IR 05000286/2020005

Updated Inspection Plan for Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3 (Inspection Report 05000286/2020005)

ML20237F429
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	08/31/2020
From:	Daniel Schroeder Reactor Projects Branch 2
To:	Vitale A Entergy Nuclear Operations
Schroeder D
References
IR 2020005
Download: ML20237F429 (7)

Text

August 31, 2020

SUBJECT:

UPDATED INSPECTION PLAN FOR INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER, UNIT 3 (INSPECTION REPORT 05000286/2020005)

Dear Mr. Vitale:

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2022 for Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3. The NRC provides the inspection plan to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. You should be aware that the agency is pursuing potential changes to the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP), including changes to engineering inspections (SECY-18-0113, Recommendations for Modifying the Reactor Oversight Process Engineering Inspections), and other changes to the baseline inspection program described in SECY-19-0067, Recommendations for Enhancing the Reactor Oversight Process. Should these changes to the ROP be implemented, the engineering and other region-based inspections are subject to change in scope, as well as schedule. The inspections listed during the last twelve months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should circumstances warrant any changes.

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the NRC is adjusting inspection plans and schedules in order to safeguard the health and safety of both NRC and licensee staff while still effectively implementing the ROP. Each planned inspection is being carefully reviewed in order to determine if any portions of the inspection can be performed remotely, determine how best to perform on-site portions to minimize personnel health risks, and adjust inspection schedules if needed. This is done in accordance with guidance contained in the May 28, 2020 memo, Inspection Guidance During Transition From COVID-19 Mandatory Telework (ML20141L766). For inspections requiring extensive coordination with offsite organizations, such as evaluated emergency preparedness exercises, NRC guidance and frequently asked questions for security and emergency preparedness can be found here:

https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/covid-19/security-ep/. Similarly, the NRC has developed guidance if force-on-force inspections cannot be completed as scheduled due to an emergency, such as the COVID-19 PHE. These changes help ensure the health and safety of both NRC and licensee staff while maintaining the NRCs important safety and security mission during the COVID-19 PHE. The attached inspection plan is accurate on the date of issuance but remains subject to change based on approval of potential exemption requests or other changes needed due to changing conditions in the COVID-19 PHE. NRC staff will contact your appropriate regulatory affairs staff in order to coordinate inspection planning and scheduling.

In addition to the baseline inspections, the NRC will conduct Inspection Procedure 60855.1, Operation of an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISFSI) at Operating Plants, and Inspection Procedure 92702, Follow-up on Traditional Enforcement Actions Including Violations, Deviations, Confirmatory Action Letters, Confirmatory Orders, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Confirmatory Orders.

Additionally, in a letter (ML17044A004) dated February 8, 2017, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.82(a)(1)(i), you notified the NRC of your intent to permanently cease power operations at Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3 by April 30, 2021.

Therefore, the inspection schedule is tentative and may be revised. Once you formally notify the NRC in accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)(ii) that Unit 3 is permanently shutdown and that all the nuclear fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel, then that unit will transition from NRC IMC 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, and IMC 2515, Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program - Operations Phase, to IMC 2561, Decommissioning Power Reactor Inspection Program. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should circumstances warrant any changes.

Finally, the ROP and Inspection Program provides inherent flexibility to permit inspection sampling adjustments using IMC 2515, Appendix G, Baseline Inspection Guidance for Power Reactors Preparing for Transition to Decommissioning Phase. These adjustments are being made in order to better inform our assessment of performance during this unique period of operations prior to permanent plant shutdown. In addition, the NRC has implemented quarterly assessment reviews, consistent with the guidance contained in IMC 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, in order to more closely monitor and review overall plant activities to assure that there are no issues emerging that might indicate a decline in focus on the safe operation of the facility. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter will be 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).

Please contact me at 610-337-5262 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely, X /RA/

Signed by: Daniel L. Schroeder Daniel L. Schroeder, Chief Reactor Projects Branch 2 Division of Reactor Projects Docket No. 50-286 License No. DPR-64 Enclosure:

Indian Point Inspection/Activity Plan cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