IR 05000528/2003001

Annual Assessment Letter - Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Report 05000528-03-001, 05000529-03-001 & 05000530-03-001)

ML030650113
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	03/04/2003
From:	Laura Smith NRC/RGN-IV/DRP/RPB-D
To:	Overbeck G Arizona Public Service Co
References
IR-03-001
Download: ML030650113 (8)

Text

rch 4, 2003

SUBJECT:

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (REPORT 50-528/03-01; 50-529/03-01; 50-530/03-01)

Dear Mr. Overbeck:

On February 6, 2003, the NRC completed its end-of-cycle plant performance assessment of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. The end-of-cycle review for Palo Verde involved the participation of all technical divisions in evaluating performance indicators for the most recent quarter and inspection results for the period from January 1 through December 31, 2002. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our assessment of your safety performance during this period and our plans for future inspections at your facility so that you will have an opportunity to prepare for these inspections and to inform us of any planned inspections that may conflict with your plant activities.

Overall, Palo Verde operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives. Plant performance for the most recent quarter, as well as for the first three quarters of the assessment cycle, was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix, based on all inspection findings being classified as having very low safety significance (Green) and all performance indicators indicating performance at a level requiring no additional NRC oversight (Green). Therefore, we plan to conduct only baseline inspections at your facility through March 31, 2004.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections scheduled through March 31, 2004. In addition to the normal baseline inspections, the schedule contains some additional inspection associated with our review of your Unit 2 steam generator replacement activities. We also plan to conduct Temporary Instruction 2515/150, Revision 1, "Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration Nozzles," on Units 1 and 2 to confirm satisfactory implementation of NRC Bulletin 2002-02. The inspection plan is provided to minimize the resource impact on your staff and to allow for scheduling conflicts and personnel availability to be resolved in advance of inspector arrival onsite. Routine resident inspections are not listed due to their ongoing and continuous nature. The inspections in the last six months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the midcycle review meeting.

As you are aware, since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the NRC has issued several Orders and threat advisories to enhance security capabilities and improve guard force readiness. We have conducted inspections to review your implementation of these

Arizona Public Service Company -2-requirements and have monitored your actions in response to changing threat conditions. For calendar year 2003, we plan to continue these inspections and conduct portions of the security baseline inspection program, as well as perform additional inspections to evaluate your compliance with new requirements that may be ordered. Based on our final determinations in this regard, we will notify you of any inspection plan changes.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRCs 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).

If circumstances arise which cause us to change this inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the change as soon as possible. Please contact me at 817-860-8137 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Linda Joy Smith, Chief Project Branch D Division of Reactor Projects Dockets: 50-528 50-529 50-530 Licenses: NPF-41 NPF-51 NPF-74 Enclosure:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Inspection/Activity Plan cc w/enclosure:

Steve Olea Arizona Corporation Commission 1200 W. Washington Street Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Douglas K. Porter, Senior Counsel Southern California Edison Company Law Department, Generation Resources P.O. Box 800 Rosemead, California 91770

Arizona Public Service Company -3-Chairman Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Aubrey V. Godwin, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40 Street Phoenix, Arizona 85040 Craig K. Seaman, Director Regulatory Affairs/Nuclear Assurance Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Mail Station 7636 P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2034 Hector R. Puente Vice President, Power Generation El Paso Electric Company 2702 N. Third Street, Suite 3040 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Terry Bassham, Esq.

