IR 05000424/2025004

Integrated Inspection Report 05000424/2025004 and 05000425/2025004

ML26009A144
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	01/16/2026
From:	Catherine Scott NRC/RGN-II/DORS
To:	Coleman J Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
IR 2025004
Download: ML26009A144 (0)

Text

SUBJECT:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 05000424/2025004 AND 05000425/2025004

Dear Jamie Coleman:

On December 31, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. On January 5, 2026, the NRC inspectors discussed the results of this inspection with Mr. Jason Thomas, Regulatory Affairs Manager, and other members of your staff. The results of this inspection are documented in the enclosed report.

No findings or violations of more than minor significance were identified during this inspection.

This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely, Christian B. Scott, Acting Chief Reactor Projects Branch 3 Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 05000424 and 05000425 License Nos. NPF-68 and NPF-81

Enclosure:

As stated

Inspection Report

Docket Numbers:

05000424 and 05000425

License Numbers:

NPF-68 and NPF-81

Report Numbers:

05000424/2025004 and 05000425/2025004

Enterprise Identifier:

I-2025-004-0017

Licensee:

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc

Facility:

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2

Location:

Waynesboro, GA

Inspection Dates:

October 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025

Inspectors:

K. Kirchbaum, Senior Operations Engineer

T. Morrissey, Senior Resident Inspector

B. Truss, Resident Inspector

Approved By:

Christian B. Scott, Acting Chief

Reactor Projects Branch 3

Division of Operating Reactor Safety

SUMMARY

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an integrated inspection at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, in accordance with the Reactor Oversight Process. The Reactor Oversight Process is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/oversight.html for more information.

List of Findings and Violations

No findings or violations of more than minor significance were identified.

Additional Tracking Items

None.

PLANT STATUS

Unit 1 operated at rated thermal power (RTP) at the start of the inspection period. On November 26, 2025, power was reduced to approximately 92 percent RTP for several hours to perform a planned main turbine valve surveillance. The unit remained at RTP for the remainder of the inspection period.

Unit 2 operated at RTP at the start of the inspection period. On November 24, 2025, power was reduced to approximately 92 percent RTP for several hours to perform a planned main turbine valve surveillance. The unit remained at full power for the remainder of the inspection period.

INSPECTION SCOPES

Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html. Samples were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2515, Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program - Operations Phase. The inspectors performed activities described in IMC 2515, Appendix D, Plant Status, observed risk significant activities, and completed on-site portions of IPs. The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.

71111.04 - Equipment Alignment

Partial Walkdown Sample (IP Section 03.01) (4 Samples)

The inspectors evaluated system configurations during partial walkdowns of the following systems/trains:

(1) Unit 1 train B nuclear service cooling water (NSCW) and emergency diesel generator (EDG) while train A NSCW and EDG trains were out of service (OOS) for planned maintenance on October 16, 2025.

(2) Unit 2 train A EDG, and associated emergency switchgear, while train B EDG was OOS for planned maintenance from October 27 to November 7, 2025.

(3) Unit 1 steam generator atmospheric relief valves (ARVs) PV-3010, PV-3020, and PV-3030 while ARV PV-3000 was OOS for planned maintenance on November 17, 2025.

(4) Unit 2 train B EDG, and associated emergency switchgear, while train A EDG was OOS for planned maintenance from December 7 to December 12, 2025.

71111.05 - Fire Protection

Fire Area Walkdown and Inspection Sample (IP Section 03.01) (4 Samples)

The inspectors evaluated the implementation of the fire protection program by conducting a walkdown and performing a review to verify program compliance, equipment functionality, material condition, and operational readiness of the following fire areas and/or fire zones:

(1) Fire zones 155, 156, 157A and 157B. Unit 1 auxiliary feedwater (AFW) pump house on November 4, 2025.

(2) Fire zones 144, 162 and 164. Unit 1 train B EDG and electrical tunnel to the control building on November 24, 2025.

(3) Fire zones 57A, 81A, 125B, 126B, 153, 178 and 180. Unit 2 engineered safety features (ESF) chiller and normal chiller rooms on December 11, 2025.

(4) Fire zones 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 82. Unit 2 east and west penetration rooms on December 23, 2025.

71111.11A - Licensed Operator Requalification Program and Licensed Operator Performance

Requalification Examination Results (IP Section 03.03) (1 Sample)

The licensee completed the annual requalification operating examinations required to be administered to all licensed operators in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 55.59(a)(2), "Requalification Requirements," of the NRC's "Operator's Licenses." The inspector performed an in-office review and evaluation of the overall pass/fail results of individual operating examinations and crew simulator operating examinations in accordance with IP 71111.11, "Licensed Operator Requalification Program and Licensed Operator Performance." These results were compared to the thresholds established in Section 3.03, "Requalification Examination Results," of IP 71111.11.

(1) The review included licensed operator examination failure rates for the annual requalification operating examinations administered on August 28, 2025.

71111.11Q - Licensed Operator Requalification Program and Licensed Operator Performance

Licensed Operator Performance in the Actual Plant/Main Control Room (IP Section 03.01) (1 Sample)

(1) The inspectors observed and evaluated licensed operator performance in the Unit 2 main control room while lowering power to 92 percent RTP and conducting main turbine valve testing from November 24 to November 25, 2025.

71111.12 - Maintenance Effectiveness

Maintenance Effectiveness (IP Section 03.01) (1 Sample)

The inspectors evaluated the effectiveness of maintenance to ensure the following structures, systems, and components (SSCs) remain capable of performing their intended function:

(1) Work Orders (WOs) SNC1523841, SNC1536203, SNC1473269. Unit 2 train B EDG system outage on December 2, 2025.

