IR 05000528/2015005

Mid-Cycle Assessment Letter for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1,2,and 3 (Report 05000528/2015005, 05000529/2015005 and 05000530/2015005)

ML15243A580
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	09/01/2015
From:	Geoffrey Miller NRC/RGN-IV/DRP
To:	Edington R Arizona Public Service Co
Geoffrey Miller
References
IR 2015005
Download: ML15243A580 (6)

Text

ber 1, 2015

SUBJECT:

MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 (REPORT 05000528/2015005, 05000529/2015005 AND 05000530/2015005)

Dear Mr. Edington,

On August 12, 2015, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its mid-cycle performance review of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. The NRC reviewed the most recent quarterly performance indicators (PIs) in addition to inspection results and enforcement actions from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. This letter informs you of the NRCs assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility.

The NRC determined that overall, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 were operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives. The NRC determined the performance at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 during the most recent quarter was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix because all inspection findings had very low (i.e., Green) safety significance, and all PIs indicated that your performance was within the nominal, expected range (i.e., Green). Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct ROP baseline inspections at your facility.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2017. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. The inspections listed during the second half of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the end-of-cycle performance review. The NRC provides the inspection plan to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should circumstances warrant any changes. This inspection plan does not include security related inspections, which will be sent via separate, non-publicly available correspondence.

In response to the accident at Fukushima, the Commission issued Order EA-12-049, Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events, which requires licensees to develop, implement, and maintain guidance and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities following a beyond-design-basis external event. Additionally, the Commission issued Order EA-12-051, Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation, which requires licensees to have a reliable means of remotely monitoring wide-range Spent Fuel Pool levels to support effective prioritization of event mitigation and recovery actions in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. The NRC is conducting audits of licensee efforts towards compliance with these Orders. The audit has been completed at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, and the information gathered will aid staff in development of the ultimate Safety Evaluation for the site. After the NRC staff receives the Final Compliance letter for the site, the Final Safety Evaluation will be issued. Then, the NRC staff will confirm through inspections the full implementation of the orders mentioned above by performing Temporary Instruction 2515/191, Inspection of the Implementation of Mitigating Strategies and Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation Orders and Emergency Preparedness Communication/Staffing/Multi-Unit Dose Assessment Plans.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter 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). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Please contact me at 817-200-1173 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Geoffrey B. Miller Chief, Branch D Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-528; 50-529; 50-530 License Nos.: NPF-41; NPF-51; NPF-74 Enclosure: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Inspection/Activity Plan and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities following a beyond-design-basis external event. Additionally, the Commission issued Order EA-12-051, Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation, which requires licensees to have a reliable means of remotely monitoring wide-range Spent Fuel Pool levels to support effective prioritization of event mitigation and recovery actions in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. The NRC is conducting audits of licensee efforts towards compliance with these Orders. The audit has been completed at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, and the information gathered will aid staff in development of the ultimate Safety Evaluation for the site. After the NRC staff receives the Final Compliance letter for the site, the Final Safety Evaluation will be issued. Then, the NRC staff will confirm through inspections the full implementation of the orders mentioned above by performing Temporary Instruction 2515/191, Inspection of the Implementation of Mitigating Strategies and Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation Orders and Emergency Preparedness Communication/Staffing/Multi-Unit Dose Assessment Plans.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter 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). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Please contact me at 817-200-1173 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Geoffrey B. Miller Chief, Branch D Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-528; 50-529; 50-530 License Nos.: NPF-41; NPF-51; NPF-74 Enclosure: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Inspection/Activity Plan DISTRIBUTION: See next page ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER:

ML15243A580 SUNSI Review ADAMS Publicly Available Non-Sensitive By: GBM Yes No Non-Publicly Available Sensitive OFFICE: RIV C/DRP/D D/DRS D/DRP NAME GMiller AVegel TPruett SIGNATURE /RA/ /RA/ /RA/

DATE 8/27/15 8/27/15 8/27/15

Letter to Randall from Geoffrey B. Miller dated September 1, 2015 SUBJECT: MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 (REPORT 05000528/2015005, 05000529/2015005 AND 05000530/2015005)

