IR 05000271/2023001

Northstar Nuclear Decommissioning Company, Llc., Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, - NRC Inspection Report 05000271/2023001

ML23226A192
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	08/15/2023
From:	Anthony Dimitriadis Decommissioning, ISFSI, and Reactor Health Physics Branch
To:	Reid B Vermont Yankee
References
IR 2023001
Download: ML23226A192 (1)

Text

August 15, 2023

SUBJECT:

NORTHSTAR NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING COMPANY, LLC., VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION, - NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO.

05000271/2023001

Dear Billy Reid:

On June 30, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection under Inspection Manual Chapter 2561, Decommissioning Power Reactor Inspection Program, at the permanently shutdown Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY). The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and the conditions of your license. The inspection consisted of observations by the inspectors, interviews with site personnel, a review of procedures and records and plant walk-downs. The results of the inspection were discussed with Corey Daniels, ISFSI Senior Manager, and other members of your staff on July 25, 2023, and are described in the enclosed report.

Within the scope of this inspection, no violations of more than minor safety significance were identified.

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, its enclosure, and your response, if any, will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the NRC document system (ADAMS), accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To the extent possible, your response, if any, should not include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be made available to the Public without redaction.

Current NRC regulations and guidance are included on the NRCs website at www.nrc.gov; select Radioactive Waste; Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities; then Regulations, Guidance and Communications. The current Enforcement Policy is included on the NRCs website at www.nrc.gov; select About NRC, Organizations & Functions; Office of Enforcement; Enforcement documents; then Enforcement Policy (Under Related Information). You may also obtain these documents by contacting the Government Printing Office (GPO) toll-free at 1-866-512-1800. The GPO is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). No reply to this letter is required. Please contact Steve Hammann of my staff at 610-337-5399 if you have any questions regarding this matter.

Sincerely, Digitally signed by Anthony M. Anthony M. Dimitriadis Date: 2023.08.15 Dimitriadis 08:16:32 -04'00'

Anthony Dimitriadis, Chief Decommissioning, ISFSI, and Reactor Health Physics Branch Division of Radiological Safety and Security Docket Nos. 05000271 License No. DPR-28 Enclosure: Inspection Report 05000271/2023001 cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Northstar Nuclear Decommissioning Company, LLC

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station NRC Inspection Report No. 05000271/2023001 A routine announced decommissioning inspection of the permanently shutdown Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY) was completed on June 30, 2023. On-site inspection activities were conducted February 14-16, April 3-6, and June 5-8, 2023. Additional inspection activities were conducted remotely (in office reviews) during the inspection period. The inspection included a review of the corrective action program, decommissioning performance and status, occupational exposure, and effluent and environmental monitoring. The inspection consisted of observations by the inspectors, interviews with site personnel, a review of procedures and records, and plant walk-downs. The NRCs program for overseeing the safe decommissioning of a shutdown nuclear power reactor is described in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2561, Decommissioning Power Reactor Inspection Program.

Based on the results of this inspection, no violations of more than minor safety significance were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

1.0 Background On January 12, 2015, VY certified the permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel

[Agencywide Document and Access Management System (ADAMS) Accession No.

ML15013A426]. This met the requirements of Title10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 50.82(a)(1)(i) and 50.82(a)(1)(ii). On January 20, 2015, the NRC notified VY that the Operating Reactor Assessment Program would cease on January 24, 2015, and that implementation of the Decommissioning Power Reactor Inspection Program would begin on January 25, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15020A482). On January 11, 2019, an amended license was issued transferring the license from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., to Northstar NDC (ADAMS Accession No. ML18347B360). VY is in active decommissioning as described in IMC 2561.

2.0 Active Decommissioning Performance and Status Review

a. Inspection Scope

(Inspection Procedures 40801, 71801, 83750, 84750)

The inspectors reviewed documents and interviewed VY personnel to determine if Northstar management performed audits and if issues were identified and corrected in accordance with the sites corrective action program (CAP). The inspectors reviewed a representative selection of CAP documents to determine if a sufficiently low threshold for problem identification existed, follow-up evaluations were of sufficient quality, and if Northstar assigned timely and appropriate prioritization for issue resolution commensurate with the significance of the issue. The inspectors reviewed site audits for the past year to determine if they were thorough and that corrective actions were initiated if necessary.

