IR 05000282/2012503

IR 05000282-12-503, 05000306-12-503, 07/09/2012 - 07/13/2012, Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection

ML12221A270
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	08/08/2012
From:	Mel Holmberg Plant Support Branch II
To:	Molden J Northern States Power Co
References
IR-12-503
Download: ML12221A270 (10)

Text

August 8, 2012

SUBJECT:

PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2; BASELINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BIENNIAL EXERCISE INSPECTION REPORT 05000282/2012503; 05000306/2012503

Dear Mr. Molden:

On July 13, 2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed a Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise inspection at your Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed report documents the results of this inspection, which were discussed on July 13, 2012, with you and other members of your staff.

The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.

The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel.

No findings were identified during this inspection.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any), will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records System (PARS)

component of NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS),

accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Mel Holmberg, Acting Chief Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-282, 50-306;72-010 License Nos. DPR-42, DPR-60; SNM-2506

Enclosure:

Inspection Report 05000282/2012503; 05000306/2012503 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

REGION III==

Docket Nos:

50-282; 50-306;72-010 License Nos:

DPR-42; DPR-60; SNM-2506 Report No:

05000282/2012503; 05000306/2012503 Licensee:

Northern States Power Company, Minnesota Facility:

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 Location:

Welch, MN Dates:

July 9 through 13, 2012 Inspectors:

R.Jickling, Senior Emergency Preparedness Inspector

J. Beavers, Emergency Preparedness Inspector

K. Stoedter, Senior Resident Inspector Approved by:

M. Holmberg, Acting Chief Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

IR 05000282/2012503, 05000306/2012503; 07/09/2012 - 07/13/2012; Prairie Island Nuclear

Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2; Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection.

This report covers a one week period of announced baseline inspection by two regional inspectors and one senior resident inspector. The significance of most findings is indicated by their color (Green, White, Yellow, Red) using Inspection Manual Chapter 0609,

Significance Determination Process (SDP). Findings for which the SDP does not apply may be Green or be assigned a severity level after NRC management review. The NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors is described in NURE-1649, Reactor Oversight Process, Revision 4, dated December 2006.

NRC-Identified

and Self-Revealed Findings

Cornerstone: Emergency Preparedness

No findings were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

No violations were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

1EP1 Exercise Evaluation

.1 Exercise Evaluation

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors reviewed the July 10, 2012, biennial emergency preparedness exercise objectives and scenario to ensure that the exercise would acceptably test major elements of the licensees emergency plan and to verify that the exercises simulated problems provided an acceptable framework to support demonstration of the licensees capability to implement its plan. The inspectors also reviewed records of other drills and exercises conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012, to verify that those drills scenarios were sufficiently different from the scenario used in the July 10, 2012, exercise.

The inspectors evaluated the licensees exercise performance, focusing on the risk-significant activities of emergency classification, notification, and protective action decision making, implementation of accident mitigation strategies, and correction of past exercise weaknesses in the following emergency response facilities:

• Control Room Simulator (CRS);

• Technical Support Center (TSC);

• Operations Support Center (OSC); and

• Emergency Operations Facility (EOF).

The inspectors also assessed the licensees recognition of abnormal plant conditions, transfer of responsibilities between facilities, internal communications, interfaces with offsite officials, readiness of emergency facilities and related equipment, and overall implementation of the licensees emergency plan.

The inspectors attended post-exercise critiques in the CRS, TSC, and EOF to evaluate the licensees initial self-assessment of its exercise performance. The inspectors later met with the licensees lead exercise evaluators and managers to obtain the licensees findings and assessments of its exercise participants performances. These self-assessments were then compared with the inspectors independent observations and assessments to assess the licensees ability to adequately critique its exercise performance. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This exercise evaluation inspection constituted one sample as defined in Inspection Procedure (IP) 71114.01-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA1 Performance Indicator Verification

.1 Drill/Exercise Performance

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Drill/Exercise Performance Indicator (PI) for the period from the third quarter 2011 through first quarter 2012. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used. The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the performance indicator to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI, assessments of PI opportunities during pre-designated control room simulator training sessions, and performance during other drills. Documents reviewed are listed in the to this report.

This inspection constituted one drill/exercise performance sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.2 Emergency Response Organization Drill Participation

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Drill Participation PI for the period from the third quarter 2011 through first quarter 2012. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the NEI Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used.

The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI, performance during the 2011 and 2012 drills, and revisions of the roster of personnel assigned to key emergency response organization positions. Documents reviewed are listed in the to this report.

This inspection constituted one ERO drill participation sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.3 Alert and Notification System

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Alert and Notification System (ANS)

PI for the period from the third quarter 2011 through first quarter 2012. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the NEI Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used. The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI and results of periodic scheduled ANS operability tests.

Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This inspection constituted one ANS sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA6 Management Meetings

Exit Meeting Summary

On July 13, 2012, the inspectors presented the biennial exercise inspection results to you and other members of your staff. You acknowledged the issues presented. The inspectors confirmed that none of the potential report input discussed was considered proprietary.

.2 Public and Media Briefing

On July 13, 2012, the inspector summarized the NRC's preliminary exercise inspection conclusions at a public and media briefings hosted by Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Region VII Field Office staff at the Goodhue County Emergency Operations Center in Red Wing, Minnesota.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

J. Molden, Site Vice President

T. Bacon, Assistant Operations Manager

J. Boesch, Maintenance Manager

J. Callahan, Corporate Emergency Preparedness Manager

M. Davis, Regulatory Affairs Analyst

K. DeFusco, Emergency Preparedness Manager

P. Huffman, Site Engineering Director

M. Jones, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

J. Lash, Nuclear Oversight Manager

J. Nemcek, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

T. Ouret, General Superintendent, Operations Training

K. Peterson, Business Support Manager

A. Pullam, Training Manager

A. Schafer, Emergency Preparedness

J. Sorensen, Vice President Nuclear Operations Support

E. Weinkam, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Director

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

K. Stoedter, Senior Resident Inspector

P. Zurawski, Resident Inspector

LIST OF ITEMS

OPENED, CLOSED AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed and

Discussed

None