IR 05000530/2002001
| ML020640498 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 03/04/2002 |
| From: | Laura Smith NRC Region 4 |
| To: | Overbeck G Arizona Public Service Co |
| References | |
| 50-528/02-01, 50-529/02-01, 50-530/02-01 | |
| Download: ML020640498 (8) | |
Text
March 4, 2002
SUBJECT:
ANNUAL ASSESSMENT - PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (REPORT 50-528; 50-529: 50-530/02-01)
Dear Mr. Overbeck:
On February 13, 2002, the NRC staff completed its end-of-cycle plant performance assessment of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. The end-of-cycle review for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station involved the participation of all technical divisions in evaluating performance indicators for the most recent quarter and inspection results for the period from April 1 through December 31, 2001. 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. This will provide you an opportunity to prepare for these inspections and to inform us of any planned inspections which may conflict with your plant activities.
As discussed in our previous annual assessment letter, dated May 29, 2001, this inspection and assessment cycle consisted of three quarters (i.e., the second, third, and fourth quarters of Calendar Year 2001) instead of the usual four quarters. This change was implemented in order to align the inspection and assessment cycle with the calender year beginning on January 1, 2002.
Overall, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station 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 the first two quarters of the assessment cycle, was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix. This is 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 December 28, 2002. NRC will also be reviewing your actions to evaluate vessel head penetrations in response to Bulletin 2001-01.
Immediately following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the NRC issued safeguards advisories recommending that nuclear power plant licensees go to the highest level of security, and all promptly did so. With continued uncertainty about the possibility of additional terrorist activities, the Nation's nuclear power plants, including Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, remain at a high level of security. On February 25, 2002,
Arizona Public Service Company-2-the NRC issued an Order to all nuclear power plant licensees, requiring them to take certain additional interim compensatory measures to address the generalized high-level threat environment. These additional compensatory requirements will provide the NRC with reasonable assurance that public health and safety and the common defense and security continue to be adequately protected in the current generalized high-level threat environment.
These requirements will remain in effect pending notification from the Commission that a significant change in the threat environment occurs or until the Commission determines that other changes are needed following a more comprehensive re-evaluation of current safeguards and security programs. To date we have monitored Arizona Public Service Companys actions in response to the terrorist attacks through a series of audits. With the issuance of the Order, we will evaluate Arizona Public Service Companys compliance with these interim requirements.
The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections scheduled through March 31, 2003. 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 last 6 months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the Midcycle Review meeting.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be made 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).
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 Inspection/Activity Plan
Arizona Public Service Company-3-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 Don Stapley, 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 Arizona Public Service Company 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
Arizona Public Service Company-4-David Summers Public Service Company of New Mexico 414 Silver SW, #1206 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 Jarlath Curran Southern California Edison Company 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy. Bldg. DIN San Clemente, California 92672 Robert Henry Salt River Project 6504 East Thomas Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 Michael Austin, Director Arizona Division of Emergency Management 5636 East McDowell Road Building 101 Phoenix, Arizona 85008-3495 Federal Emergency Management Agency Karen Armes, Acting Regional Director Building 105 Presidio of San Francisco San Francisco, California 94129 Mayor Ron Drake 525 North Central Avondale, Arizona 85323 Mayor Dustin Hull 100 North Apache Road Buckeye, Arizona 85326 Mayor Jose Delgado 14405 North Palm Street El Mirage, Arizona 85335 Mayor Elaine Scruggs 5850 West Glendale Avenue Glendale, Arizona 85301 Mayor William Arnold 119 North Litchfield Road Goodyear, Arizona 85338
Arizona Public Service Company-5-Mayor J. Woodson Thomas 244 West Wigwam Blvd.
Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340 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 Eugene Russell 12030 Clubhouse Square Youngtown, Arizona 85363
Arizona Public Service Company-6-Electronic distribution by RIV:
Regional Administrator (EWM)
DRP Director (KEB)
DRS Director (ATH)
Senior Resident Inspector (JHM2)
Branch Chief, DRP/D (LJS)
Senior Project Engineer, DRP/D (RVA)
Staff Chief, DRP/TSS (PHH)
RITS Coordinator (NBH)
B. Henderson, PAO (BWH)
W. A Maier, RSLO (WAM)
C. J. Gordon (CJG)
DRS Branch Chiefs (GMG, ATG, CSM)
