IR 05000271/2009001

Annual Assessment Letter, Vermont Yankee (IR 05000271-09-001)

ML090630467
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	03/04/2009
From:	Diane Jackson NRC/RGN-I/DRP/PB5
To:	Michael Colomb Entergy Nuclear Operations
Jackson D RGN-I/DRP/PB2/610-337-5306
Shared Package
ML090630466	List: IR 05000271/2009001
References
IR-09-001
Download: ML090630467 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

rch 4, 2009

SUBJECT:

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION (Report 05000271/2009001)

Dear Mr. Colomb:

On February 11, 2009, the NRC staff completed its performance review of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Vermont Yankee). Our technical staff reviewed performance indicators (PIs) for the most recent quarter and inspection results for the period from January 1 through December 31, 2008. 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 security information. A separate letter designated and marked as AOfficial Use Only - Security Related Information will include the security cornerstone 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, as well as for the first three quarters of the assessment cycle, was within the Licensee Response column of the NRC=s 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.

The staff identified six inspection findings for the current twelve month assessment period with a documented cross-cutting theme in the aspect of procedure and document adequacy (H.2(c)) 1 .

The NRC first identified this theme in our mid-cycle assessment letter dated September 2, 2008

[ML082470005] 2 , and concluded that a substantive cross-cutting issue did not exist because you had recognized the theme and had taken or scheduled to take appropriate corrective actions. During this assessment period, we reviewed your corrective action plan and identified no concerns with your implementation. Furthermore, in the last six months of this assessment period, the staff identified only one inspection finding with this aspect, which reflects an improving trend. Therefore, the NRC determined that a substantive cross-cutting issue in the

This is a descriptor which correlates to the cross cutting aspect in Inspection Manual Chapter 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program.

Designation in parentheses refers to an ADAMS ascension number. Documents referenced in this letter are publicly available using the ascension number in ADAMS. area of Human Performance does not exist at this time. We will monitor your progress in the area of procedure and document adequacy through the baseline inspection program, including a focused review of your procedure upgrade action plan execution. In addition, we will review your progress and completed actions during the biennial problem identification and resolution inspection scheduled for April 2009.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, less those related to physical protection, scheduled through June 30, 2010. In addition to the baseline inspections, an independent spent fuel storage installation inspection will be performed. 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 10CFR2.390 of the NRC=s ARules 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 me at 610-337-5306 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/ Original Signed By:

Donald E. Jackson, Chief Projects Branch 5 Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos. 50-271 License No. DPR-28 Enclosure: Vermont Yankee Inspection/Activity Plan