IR 05000295/2008002
| ML082750103 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 10/01/2008 |
| From: | Christine Lipa NRC/RGN-III/DNMS/DB |
| To: | Pardee C Exelon Generation Co |
| References | |
| IR-08-002 | |
| Download: ML082750103 (9) | |
Text
October 1, 2008
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT 050-00295/08-02(DNMS) -
ZION NUCLEAR STATION
Dear Mr. Pardee:
On September 10, 2008, the NRC completed an inspection at the permanently shut down Zion Nuclear Station. The purpose of the inspection was to determine whether decommissioning activities were conducted safely and in accordance with NRC requirements. Specifically, the inspector evaluated organization and management controls, spent fuel safety, and maintenance and surveillance. At the conclusion of the inspection on September 10, 2008, the NRC inspector discussed the findings with members of your staff.
The inspection consisted of an examination of activities at the facility as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations. Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the enclosed report. Within these areas, the inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures and representative records, field observations of activities in progress, and interviews with personnel.
Based on the results of this inspection, the inspector did not identify any violations of NRC requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure 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). The NRCs document system is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. We will gladly discuss any questions you may have regarding this inspection.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Christine Lipa, Chief
Decommissioning Branch
Docket No. 050-00295 License No. DPR-39
Enclosure:
Inspection Report 050-00295/08-02(DNMS)
REGION III==
Docket No.:
050-00295
License No.:
Report No.:
050-00295/08-02(DNMS)
Licensee:
Exelon Generation Company, LLC
Facility:
Zion Nuclear Station
Location:
101 Shiloh Boulevard
Zion, IL 60099
Date:
September 8 through 10, 2008
NRC Inspector:
Peter J. Lee, Ph.D., CHP
Health Physicist
Approved by:
Christine Lipa, Chief
Decommissioning Branch
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety
Enclosure
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Zion Nuclear Station
NRC Inspection Report 050-00295/08-02(DNMS)
This routine decommissioning inspection focused on the evaluation of the licensees facility management and control and spent fuel safety.
Facility Management and Control
!
The licensee properly implemented training programs for general employee training and fuel handling. (Section 1.1)
!
The inspector concluded that the licensee adequately maintained the material condition of its facilities and equipment. (Section 1.2)
Spent Fuel Safety
The inspector determined that the licensee properly maintained the spent fuel pool water level, temperature, chemistry, cleanliness control, and criticality control to ensure the safe wet storage of the spent fuel. (Section 2.1)
Decommissioning Support Activities
The inspector determined that the licensees maintenance and surveillance activities were conducted in accordance with the maintenance rule, as specified in 10 CFR Part 50.65. (Section 3.1)
Enclosure
Report Details
Summary of Plant Activities
During the inspection, the plant was being maintained in a SAFSTOR (safe storage of the spent fuel) condition, with no major decommissioning work activities in progress.
1.0 Facility Management and Control
1.1 Organization, Management and Cost Controls (IP 36801)
a.
Inspection Scope
The inspector evaluated the licensees training programs: Nuclear General Employee Training - (NGET), and Certified Fuel Handler Initial Training and Retraining Program.
The inspector reviewed the site training matrix, and the licensees tracking and implementation of certified fuel handler and NGET training.
b.
Observations and Findings
The licensee tracked required training for station personnel using the site training matrix.
Licensee personnel received annual operating examinations, and biennial written examinations in accordance with Training Procedure Description (TPD)-312, Certified Fuel Handler Initial Training and Retraining Program Description, Revision 0, dated May 22, 1998; and annual NGET training documented on TQ-AA-210-4105, Course Attendance Sheet, Revision 1. All personnel taking the examinations reviewed during this inspection period scored passing grades on the examinations.
c.
Conclusions
The licensee properly implemented training programs for general employee training and fuel handling.
1.2 Decommissioning Performance and Status Review (IP 71801)
a.
Inspection Scope
The inspector conducted a plant tour to assess field conditions and to evaluate the material condition of structures, systems, and components important for the safe storage of spent fuel.
b.
Observations and Findings
During the plant tour, the inspector did not identify any adverse conditions which could affect plant equipment or personnel safety. The inspector did not identify any transient materials that would impact the function of structures, systems, and components important for the safe storage of spent fuel or hinder plant personnel access to important equipment.
Enclosure
c.
Conclusions
The inspector concluded that the licensee adequately maintained the material condition of its facilities and equipment.
2.0 Spent Fuel Safety
2.1 Spent Fuel Pool Safety (IP 60801)
a.
Inspection Scope
The inspector reviewed the Defueled Technical Specifications, Defueled Safety Analysis Report and various procedures relevant to the operation of the spent fuel pool (SFP).
