ML042440642

Midcycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan - Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

ML042440642
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	08/30/2004
From:	Troy Pruett NRC/RGN-IV/DRP/RPB-D
To:	Overbeck G Arizona Public Service Co
References
Download: ML042440642 (7)

Text

Arizona Public Service Company August 30, 2004 Gregg R. Overbeck, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Arizona Public Service Company P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034

SUBJECT:

MIDCYCLE PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND INSPECTION PLAN - PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION

Dear Mr. Overbeck:

On August 4, 2004, the NRC staff completed its midcycle plant performance assessment of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. The midcycle review for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station involved the participation of all technical divisions in evaluating performance for the first half of the calendar year 2004 assessment cycle. The process included a review of performance indicators (PIs) for the most recent quarter and inspection results over the previous 12 months. 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.

This performance review and inspection plan does not include physical protection information.

A separate letter designated and marked as Exempt from Public Disclosure in Accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 will include the physical protection review and resultant inspection plan.

Plant performance for the most recent quarter 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 PIs indicating performance at a level requiring no additional NRC oversight (Green). However, the significance of two findings is still under review as part of the Significance Determination Process. These findings are: the failure to promptly identify that retaining ring slots on the Unit 2 steam generator nozzle dams were not adequately sized to allow the use of the standard lock pins; and an incorrect design configuration, combined with high vibrations, that resulted in a reactor coolant system pressure boundary leak. Additionally, one finding involving the failure to notify the shift manager and department leader for fuel operations of the events associated with damage to a fuel assembly was the subject of a predecisional enforcement conference held on August 20, 2004. The final characterization of this issue is still under review.

In our annual assessment letter dated March 3, 2004, we discussed aspects of the safety conscious work environment at Palo Verde. Our subsequent reviews found that, in general,

Arizona Public Service Company employees are aware of, and are familiar with, your Employee Concerns Program, Differing Professional Opinions Process, and the Management Issues Tracking and Resolution program.

We understand that you are conducting training of all site employees in the Integrated Issue Resolution Process and that this training should be completed by the end of September 2004.

We will continue to focus our baseline inspection activities on your actions for addressing your assessments within these areas.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, except those related to physical protection, scheduled through March 31, 2006. The inspection plan includes inspections for the followup to the NRC Augmented Inspection Team that was dispatched in response to the loss of offsite power event, which occurred on June 14, 2004. This followup inspection is scheduled to begin in September 2004. The plan also includes inspections associated with the replacement of the Unit 1 steam generators. In addition to the baseline inspections, NRC will also be conducting inspections related to Temporary Instructions (TI) 2515/150, Revision 1, "Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration Nozzles;" TI 2515/152, Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetration Nozzles (NRC Bulletin 2003-02); and TI 2515/153, Reactor Containment Sump Blockage. Additionally, the plan contains an inspection using TI 2515/159, Review of Generic Letter 89-13, Service Water System Problems Affecting Safety-Related Equipment. This TI is in response to the Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Degradation Lessons-Learned Task Force and is being performed at a sampling of nuclear power plants across the country. 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 12 months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the end-of-cycle review meeting.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 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 the inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the change as soon as possible. Please contact me at 817/860-8173 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Troy W. Pruett, Chief Project Branch D Division of Reactor Projects

Arizona Public Service Company Docket: 50-528 50-529 50-530 License: NPF-41 NPF-51 NPF-74

Enclosure:

Palo Verde Inspection/Activity Plan cc:

Steve Olea Arizona Corporation Commission 1200 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 Douglas K. Porter, Senior Counsel Southern California Edison Company Law Department, Generation Resources P.O. Box 800 Rosemead, CA 91770 Chairman Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 Aubrey V. Godwin, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40 Street Phoenix, AZ 85040 M. Dwayne Carnes, Director Regulatory Affairs/Nuclear Assurance Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Mail Station 7636 P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034 Hector R. Puente Vice President, Power Generation El Paso Electric Company 310 E. Palm Lane, Suite 310 Phoenix, AZ 85004

