IR 05000454/2009502

IR 05000454-09-502 & 05000454-09-502 on 07/27/2009 - 07/31/2009; Byron Station, Units 1 and 2, Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection

ML092580392
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	09/11/2009
From:	Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III
To:	Pardee C Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
References
IR-09-502
Download: ML092580392 (12)

Text

ber 11, 2009

SUBJECT:

BYRON STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 BASELINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BIENNIAL EXERCISE INSPECTION REPORT 05000454/2009502(DRS); 05000455/2009502(DRS)

Dear Mr. Pardee:

On July 31, 2009, the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed a Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise inspection at your Byron Station, Units 1 and 2.

The enclosed inspection report documents the inspection findings which were discussed on July 31, 2009, with Mr. D. Enright 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.

Based on the results of this inspection, no NRC-identified and no self-revealed findings of very low safety significance were identified.

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

Sincerely,

/RA/

Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455 License Nos. NPF-37; NPF-66 Enclosure: Inspection Report No. 05000454/2009502(DRS);

05000455/2009502(DRS)

w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

Letter to Charles

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

IR 05000454/2009502, 05000454/2009502; 07/27/2009 - 07/31/2009; Byron Station,

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, one resident inspector, and one specialist. The significance of most findings is indicated by their color (Green, White, Yellow, Red) using Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 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 NUREG-1649, Reactor Oversight Process, Revision 4, dated December 2006.

NRC-Identified

and Self-Revealed Findings

Cornerstone: Emergency Preparedness

No findings of significance were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

No violations of significance were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

1EP1 Exercise Evaluation

.1 Exercise Evaluation

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors reviewed the July 29, 2009, biennial emergency preparedness exercises 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 2007, 2008, and 2009, to verify that those drills scenarios were sufficiently different from the scenario used in the July 29, 2009, 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, OSC, 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 of significance were identified.

4OA1 Performance Indicator (PI) Verification

.1 Drill/Exercise Performance

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Drill/Exercise Performance PI for the period from the first quarter 2008 through second quarter 2009. 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 5, 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 of significance 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 first quarter 2008 through second quarter 2009. 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 5, 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 2008 and 2009 exercises and drills; and revisions of the roster of personnel assigned to key emergency response organization positions. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

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

b. Findings

No findings of significance 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 first quarter 2008 through second quarter 2009. 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 5, 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 alert and notification system sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

4OA5 Other Activities

.1 (Closed) NRC Temporary Instruction 2515/175 Emergency Response Organization,

Drill/Exercise Performance Indicator, Program Review The inspector performed Temporary Instruction (TI) 2515/175, ensured the completeness of the TIs Attachment 1, and then forwarded the data to NRC, Headquarters.

4OA6 Management Meetings

.1 Exit Meeting Summary

On July 31, 2009, the inspectors presented the inspection results to Mr. D. Enright, and other members of the licensee staff. The licensee 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 31, 2009, the inspector summarized the NRC's preliminary exercise inspection conclusions at a public and media briefing hosted by Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Region V Field Office staff in Oregon, Illinois.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

D. Enright, Site Vice President

B. Adams, Plant Manager

K. Appel, Corporate Emergency Preparedness Manager

B. Askren, Security Director

L. Bogue, Training Director

C. Gayheart, Operations Director

S. Greenlee, Engineering Director

D. Gudger, Regulatory Assurance Manager

T. Johnson, Nuclear Oversight Representative

E. Lamken, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

J. Langan, Regulatory Assurance

D. Thompson, Radiation Protection Manager

W. Walter, Emergency Preparedness Manager

B. Youman, Work Management Director

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

B. Bartlett, Senior Resident Inspector

LIST OF ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed, and Discussed

None Attachment