DISTRIBUTION:

Regional Administrator (Marc.Dapas@nrc.gov)

Deputy Regional Administrator (Kriss.Kennedy@nrc.gov)

DRP Director (Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov)

DRP Deputy Director (Ryan.Lantz@nrc.gov)

DRS Director (Anton.Vegel@nrc.gov)

DRS Deputy Director (Jeff.Clark@nrc.gov)

Senior Resident Inspector (Charles.Peabody@nrc.gov)

Resident Inspector (Dustin.Reinert@nrc.gov)

Resident Inspector (David.You@nrc.gov)

Branch Chief (Geoffrey.Miller@nrc.gov)

Senior Project Engineer (Bob.Hagar@nrc.gov)

Project Engineer (Jan.Tice@nrc.gov)

Public Affairs Officer (Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov)

Public Affairs Officer (Lara.Uselding@nrc.gov)

RIV State Liaison Officer (Bill.Maier@nrc.gov)

Project Manager (Margaret.Watford@nrc.gov)

Acting Team Lead, DRS/TSS (Eric.Ruesch@nrc.gov)

Director, DIRS, NRR (Scott.Morris@nrc.gov)

Deputy Director, DIRS, NRR (Allen.Howe@nrc.gov)

Director, DORL, NRR (Anne.Boland@nrc.gov)

Deputy Director, DORL, NRR (George.Wilson@nrc.gov)

Director, NSIR/DPR (Rob.Lewis@nrc.gov)

Chief, LPLIV-1, DORL, NRR (Michael.Markley@nrc.gov)

Regional Counsel (Karla.Fuller@nrc.gov)

RITS Coordinator (Marisa.Herrera@nrc.gov)

Technical Support Assistant (Loretta.Williams@nrc.gov)

Congressional Affairs Officer (Jenny.Weil@nrc.gov)

RIV Congressional Affairs Officer (Angel.Moreno@nrc.gov)

RIV/ETA: OEDO (Cindy.Rosales-Cooper@nrc.gov)

ROPassessment Resource@nrc.gov ROPreports@nrc.gov OEMail Resource@nrc.gov Electronic Distribution for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

Page 1 of 2 Palo Verde 08/26/2015 14:07:47 Inspection / Activity Plan Report 22 07/01/2015 - 06/30/2017 Unit Planned Dates No. of Staff Number Start End Inspection Activity Title on Site EP-2 - HAB EXERCISE INSPECTION 7 1, 2, 3 09/14/2015 09/18/2015 IP 7111404 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 1, 2, 3 09/14/2015 09/18/2015 IP 7111407 Exercise Evaluation - Hostile Action (HA) Event EP-3 - EP PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 1 1, 2, 3 09/14/2015 09/18/2015 IP 71151-EP01 Drill/Exercise Performance 1, 2, 3 09/14/2015 09/18/2015 IP 71151-EP02 ERO Readiness 1, 2, 3 09/14/2015 09/18/2015 IP 71151-EP03 Alert & Notification System Reliability 71111.08 - INSERVICE INSPECTION 2R19 1 2 10/19/2015 10/30/2015 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR RS 5 - RP INSPECTION 1 1, 2, 3 10/26/2015 10/30/2015 IP 71124.05 Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation EB1-07T - PV TRIENNIAL HEAT SINK PERFORMANCE 1 1, 2, 3 11/16/2015 11/20/2015 IP 7111107T Heat Sink Performance EB2-05T - TRIENNIAL FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTION 4 1, 2, 3 12/14/2015 12/18/2015 IP 7111105T Fire Protection [Triennial]

EB2-05T - TRIENNIAL FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTION 4 1, 2, 3 01/11/2016 01/15/2016 IP 7111105T Fire Protection [Triennial]

RS 24 - RADIATION SAFETY 2 1, 2, 3 01/18/2016 01/22/2016 IP 71124.02 Occupational ALARA Planning and Controls 1, 2, 3 01/18/2016 01/22/2016 IP 71124.04 Occupational Dose Assessment EXAM - INITIAL EXAM 7 1 10/03/2016 10/07/2016 X02576 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 1 (10/2016)