71111.13 - Maintenance Risk Assessments and Emergent Work Control

Risk Assessment and Management Sample (IP Section 03.01) (3 Samples)

The inspectors evaluated the accuracy and completeness of risk assessments for the following planned and emergent work activities to ensure configuration changes and appropriate work controls were addressed:

(1) Unit 2 elevated risk with train B EDG OOS for planned maintenance from October 27 to November 7, 2025.

(2) Unit 2 elevated risk with train A EDG OOS for planned maintenance from December 7 to December 14, 2025.

(3) Unit 2 elevated Yellow risk due to vital inverter 2AD1I1 being OOS for unplanned maintenance on December 18, 2025.

71111.15 - Operability Determinations and Functionality Assessments

Operability Determination or Functionality Assessment (IP Section 03.01) (5 Samples)

The inspectors evaluated the licensee's justifications and actions associated with the following operability determinations and functionality assessments:

(1) Condition Report (CR) 11219774. Unit 1 125-volt direct current (VDC) battery 1CD1B exhibited resistance greater than procedural limits on October 17, 2025.

(2) CR 11221523. Unit 2 train B EDG jacket water pump increasing seal leakage trend on October 24, 2025.

(3) CR 11229531. Unit 1 train A NSCW tower bypass valve stroke time at the high maximum limit on November 24, 2025.

(4) CR 11227003. Unit 1 broken strands on containment tendon V29-83 on November 20, 2025.

(5) CR 11235313. Unit 1 leading edge flow meter alarms on December 16, 2025.

71111.24 - Testing and Maintenance of Equipment Important to Risk

The inspectors evaluated the following testing and maintenance activities to verify system operability and/or functionality:

Post-Maintenance Testing (PMT) (IP Section 03.01) (6 Samples)

(1) Procedures 14825-2, "Quarterly Inservice Valve Test," (valves HV5132 and FC5154 only), and 13610-2, "Auxiliary Feedwater System," following planned maintenance on Unit 2 train B motor-driven AFW pump on October 7, 2025; WOs SNC1179206, SNC1190278 and SNC1191292.

(2)14430-2, "NSCW Cooling Tower Fans Monthly Test," following replacement of a Unit 2 train B fan 3 gearbox on October 16, 2025; WOs SNC1475779 and SNC1085417.

(3) SP-ENG-2025-01, "Unit 1 Train A NSCW Pump 1 Functional Test," following pump replacement on October 30, 2025; WOs SNC2746309, SNC1191183 and SNC2548012.

(4)14980B-2, "Diesel Generator 2B Operability Test," following planned maintenance on Unit 2 train B EDG from October 27 to November 8, 2025; WOs SNC2825468, SNC1473305, SNC1522577 and SNC1568108.

(5)14825-1, "Quarterly Inservice Valve Test," following planned maintenance on steam generator ARV 1-PV-3000 on November 17, 2025; WOs SNC1467025, SNC1467025 and SNC1539822.

(6)14980A-2, "Diesel Generator 2A Operability Test," following planned maintenance on Unit 2 train A EDG from December 7 to December 14, 2025; WOs SNC1494160, SNC1589529, and SNC2825470.

Surveillance Testing (IP Section 03.01) (4 Samples)

(1) Procedure 24811-1, "Delta T/T Avg Loop 2 Protection Channel II 1T-421 Channel Operational Test and Channel Calibration" (channel operational test only) on October 8, 2025.

(2)11881-1, "Unit 1 Auxiliary Building Rounds," on December 3, 2025.

(3)24552-2, "Containment Hydrogen Monitor Train B 2A-12980 Channel Calibration," on December 22, 2025; WO SNC2471502.

(4)24541-2, "Condensate Storage Tank #2 Level 2L-5104 Channel Calibration," on December 22, 2025; WO SNC2159587.

OTHER ACTIVITIES - BASELINE

71151 - Performance Indicator Verification The inspectors verified licensee performance indicators submittals listed below:

MS05: Safety System Functional Failures (SSFFs) Sample (IP Section 02.04) (2 Samples)

(1) Unit 1 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025)

(2) Unit 2 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025)

MS06: Emergency AC Power Systems (IP Section 02.05) (2 Samples)

(1) Unit 1 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025)

(2) Unit 2 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025)

MS10: Cooling Water Support Systems (IP Section 02.09) (2 Samples)

(1) Unit 1 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025)

(2) Unit 2 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025)71152A - Annual Follow-up Problem Identification and Resolution

Annual Follow-up of Selected Issues (Section 03.03) (1 Sample)

The inspectors reviewed the licensees implementation of its corrective action program related to the following issues:

(1) CRs 11223063, 11225374, and 11225505. Completed corrective actions to repair an air leak in an electro-pneumatic controls line associated with the high vibration and high engine bearing temperature trips of the Unit 2 train B EDG on December 12, 2025.

71152S - Semiannual Trend Problem Identification and Resolution Semiannual Trend Review (Section 03.02) (1 Sample)

(1) The inspectors reviewed the licensees corrective action program to identify potential trends that might be indicative of a more significant safety issue. No new trends were identified.

INSPECTION RESULTS

No findings were identified.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

The inspectors verified that no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.

• On January 5, 2026, the inspectors presented the integrated inspection results to Mr. Jason Thomas, Regulatory Affairs Manager, and other members of the licensee staff.

THIRD PARTY REVIEWS The inspectors reviewed World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Peer Review Report, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant One and Two, Southern Nuclear Company, dated August 2025 that was issued during the inspection period.

DOCUMENTS REVIEWED

Inspection

Procedure

Type

Designation

Description or Title

Revision or

Date

71111.24

Procedures

NMP-ES-017-021

MOV Diagnostic Procedure for VOTES Infinity

2.7