The inspectors performed walk-downs of the plant to evaluate housekeeping and the material condition of the site. The inspectors reviewed radiological surveys and observed work-in-progress for removal of piping and components in the reactor building and demolition of the turbine building to determine if activities were in accordance with the regulations, site work plans and procedures. The inspectors observed removal and segmentation of piping from the off-gas trench and radiation protection (RP) coverage of the activities. The inspectors attended pre-job briefings to assess plant staffs ability to identify critical steps of the evolution, potential failure scenarios, and human performance tools to prevent errors. The inspectors also attended management meetings and project status meetings to ascertain the level of management involvement.

The inspectors reviewed the status of the decommissioning trust fund to determine if costs were consistent with the post shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) estimates.

The inspectors observed activities, reviewed documentation, and interviewed personnel associated with occupational radiation exposure to determine the adequacy of protection of worker health and safety. The inspectors conducted site walk-downs to check and assess radiological postings and locked high radiation doors and gates. The inspectors observed RP technicians performing job coverage and surveys to determine if implementation of radiological work controls, training and skill level, and instrumentation were sufficient for the activities being performed. The inspectors reviewed radiation work permits to determine if radiation work activities were pre-planned effectively to limit worker exposure. The inspectors reviewed dose records to determine if occupational doses were within regulatory limits.

The inspectors reviewed activities and documentation associated with effluent and environmental monitoring programs to determine if the licensee effectively controlled, monitored, and quantified releases of radioactive materials to the environment. The inspectors performed a walk-down of the gaseous monitoring system and discharge point to determine the alignment and material condition of equipment. The inspectors walked down selected dosimetry stations and monitoring wells to determine accessibility, material condition, and whether they were located as described in the Off-Site Dose Calculation Manual (ODCM). The inspectors reviewed procedures, the annual radiological environmental monitoring program (REMP) report, the annual radioactive effluent report, and the ODCM.

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors determined that issues had been identified and entered into the CAP in a timely manner and the issues were effectively screened, prioritized, and evaluated commensurate with their safety significance. The inspectors verified audits had been performed by qualified individuals independent of the organization being audited and that management reviewed the assessments and associated corrective actions.

The inspectors noted during the plant walk-down that housekeeping and plant material condition standards had been maintained. The inspectors determined that Northstar demolition activities were performed safely and in accordance with work plans and plant procedures and that RP technicians effectively maintained radiological controls for the work-in-progress. The inspectors determined that pre-job briefings were thorough and identified the significant potential hazards for the activities to be performed. The inspectors verified the activities and schedule were consistent with license requirements and the site PSDAR.

The inspectors verified that radiological work was planned, and post job reviews were performed as needed and were effective in limiting worker exposure and occupational dose was acceptable for the scope of the radiological activities performed. The inspectors determined that RP staff effectively controlled work activities, survey records were clear and complete, and RP technicians used appropriate instruments for the surveys. The inspectors verified technician training and qualifications were up to date.

The inspectors determined that effluent releases to the environment had been properly controlled, monitored, and quantified as required by regulatory requirements. The inspectors verified that the annual radiological effluent and the annual REMP reports demonstrated that calculated doses were below regulatory dose criteria of 10 CFR 50, Appendix I. Additionally, the inspectors verified effluent sampling equipment and area radiation monitors were checked, calibrated, and maintained as specified in the ODCM.

The inspectors verified sampling stations were accessible and as described in the ODCM.

c. Conclusions

No violations of more than minor safety significance were identified.

3.0

Exit Meeting Summary

On July 25, 2023, the inspectors presented the inspection results to Corey Daniels, ISFSI Senior Manager, and other members of Northstar NDC staff who acknowledged the inspection results. No proprietary information was retained by the inspectors or documented in this report.

PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee N. Langub, Decommissioning Director C. Daniels, ISFSI Sr. Manager D. Toegel, Decommissioning Project Manager S. Dorval, Radiation Protection Program Coordinator S. Hill, Worker Concerns Program Manager A. Miller, Radiation Protection Manager S. Naeck, ISFSI Operations Manager F. Provencal, Power Block Manager R. Routhier, Facility Area Manager T. Silko, Licensing Manager L. Smith, RP Technician State of Vermont T. Leshinskie, Nuclear Engineer ITEMS OPEN, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED None LIST OF

DOCUMENTS REVIEWED

Audits and Reports

22 Radiological Effluent Release Report

22 Radiological Environmental Operating Report

Radiation Protection Program Annual Report, 2021

VY-A-23-01, Site Audit (ISFSI Operations and Radiological Programs)

Condition Reports

CR- 2023 - 010, 026, 030, 034, 038, 039, 040, 041, 079

Procedures and Programs

NSVY-CY-4601, Rev. 1, Environmental Radiation Surveillance Program

NSVY-EV-4605, Rev. 1, Environmental Radiation Sampling and Analysis

NSVY-FP-3020, Rev. 2, Fire Emergency Response

NSVY-FP-10184, Rev. 3, Plant Side Fire Protection Program

DDFS-SEC-10180, Rev 3, Personnel Access Control

DDFS-SEC-10182, Rev. 2, Security Patrols and Alarm Response

NSVY-RP-001, Rev. 0, Preparation of Samples in the NSVY Receiving Building

NSVY-RP-102, Rev. 0, Radiological Control

NSVY-RP-104, Rev. 0, Personnel Contamination Events

NSVY-RP-105, Rev. 0, Radiological Work Permits

NSVY-RP-106-01, Rev. 1, Radiological Survey Guidelines

NSVY-RP-110, Rev., ALARA Program

NSVY-RP-113, Rev. 0, Response to Contaminated Spills/Leaks

NSVY-RP-141, Rev. 0, Job Coverage

NSVY-RP-203, Rev. 1, Dose Assessment

NSVY-RP-208, Rev. 1, Whole Body Counting/In-Vitro Bioassay

NSVY-RP-306, Rev. 0, Calibration and Operation of the Eberline PM-7

NSVY-RP-404, Rev. 0, Operation and Maintenance of HEPA Cleaners and HEPA Ventilation

Units

NSVY-RP-548, Rev. 2, Controlled Area Exposure Monitoring

NSVY-RP-4590, Rev. 0, Passive Whole Body Counting

NSVY-TRNRP-006, Rev. 1, Radiation Protection Technician Training Requirements

NSVY-WC-001, Rev. 6, Integrated Work Control Program (IWCP)

Miscellaneous

Air Sample Form 63956, 63958, 63959, 63960, 63961

Haley & Aldritch Operating Procedure: OP2020, Groundwater Monitoring (Observation) Well

Abandonment

NVLAP, Certificate of Accreditation, Landauer, Inc.

Open Air Demolition Radiological Limits

Radiation Work Permit 2022-0505

Radwaste Packages, NSVY-2023-75, and NSVY-2023-88

RP Technician Training Qualifications, Individual Documentation (2 sets)

Sealed Source Inventory and Leak Test, 1/26/2023

Spectra Tech, Inc., Project Management Plan for the Northstar Vermont Yankee Site Project,

Rev. 2

Status of Decommissioning and Spent Fuel Management Fund for the Year Ending 2022

Survey Logs 2023-0001, 0002, 0004, 0025, 0026, 0064, 0113, 0114, 0115, 0160, 0161,

0164, 0165

Transportation Package NSVY-2023-28,29,30

Whole Body Counter Log

Work Packages and Plans

ENV-CWP-208, Rev. 0, Decommission Monitoring Wells April 2023

Routine Work Task, Rev. 4, Sampling, Surveying, and Processing Samples

Routine Work Task # 008, Rev. 4, Sampling Surveying, and Processing Samples

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED

ADAMS Agencywide Document and Access Management System

CAP Corrective Action Program

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

IMC Inspection Manual Chapter

IP Inspection Procedure

Northstar Northstar Nuclear Decommissioning Company, LLC

NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

ODCM Off-site Dose Calculation Manual

PSDAR Post Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report

REMP Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program

RP Radiation Protection

VY Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

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