2 10/03/2016 10/07/2016 X02577 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (10/2016)

3 10/03/2016 10/07/2016 X02578 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (10/2016)

1 10/31/2016 11/10/2016 X02576 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 1 (10/2016)

2 10/31/2016 11/10/2016 X02577 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (10/2016)

3 10/31/2016 11/10/2016 X02578 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (10/2016)

TSB 52B - BIENNIAL PI&R INSPECTION 4 1, 2, 3 03/07/2016 03/11/2016 IP 71152B Problem Identification and Resolution 1, 2, 3 03/21/2016 03/25/2016 IP 71152B Problem Identification and Resolution EP-1 - EP PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 1 1 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 71151-EP01 Drill/Exercise Performance 1 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 71151-EP02 ERO Readiness 1 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 71151-EP03 Alert & Notification System Reliability 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 08/26/2015 14:07:47 Inspection / Activity Plan Report 22 07/01/2015 - 06/30/2017 Unit Planned Dates No. of Staff Number Start End Inspection Activity Title on Site EP-2 - BIENNIAL EP PROGRAM INSPECTION 1 1, 2, 3 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 7111402 Alert and Notification System Testing 1, 2, 3 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 7111403 Emergency Preparedness Organization Staffing and Augmentation System 1, 2, 3 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 7111404 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 1, 2, 3 04/11/2016 04/16/2016 IP 7111405 Correction of Emergency Preparedness Weaknesses and Deficiencies RS 13 PI - RADIATION SAFETY 2 1, 2, 3 04/18/2016 04/22/2016 IP 71124.01 Radiological Hazard Assessment and Exposure Controls 1, 2, 3 04/18/2016 04/22/2016 IP 71124.03 In-Plant Airborne Radioactivity Control and Mitigation 1, 2, 3 04/18/2016 04/22/2016 IP 71151-OR01 Occupational Exposure Control Effectiveness 1, 2, 3 04/18/2016 04/22/2016 IP 71151-PR01 RETS/ODCM Radiological Effluent Occurrences 71111.08 - INSERVICE INSPECTION 1 1 04/18/2016 04/29/2016 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR EB1-21T - PV COMPONENT DESIGN BASIS INSPECTION 2 1, 2, 3 08/01/2016 09/02/2016 IP 7111121 Component Design Bases Inspection 71111.08 - INSERVICE INSPECTION 1 3 10/17/2016 10/28/2016 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR INSP - BIENNIAL REQUAL INSPECTION 3 1, 2, 3 12/12/2016 12/16/2016 IP 7111111B Licensed Operator Requalification Program RS 5678 - RS TEAM 5 1, 2, 3 01/23/2017 01/27/2017 IP 71124.05 Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation 1, 2, 3 01/23/2017 01/27/2017 IP 71124.06 Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment 1, 2, 3 01/23/2017 01/27/2017 IP 71124.07 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program 1, 2, 3 01/23/2017 01/27/2017 IP 71124.08 Radioactive Solid Waste Processing and Radioactive Material Handling, Storage, and Transportation EB1-17T - PV PERMANENT PLANT MODS & 50.59 3 1, 2, 3 02/27/2017 03/17/2017 IP 7111117T Evaluations of Changes, Tests, and Experiments and Permanent Plant Modifications EP-3 - EP PERFORMANCE INDICATOR VERIFICATION 1 1, 2, 3 03/06/2017 03/10/2017 IP 71151-EP01 Drill/Exercise Performance 1, 2, 3 03/06/2017 03/10/2017 IP 71151-EP02 ERO Readiness 1, 2, 3 03/06/2017 03/10/2017 IP 71151-EP03 Alert & Notification System Reliability EP2 - BIENNIAL EP EXERCISE INSPECTION 4 1, 2, 3 03/06/2017 03/10/2017 IP 7111401 Exercise Evaluation 71111.08 - INSERVICE INSPECTION UNIT 2 1 2 04/17/2017 04/28/2017 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.

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