IR 05000454/2013503

IR 05000454-13-503; 05000455-13-503; 11/18/2013 - 11/22/2013; Byron Station, Units 1 and 2; Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection

ML13354B662
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	12/19/2013
From:	Richard Skokowski Plant Support Branch II
To:	Pacilio M Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
Robert Jickling
References
IR-13-503
Download: ML13354B662 (12)

Text

ber 19, 2013

SUBJECT:

BYRON STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, NRC BASELINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BIENNIAL EXERCISE INSPECTION REPORT 05000454/2013503; 05000455/2013503

Dear Mr. Pacilio:

On November 22, 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at your Byron Station, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed report documents the results of this inspection, which were discussed on November 22, 2013, with Mr. B. Youman 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 and 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/

Richard A. Skokowski, Chief Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455 License Nos. NPF-37; NPF-66

Enclosure:

Inspection Report 05000454/2013503; 05000455/2013503 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

REGION III==

Docket Nos: 50-454; 50-455 License Nos: NPF-37; NPF-66 Report No: 05000454/2013503; 05000455/2013503 Licensee: Exelon Generation Company, LLC Facility: Byron Station, Units 1 and 2 Location: Byron, IL Dates: November 18 - 22, 2013 Inspectors: R. Jickling, Senior Emergency Preparedness Inspector J. Beavers, Emergency Preparedness Inspector J. McGhee, Senior Resident Inspector N. Valos, Senior Reactor Analyst Approved by: R. Skokowski, Chief Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

IR 05000454/2013503; 05000455/2013503; 11/18/2013 - 11/22/2013; Byron Station, Units 1 and 2; Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection.

This report covers a one-week period of announced baseline inspection by three regional inspectors and one 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 NUREG-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

None

REPORT DETAILS

1EP1 Exercise Evaluation

.1 Exercise Evaluation

a. Inspection Scope

The inspectors reviewed the November 20, 2013, biennial emergency preparedness exercise objectives and scenario to ensure 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 2011, 2012, and 2013, to verify that those drills scenarios were sufficiently different from the scenario used in the November 20, 2013, 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); and

• Emergency Operations Facility (EOF).

The inspectors also assessed the licensees recognition of abnormal plant conditions, transfer of responsibilities between facilities, internal communications, 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) 71114.01-06.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

1EP8 Exercise Evaluation - Scenario Review

a. Inspection Scope

Prior to the inspection activity, the inspectors conducted an in-office review of the exercise objectives and scenarios submitted to the NRC using IP 71114.08, Exercise Evaluation - Scenario Review, to determine if the exercise would test major elements of the Emergency Plan, as required by 10 CFR 50.47(b)(14). This inspection activity represents one sample on a biennial cycle.

The inspectors reviewed various documents, which are listed in the Attachment to this report. This inspection activity satisfied one inspection sample for the exercise evaluation on a biennial basis.

This review of the exercise objectives and scenario constituted one sample as defined in IP 71114.08-06.

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 second quarter 2012 through the third quarter 2013. 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, was 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, assessments of PI opportunities during pre-designated control room simulator training sessions, and performance during other drills. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment 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 second quarter 2012 through the third quarter 2013. 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, was 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 2012 and 2013 drills, and revisions of the roster of personnel assigned to key ERO 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 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 second quarter 2012 through the third quarter 2013. 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, was 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

.1 Exit Meeting Summary

On November 22, 2013, the inspectors presented the biennial exercise inspection results to Mr. B. Youman 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.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

B. Youman, Plant Manager

G. Armstrong, Security Manager

B. Barton, Radiation Protection Manager

T. Chalmers, Operations Director

A. Daniels, Corporate Emergency Preparedness Manager

S. Gackstetter, Regulatory Assurance Manager

B. Jacobs, Project Management Manager

R. Kartheiser, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

R. Lloyd, Emergency Preparedness Manager

L. Wehner, Nuclear Oversight Manager

L. Zurawski, Compliance Engineer

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

J. McGhee, Senior Resident Inspector

J. Robbins, Resident Inspector

LIST OF ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed, and Discussed

None Attachment