Arizona Public Service Company Jeffrey T. Weikert Assistant General Counsel El Paso Electric Company Mail Location 167 123 W. Mills El Paso, TX 79901 John W. Schumann Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Southern California Public Power Authority P.O. Box 51111, Room 1255-C Los Angeles, CA 90051-0100 John Taylor Public Service Company of New Mexico 2401 Aztec NE, MS Z110 Albuquerque, NM 87107-4224 Cheryl Adams Southern California Edison Company 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy. Bldg. DIN San Clemente, CA 92672 Robert Henry Salt River Project 6504 East Thomas Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Brian Almon Public Utility Commission William B. Travis Building P.O. Box 13326 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701-3326 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)

Records Center 700 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30339

Arizona Public Service Company Electronic distribution by RIV:

Regional Administrator (BSM1)

DRP Director (ATH)

DRS Director (DDC)

Senior Resident Inspector (GXW2)

Branch Chief, DRP/D (TWP)

Senior Project Engineer, DRP/D (CJP)

Staff Chief, DRP/TSS (PHH)

RITS Coordinator (KEG)

RidsNrrDipmLipb V. Dricks, PAO (VLD)

W. Maier, RSLO (WAM)

C. Gordon (CJG)

DRS Branch Chiefs (LJS, MPS1, ATG, JAC)

L. Reyes, EDO (LAR1)

S. Richards, Chief, NRR/DIPM/IIPB (SAR)

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

C. Carpenter, Deputy Dir. for Inspection and Programs (CAC)

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

T. Bergman, Chief, ROPMS, OEDO (TAB)

H. Berkow, Director, LPD4, NRR/DLPM (HNB)

R. Gramm, Chief, PDIV-1A, NRR/DLPM (RAG)

T. Alexion, NRR Project Manager (TWA)

ADAMS: / Yes G No Initials: _TWP_____

/ Publicly Available G Non-Publicly Available G Sensitive / Non-Sensitive S:\DRP\DRPDIR\Midcycle2004\PV.wpd RIV:SPE:DRP/D C:DRP/D concur D:DRS D:DRP C:DRP/D Sign CJPaulk TWPruett DDChamberlain ATHowell TWPruett

/RA/ /RA/ VLOrdaz /RA/ /RA/

8/12/04 8/12/04 8/25/04 8/28/04 8/30/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax

