IR 05000271/2006001

Annual Assessment Letter - Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Report 05000271/2006001)

ML060620402
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	03/02/2006
From:	Brian Holian Division Reactor Projects I
To:	Thayer J Entergy Nuclear Operations, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee
Anderson C RGN-I/DRP/PB5/610-337-5227
References
IR-06-001
Download: ML060620402 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES rch 2, 2006

SUBJECT:

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION (REPORT 50000271/2006001)

Dear Mr. Thayer:

On February 6, 2006, the NRC staff completed its performance review of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. Our technical staff reviewed performance indicators (PIs) for the most recent quarter and inspection results for the period from January 1 through December 31, 2005.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our assessment of your safety performance during this period and our plans for future inspections at your facility.

This performance review and enclosed inspection plan do not include physical protection information. A separate letter designated and marked as Official Use Only - Security-Related Information will include the physical protection review and resultant inspection plan.

Overall Vermont Yankee operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives. Plant performance for the most recent quarter was within the Licensee Response column of the NRCs Action Matrix, based on all inspection findings being classified as having very low safety significance (Green) and all PIs indicating performance at a level requiring no additional NRC oversight (Green). Therefore, we plan to conduct reactor oversight process (ROP) baseline inspections at your facility.

While plant performance for the most recent quarter is within the Licensee Response column of the Action Matrix, there was a safety significant inspection finding affecting the first three quarters of the assessment cycle. This was due to a low to moderate safety significant (White)

inspection finding in the Emergency Preparedness cornerstone for not providing tone alert radios to a portion of the populace that was within the VY emergency planning zone. A supplemental inspection, conducted in June 2005, determined that the root causes for the performance deficiencies were understood and the completed and planned corrective actions were appropriate.

Additionally, on June 22, 2005, the staff issued a severity level III Notice of Violation, in accordance with the NRCs Enforcement Policy, for the 2004 finding related to two irradiated fuel rod pieces that were not in their proper location in the spent fuel pool as detailed in inventory records. Information regarding the reason for the violation, corrective actions, and when Vermont Yankee achieved full compliance with the regulatory requirements for this issue are discussed in Notice of Violation EA-04-174 and Special Inspection Report 05000271/2004007, dated December 2, 2004.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, less those related to physical protection, scheduled through September 30, 2007. The inspection plan is provided to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues well in advance of inspector arrival onsite. Routine resident inspections are not listed due to their ongoing and continuous nature. The inspections in the last nine months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the mid-cycle review.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be made 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).

If circumstances arise which cause us to change this inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the change as soon as possible. Please contact Mr. Clifford J. Anderson of my staff at 610-337-5227 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Brian E. Holian Director, Division of Reactor Projects, Region I Docket Nos. 50-271 License Nos. DPR-28 Enclosure: Vermont Yankee Inspection/ Activity Plan cc.

M. R. Kansler, President, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

G. J. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Operations J. T. Herron, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer C. Schwarz, Vice-President, Operations Support O. Limpias, Vice President, Engineering J. M. DeVincentis, Manager, Licensing, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Operating Experience Coordinator, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station J. F. McCann, Director, Licensing C. D. Faison, Manager, Licensing M. J. Colomb, Director of Oversight, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.