W. D. Travers, EDO (WDT)
M. Johnson, Chief, NRR/DIPM/IIPB (MRJ1)
R. K. Frahm, PPR Program Manager, NRR/DIPM/IIPB (RKF)
B. A. Boger, Associate Dir. for Inspection and Programs (BAB2)
B. Sheron, Associate Dir. for Project Licensing and Technical Analysis (BWS)
J. Shea, Chief, Regional Operations Staff, OEDO (JWS1)
S. Richards, NRR Project Director (SAR)
S. Dembek, Chief, Section 2, NRR/DLPM (SXD)
J. Donohew, NRR Project Manager (JND)
RidsNrrDipmIipb Hard Copy:
Records Center, INPO S:\\DRP\\DRPDIR\\EOC 2002\\Assessment Letters\\PV.wpd RIV:C:DRP/E D:DRS D:DRP For signature LJSmith;df ATHowell KEBrockman LJSmith
/RA/
/RA/
/RA/
/RA/
For review 2/27/02 3/4/02 3/4/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax
Palo Verde Inspection / Activity Plan 03/01/2002 - 03/30/2003 Inspection Type Inspection Activity Planned Dates Start End No. of Staff on Site Title Unit Number Page 1 of 2 03/04/2002 13:19:52 Report 22
EMB
- ISI UNIT 2 Baseline Inspections 03/25/2002 03/29/2002 Inservice Inspection Activities IP 7111108
1 2515/145
- PWR RPV HEAD CRACKING - BULLETIN 2001-01 Safety Issues 03/25/2002 03/29/2002 Circumferential Cracking of Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Penetration Nozzles (NRC Bulletin 2001-01)
1 EMB
- ISI/SG Baseline Inspections 04/15/2002 04/19/2002 Inservice Inspection Activities IP 7111108
1 PSB-S1
- ACCESS AUTH/CONTROL, SEC PLAN & PIV Baseline Inspections 05/13/2002 05/17/2002 Access Authorization Program (Behavior Observation Only)
IP 7113001 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 05/13/2002 05/17/2002 Access Control (Search of Personnel, Packages, and Vehicles: Identification and Authorization)
IP 7113002 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 05/13/2002 05/17/2002 Security Plan Changes IP 7113004 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 05/13/2002 05/17/2002 Performance Indicator Verification IP 71151 1, 2, 3
PSB-EP1
- EP PROGRAM BASELINE INSPECTION Baseline Inspections 06/24/2002 06/28/2002 Alert and Notification System Testing IP 7111402 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 06/24/2002 06/28/2002 Emergency Response Organization Augmentation Testing IP 7111403 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 06/24/2002 06/28/2002 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes IP 7111404 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 06/24/2002 06/28/2002 Correction of Emergency Preparedness Weaknesses and Deficiencies IP 7111405 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 06/24/2002 06/28/2002 Performance Indicator Verification IP 71151 1, 2, 3
EMB
- SSD&PC INSPECTION Baseline Inspections 07/29/2002 08/02/2002 Safety System Design and Performance Capability IP 7111121
Baseline Inspections 08/05/2002 08/09/2002 Safety System Design and Performance Capability IP 7111121 1, 2 Baseline Inspections 08/12/2002 08/16/2002 Safety System Design and Performance Capability IP 7111121
1 EMB
- HEAT SINKS Baseline Inspections 08/26/2002 08/30/2002 Heat Sink Performance IP 7111107B 1, 2, 3
EMB
- BIENNIAL MODS Baseline Inspections 08/26/2002 08/30/2002 Permanent Plant Modifications IP 7111117B 1, 2, 3
OB-RQ
- PV REQUAL INSPECTION Baseline Inspections 09/09/2002 09/13/2002 Licensed Operator Requalification IP 7111111B 1, 2, 3
RP-3
- ALARA Baseline Inspections 10/07/2002 10/07/2002 ALARA Planning and Controls IP 7112102 1, 2, 3
2515/145
- PWR RPV HEAD CRACKING - BULLETIN 2001-01 Safety Issues 10/07/2002 10/11/2002 Circumferential Cracking of Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Penetration Nozzles (NRC Bulletin 2001-01)
1 RP-1
- ACRSA AND PIV Baseline Inspections 10/07/2002 10/11/2002 Access Control to Radiologically Significant Areas IP 7112101 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 10/07/2002 10/11/2002 Performance Indicator Verification IP 71151 1, 2, 3 This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.
This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.
Palo Verde Inspection / Activity Plan 03/01/2002 - 03/30/2003 Inspection Type Inspection Activity Planned Dates Start End No. of Staff on Site Title Unit Number Page 2 of 2 03/04/2002 13:19:52 Report 22
EMB
- ISI & ISI/SG - UNIT 1 Baseline Inspections 10/21/2002 11/01/2002 Inservice Inspection Activities IP 7111108
2 OB-IN
- INITIAL EXAM PREP - FUEL HANDLING SRO Not Applicable 10/28/2002 11/02/2002 PALO VERDE UNIT 1 - INITIAL EXAM (11/02)
X02238
Not Applicable 10/28/2002 11/02/2002 PALO VERDE UNIT 2 - INITIAL EXAM (11/02)
X02239
Not Applicable 10/28/2002 11/02/2002 PALO VERDE UNIT 3 - INITIAL EXAM (11/02)
X02240
3 OB-IN
- INITIAL EXAM - FUEL HANDLING SRO Not Applicable 11/18/2002 11/22/2002 PALO VERDE UNIT 1 - INITIAL EXAM (11/02)
X02238
Not Applicable 11/18/2002 11/22/2002 PALO VERDE UNIT 2 - INITIAL EXAM (11/02)
X02239
Not Applicable 11/18/2002 11/22/2002 PALO VERDE UNIT 3 - INITIAL EXAM (11/02)
X02240
6 RP-TM
- RAD SAFETY TEAM Baseline Inspections 02/24/2003 02/28/2003 Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation IP 7112103 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 02/24/2003 02/28/2003 Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment and Monitoring Systems IP 7112201 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 02/24/2003 02/28/2003 Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation IP 7112202 1, 2, 3 Baseline Inspections 02/24/2003 02/28/2003 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program IP 7112203 1, 2, 3
RP-4
- ALARA(4)
Baseline Inspections 03/17/2003 03/21/2003 ALARA Planning and Controls IP 7112102 1, 2, 3 This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.
This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.