SFP equipment, instrumentation, alarms, leak detection, and power supplies were available and consistent with requirements.

2.0 Decommissioning Performance and Status Review (IP 71801)

2.1 Inspection Scope The purpose of this portion of the inspection was to evaluate the status of decommissioning and to verify the decommissioning activities are in accordance with regulatory and license requirements.

2.2 Observations and Findings The inspection consisted of observations by the inspectors, interviews with site personnel, a review of procedures and records, and plant walk-downs. General area walk-downs of the facility did not identify issues with general cleanliness, equipment condition, or radiological postings and controls.

No findings were identified.

2.3 Conclusions The inspectors determined that decommissioning activities were in accordance with the regulations and license requirements.

3.0 Material Control and Accounting at Decommissioning Reactors (IP 85103)

3.1 Inspection Scope The inspectors reviewed the licensees Material Control and Accounting (MC&A)

program to determine whether the licensee implemented and maintained an adequate and effective program to control and account for the SNM in its possession. The inspectors review included assessment of the licensees ability to detect loss or theft of SNM in a timely manner.

3.2 Observations and Findings The inspectors reviewed applicable procedures and inventory records to determine whether MC&A activities involving both fuel and non-fuel SNM were implemented appropriately. The inspectors also conducted independent observations to verify spent nuclear material locations were in accordance with applicable records. The inspectors reviewed the required reports (DOE/NRC Forms 741 and 742) submitted to the National Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS) in accordance with NUREG/BR-0006 and NUREG/BR-0007. The reports submitted to NMMSS were accurate and were submitted to NMMSS within the appropriate time frame.

No findings were identified.

3.3 Conclusions The licensees program was intended to control and account for all SNM on-site, as well as detect any loss or unauthorized diversion of SNM in a timely manner. The licensee had implemented an adequate program to inventory and control the SNM on-site.

Overall, the licensee had implemented the MC&A program in accordance with the regulations.

4.0 Exit Meeting The inspectors presented the results of the inspection to Mike Mlynarek and other members of the Palisades Nuclear Plant staff at an exit meeting on April 11, 2024. The licensee acknowledged the results presented and did not identify any of the information discussed as proprietary.

ATTACHMENT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Site Vice President J. Fleming - Vice President Licensing J. Borah - General Manager Plant Operations J. Miksa - Regulatory Assurance Manager M. Schultheis - Director Regulatory and Site Strategies M. Bailey - Training Manager G. Wright - Radiation Protection Manager J. Jerz - Director Engineering INSPECTION PROCEDURES (IPs) USED IP 60801 Spent Fuel Pool Safety at Permanently Shutdown Reactors IP 71801 Decommissioning Performance and Status Reviews at Permanently Shutdown Plants IP 85103 Material Control and Accounting at Decommissioning Reactors ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED Opened Type Summary None Closed Type Summary None

PARTIAL LIST OF DOCUMENTS REVIEWED The following is a partial list of documents reviewed during the inspection. Inclusion on this list does not imply that the NRC inspectors reviewed the documents in their entirety, but rather that selected sections of portions of the documents were evaluated as part of the overall inspection effort. Inclusion of a document on this list does not imply NRC acceptance of the document or any part of it, unless this is stated in the body of the inspection report.

- ADMIN 4.43; Nuclear Material Control; 08/01/2023

- EN-NF-200; Special Nuclear Material Control; 07/27/2017

- EN-NF-201; Special Nuclear Material Reporting; 05/04/2021

- WO-50085232-01-01; Special Nuclear Material; 08/09/2023

- WO-50085232-01-02; Special Nuclear Material; 08/09/2023

- WO-50085232-01-03; Special Nuclear Material; 08/09/2023

- PL-TRN13-0756; Special Nuclear Material Accounting; 03/29/2013

- PAL-01689; Spent Fuel Pool Switch Failed Functional Test; 01/11/2024

- WO-1689; Repair or Replace SFP Hi/Low Level Switch; 01/17/2024

- Transfer Form 2024-001; Item Control Area Transfer Form; 03/12/2024

- OPS ROUNDS-2410; Operator Rounds and Control Room Data Sheets; 03/09/2024

- OPS ROUNDS-2407; Operator Rounds and Control Room Data Sheets; 02/17/2024

- WO-50084263-01-01-0526; Boron Sample from SFP; 02/21/2024

- WO-50084263; Boron Sample from SFP; 03/13/2024 LIST OF ACRONYMS USED ADAMS Agencywide Document Access and Management System CFR Code of Federal Regulations DRSS Division of Radiological Safety and Security IP Inspection Procedure IR

Inspection Report

NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission SFP Spent Fuel Pool SNM Special Nuclear Material