General Counsel El Paso Electric Company 123 W. Mills El Paso, Texas 79901 John W. Schumann Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Southern California Public Power Authority P.O. Box 51111, Room 1255-C Los Angeles, California 90051-0100 John Taylor Public Service Company of New Mexico 2401 Aztec NE, MS Z110 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107-4224 Jarlath Curran Southern California Edison Company 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy. Bldg. DIN San Clemente, California 92672

Arizona Public Service Company -4-Robert Henry Salt River Project 6504 East Thomas Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 Brian Almon Public Utility Commission William B. Travis Building P.O. Box 13326 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701-3326 Michael Austin, Director Arizona Division of Emergency Management 5636 East McDowell Road Building 101 Phoenix, Arizona 85008-3495 Federal Emergency Management Agency Jeff Griffin, Regional Director 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200 Oakland, California 94607-4052 Mayor Ron Drake 525 North Central Avondale, Arizona 85323 Mayor Dustin Hull 100 North Apache Road Buckeye, Arizona 85326 Mayor Jose Delgado P.O. Box 26 El Mirage, Arizona 85335 Mayor Elaine Scruggs 5850 West Glendale Avenue Glendale, Arizona 85301 Mayor William Arnold 119 North Litchfield Road Goodyear, Arizona 85338 Mayor J. Woodson Thomas 244 West Wigwam Blvd.

Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340

Arizona Public Service Company -5-Mayor John Keegan 8401 West Monroe Street Peoria, Arizona 85345 Mayor Skip Rimsza 200 West Washginton Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Mayor Joan Shafer 12425 West Bell Road Surprise, Arizona 85374 Mayor Adolfo Gamez 9555 West Van Buren Street Tolleson, Arizona 85353 Mayor Daphne Green 12030 Clubhouse Square Youngtown, Arizona 85363 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)

700 Galleria Parkway SE Atlanta, Georgia 30339-5943

Arizona Public Service Company -6-Electronic distribution by RIV:

Regional Administrator (EWM)

DRP Director (ATH)

DRS Director (DDC)

Resident Inspector (GXW2)

Branch Chief, DRP/D (LJS)

Project Engineer, DRP/D (ELC1)

Staff Chief, DRP/TSS (PHH)

RITS Coordinator (NBH)

V. L. Dricks, PAO (VLD)

W. A Maier, RSLO (WAM)

C. J. Gordon (CJG)

DRS Branch Chiefs (TWP, ATG, CSM)

W. D. Travers, EDO (WDT)

C. A. Carpenter, Chief, NRR/DIPM/IIPB (CAC)

R. K. Frahm, PPR Program Manager, NRR/DIPM/IIPB (RKF)

R. W. Borchardt, Associate Dir. for Inspection and Programs (RWB1)

B. Sheron, Associate Dir. for Project Licensing and Technical Analysis (BWS)

S. Morris, Acting Chief, Regional Operations Staff, OEDO (SAM1)

H. Berkow, NRR Project Director (HNB)

S. Dembek, Chief, Section 2, NRR/DLPM (SXD)

J. Donohew, NRR Project Manager (JND)

RidsNrrDipmlipb S:\DRP\DRPDIR\EOC 2003\Assessment Letters\PV.wpd RIV:C:DRP/D D:DRS D:DRP Signature LJSmith;df;vlh DDChamberlain ATHowell LJSmith

/RA/ /RA/ /RA/ /RA/

2/28/03 2/28/03 3/2/03 3/3/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax

Page 1 of 2 Palo Verde 03/05/2003 07:37:23 Inspection / Activity Plan Report 22 03/02/2003 - 03/31/2004 Unit No. of Staff Planned Dates Inspection Number Inspection Activity Title on Site Start End Type PSB-EP1 - EP EXERCISE INSPECTION 3 1, 2, 3 IP 7111401 Exercise Evaluation 03/10/2003 03/14/2003 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111404 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 03/10/2003 03/14/2003 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 71151 Performance Indicator Verification 03/10/2003 03/14/2003 Baseline Inspections EMB - ISI INSPECTION U3 1 3 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 04/14/2003 04/25/2003 Baseline Inspections 2515/150 - PWR RPV HEAD CRACKING - BULLETIN 2002-02 1 3 IP 2515/150 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration Nozzles (NRC Bulletin 2002-0 04/14/2003 04/18/2003 Safety Issues EMB - BIENNIAL MR INSPECTION 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7111112B Maintenance Effectiveness 04/28/2003 05/02/2003 Baseline Inspections EMB - TRIENNIAL FIRE PROTECTION 5 1, 2, 3 IP 7111105T Fire Protection 06/16/2003 06/20/2003 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111105T Fire Protection 06/30/2003 07/04/2003 Baseline Inspections OB-IN - INITIAL EXAM PREP 3 1 X02249 PALO VERDE - UNIT 1 EXAM (07/03) 07/07/2003 07/11/2003 Not Applicable 2 X02250 PALO VERDE - UNIT 2 EXAM (07/03) 07/07/2003 07/11/2003 Not Applicable 3 X02251 PALO VERDE - UNIT 3 EXAM (07/03) 07/07/2003 07/11/2003 Not Applicable OB-IN - INITIAL EXAMS 4 1 X02249 PALO VERDE - UNIT 1 EXAM (07/03) 07/21/2003 07/25/2003 Not Applicable 2 X02250 PALO VERDE - UNIT 2 EXAM (07/03) 07/21/2003 07/25/2003 Not Applicable 3 X02251 PALO VERDE - UNIT 3 EXAM (07/03) 07/21/2003 07/25/2003 Not Applicable SGR-P - U-2 SG REPLACEMENT PREP ACTIVITIES 1 2 IP 50001 Steam Generator Replacement Inspection 08/01/2003 09/20/2003 Other Routine PSB-S1 - SECURITY BASELINE INSPECTION 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7113002 Access Control (Search of Personnel, Packages, and Vehicles: Identification and Authorizati 09/08/2003 09/12/2003 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7113003 Response to Contingency Events (Protective Strategy and Implementation of Protective Stra 09/08/2003 09/12/2003 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 71151 Performance Indicator Verification 09/08/2003 09/12/2003 Baseline Inspections SGR2 - U-2 SG REPLACEMENT INSPECTIONS 1 2 IP 50001 Steam Generator Replacement Inspection 09/26/2003 12/27/2003 Other Routine ACCESSPI - ACRSA/PI 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7112101 Access Control to Radiologically Significant Areas 10/06/2003 10/10/2003 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 71151 Performance Indicator Verification 10/06/2003 10/10/2003 Baseline Inspections TI -150 - PWR RPV HEAD CRACKING- BULLETIN 2002-02 1 2 IP 2515/150 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration Nozzles (NRC Bulletin 2002-0 10/13/2003 10/17/2003 Safety Issues This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.

This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.

Page 2 of 2 Palo Verde 03/05/2003 07:37:23 Inspection / Activity Plan Report 22 03/02/2003 - 03/31/2004 Unit No. of Staff Planned Dates Inspection Number Inspection Activity Title on Site Start End Type EMB - ISI & SG INSPECTIONS U2 1 2 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 10/13/2003 10/17/2003 Baseline Inspections 2 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 11/03/2003 11/07/2003 Baseline Inspections ALARA2 - ALARA 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7112102 ALARA Planning and Controls 11/17/2003 11/21/2003 Baseline Inspections PSB-EP1 - EP PROGRAM INSPECTION 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7111402 Alert and Notification System Testing 02/02/2004 02/06/2004 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111403 Emergency Response Organization Augmentation Testing 02/02/2004 02/06/2004 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111404 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 02/02/2004 02/06/2004 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111405 Correction of Emergency Preparedness Weaknesses and Deficiencies 02/02/2004 02/06/2004 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 71151 Performance Indicator Verification 02/02/2004 02/06/2004 Baseline Inspections EMB - SAFETY SYS. DESIGN AND PERF. CAPABILITY 4 1, 2, 3 IP 7111121 Safety System Design and Performance Capability 03/01/2004 03/05/2004 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111121 Safety System Design and Performance Capability 03/15/2004 03/19/2004 Baseline Inspections EMB - CHANGES, TESTS & EXPERIMENTS 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7111102 Evaluation of Changes, Tests, or Experiments 03/01/2004 03/05/2004 Baseline Inspections This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.

This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.