The inspector verified the safe wet storage of spent fuel in the fuel building. The review included SFP cleanliness control, chemistry, criticality controls, water temperatures, water levels, and gamma spectrum analyses, for the period of April through August 2008. The inspector reviewed the Technical Staff Surveillance (TSS 15.6.83),Spent Fuel Storage Rack Surveillance to verify the integrity of the neutron absorbing material in the spent fuel storage racks, including the report of testing of Boral surveillance coupons.
b.
Observations and Findings
The results of the analyses reviewed indicated that all parameters were within procedural limits. The licensee maintained the boron concentration in the spent fuel pool at approximately 2000 parts per million (ppm) exceeding the minimum Technical Specifications limit of 500 ppm. The licensee personnel interviewed were knowledgeable of spent fuel pool water analyses, and all analyses reviewed had been performed in accordance with the required procedures.
Boral, the neutron absorbing material, incorporated in the spent fuel storage rack, is designed to assist in controlling system reactivity. The high density spent fuel storage racks are designed to assure that the effective neutron multiplication factor is equal to or less than 0.95 with the racks fully loaded with fuel of the highest anticipated reactivity, and flooded with unborated water. However, it is possible to postulate events, such as misloading of a fuel with a burn-up less than the minimum burn-up required by the initial enrichment or dropping a fuel assembly between the pool wall and the fuel racks, which could lead to an increase in reactivity. Under this accident condition, credit of soluble boron is permitted by the double contingency principle specified in April 14, 1978, NRC letter and Regulatory Guide 1.13, and it is shown that a minimum boron concentration of about 160 ppm would be adequate to assure that effective neutron multiplication factor of 0.95 is not exceeded.
The licensee sent two Boral surveillance coupons every four years to an outside vendor to test the integrity of the neutron absorbing material in the spent fuel storage racks.
The test included measurement of dimensions, dry weight, density, and boron-10 concentrations. The results of testing done in 2007 were indicative of satisfactory material performance and the boron-10 concentrations were within the minimum required limits.
Enclosure
c.
Conclusions
The inspector determined that the licensee properly maintained the spent fuel pool water level, temperature, chemistry, cleanliness control, and criticality control to ensure the safe wet storage of the spent fuel.
3.0 Decommissioning Support Activities
3.1 Maintenance and Surveillance (IP 62801)
a.
Inspection Scope
The inspector reviewed the licensees annual assessment of its 10 CFR Part 50.65, Maintenance Rule (MR) program for the 2007. The inspectors also reviewed the work orders associated with MR summary of performance for the first and second quarter of 2008, to verify that maintenance and surveillance for structures, systems, and components (SSCs) were conducted in a manner that resulted in the safe storage of spent fuel.
b.
Observations and Findings
During annual assessment, the licensee reviewed the following aspects of its MR program: changes in scope, review of goals, review of performance, corrective action effectiveness, balance of availability and reliability, and expert panel recommendations.
The licensees staff reviewed 19 MR functions; 9 high importance functions and 10 low importance functions. The review of each function was documented in Attachment A of Zion Administrative Procedure (ZAP) 500-13C. During the assessment period of 2007, the licensee identified two functional failures. All failures were associated with low importance functions and corrective actions had been satisfactory to prevent recurrence and were performed in a timely manner. All the work request reviews were conducted in according with the MR performance program and documented in Attachment 1 of ZAP 500-13A.
c.
Conclusions
The inspector determined that the licensees maintenance and surveillance activities were conducted in accordance with the maintenance rule, as specified in 10 CFR Part 50.65.
Enclosure
4.0 Exit Meeting
The inspector presented the inspection results to licensee management at the conclusion of the inspection on September 10, 2008. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented did not identify any of the documents or processes reviewed by the inspectors as proprietary.
Attachment: Supplemental Information
Attachment
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED
- R. Schuster, Plant Manager
- J. Ashley, Design Engineering
- R Adams, Operations and Engineering Manager
- L. Cunningham, Security Project Manager
- M. Petersen, Administration/Training Supervisor
- Present at the September 10, 2008, exit meeting.
INSPECTION PROCEDURES (IP) USED
IP 36801 Organization, Management and Cost Controls IP 60801
Spent Fuel Safety IP 62801
Maintenance and Surveillance IP 71801
Decommissioning Performance and Status Review
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened
None
Closed
None
Discussed
None
LIST OF ACRONYMS USED
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations DNMS
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety MR
Maintenance Rule NRC
Nuclear Regulatory Commission NGET Nuclear General Employee Training SFP Spent Fuel Pool SSC
Structures, Systems, and Components TPD Training Procedure Description TSS Technical Staff Surveillance ZAP Zion Administrative Procedure