Page 1 of 2 Palo Verde 08/27/2004 07:51:30 Inspection / Activity Plan Report 22 08/01/2004 - 03/31/2006 Unit No. of Staff Planned Dates Inspection Number Inspection Activity Title on Site Start End Type PEB-07B - HX & HEAT SINK PERFORMANCE TESTING 3 1, 2, 3 IP 7111107B Heat Sink Performance 08/16/2004 08/20/2004 Baseline Inspections TI-SW - TI-2515/159 - REVIEW OF GL 89-13 3 1, 2, 3 IP 2515/159 Review of Generic Letter 89-13: Service Water System Problems Affecting Safety-Related Eq 08/16/2004 08/20/2004 Safety Issues SPECIAL - ECCS VOINDING SPECIAL INSPECTION 2 1, 2, 3 IP 93812 Special Inspection 08/23/2004 08/27/2004 Event Response Insp OB-RQ - OB-REQUALIFICATION 3 1, 2, 3 IP 7111111B Licensed Operator Requalification Program 08/30/2004 09/03/2004 Baseline Inspections AIT-FOL - AIT (LOOP) FOLLOWUP INSP 5 1, 2, 3 IP 93800 Augmented Inspection Team 09/07/2004 09/24/2004 Event Response Insp EB-08P - ISI U3 - VESS VOL (TI 150/152) AS REQ 2 3 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 10/04/2004 10/08/2004 Baseline Inspections 3 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 10/18/2004 10/22/2004 Baseline Inspections TI 152 - TI 152 RPV LOWER HEAD PENETRATION NOZZLE 1 3 IP 2515/152 Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetration Nozzles (NRC Bulletin 2003-02) 10/01/2004 12/31/2004 Safety Issues TI 153 - TI 153 REACTOR CONTAINMENT SUMP BLOCKAGE 1 3 IP 2515/153 Reactor Containment Sump Blockage (NRC Bulletin 2003-01) 10/01/2004 12/31/2004 Safety Issues ALARA1 - ALARA PLANNING AND CONTROLS 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7112102 ALARA Planning and Controls 11/01/2004 11/05/2004 Baseline Inspections OB-INIT - OB - INITIAL EXAMINATION 3 1 X02273 PALO VERDE UNIT 1 (12/04) INITIAL 11/29/2004 12/03/2004 Not Applicable 2 X02275 PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (12/04) - INITIAL 11/29/2004 12/03/2004 Not Applicable 3 X02276 PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (12/04) - INITIAL 11/29/2004 12/03/2004 Not Applicable 1 X02273 PALO VERDE UNIT 1 (12/04) INITIAL 12/13/2004 12/17/2004 Not Applicable 2 X02275 PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (12/04) - INITIAL 12/13/2004 12/17/2004 Not Applicable 3 X02276 PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (12/04) - INITIAL 12/13/2004 12/17/2004 Not Applicable ALARA2 - ALARA PLANNING AND CONTROLS 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7112102 ALARA Planning and Controls 01/10/2005 01/14/2005 Baseline Inspections RP TEAM - RP PUBLIC DOSE TEAM INSPECTION 4 1, 2, 3 IP 7112103 Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation and Protective Equipment 01/31/2005 02/04/2005 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7112201 Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment and Monitoring Systems 01/31/2005 02/04/2005 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7112202 Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation 01/31/2005 02/04/2005 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7112203 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program 01/31/2005 02/04/2005 Baseline Inspections OB-EP EX - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE 3 1, 2, 3 IP 7111401 Exercise Evaluation 02/28/2005 03/04/2005 Baseline Inspections 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 08/27/2004 07:51:30 Inspection / Activity Plan Report 22 08/01/2004 - 03/31/2006 Unit No. of Staff Planned Dates Inspection Number Inspection Activity Title on Site Start End Type OB-EP EX - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE 3 1, 2, 3 IP 7111404 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 02/28/2005 03/04/2005 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 71151 Performance Indicator Verification 02/28/2005 03/04/2005 Baseline Inspections EB02/17B - PERMANENT PLANT MODS 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7111117B Permanent Plant Modifications 03/07/2005 03/11/2005 Baseline Inspections PEB-12B - MAINTENANCE EFFECTIVENESS 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7111112B Maintenance Effectiveness 03/07/2005 03/11/2005 Baseline Inspections EB08P - ISI U2 - VESSEL VOL (TI 150/152) AS REQ 1 2 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 03/28/2005 04/01/2005 Baseline Inspections 2 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 04/11/2005 04/15/2005 Baseline Inspections OB-INIT - INITIAL EXAM 3 1 X02282 PALO VERDE UNIT1 (05/05) INITIAL EXAM 07/11/2005 07/15/2005 Not Applicable 2 X02283 PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (11/05) - INITIAL EXAM 07/11/2005 07/15/2005 Not Applicable 3 X02284 PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (11/05) - INITIAL EXAM 07/11/2005 07/15/2005 Not Applicable 1 X02282 PALO VERDE UNIT1 (05/05) INITIAL EXAM 08/01/2005 08/05/2005 Not Applicable 2 X02283 PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (11/05) - INITIAL EXAM 08/01/2005 08/05/2005 Not Applicable 3 X02284 PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (11/05) - INITIAL EXAM 08/01/2005 08/05/2005 Not Applicable ACRSA - ACCESS CONTROL TO RAD SIGNIFICANT AREAS 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7112101 Access Control to Radiologically Significant Areas 10/03/2005 10/07/2005 Baseline Inspections EB08P - ISI U1 - VESS VOL (TI 150/152) AS REQ 1 1 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 10/10/2005 10/14/2005 Baseline Inspections 1 IP 7111108P Inservice Inspection Activities - PWR 10/24/2005 10/28/2005 Baseline Inspections EP2 - EMERG PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM INSPECTION 1 1, 2, 3 IP 7111402 Alert and Notification System Testing 01/23/2006 01/27/2006 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111403 Emergency Response Organization Augmentation Testing 01/23/2006 01/27/2006 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111404 Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 01/23/2006 01/27/2006 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111405 Correction of Emergency Preparedness Weaknesses and Deficiencies 01/23/2006 01/27/2006 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 71151 Performance Indicator Verification 01/23/2006 01/27/2006 Baseline Inspections EB - SSD&PCI/50.59 5 1, 2, 3 IP 7111121 Safety System Design and Performance Capability 03/06/2006 03/10/2006 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111102 Evaluation of Changes, Tests, or Experiments 03/20/2006 03/24/2006 Baseline Inspections 1, 2, 3 IP 7111121 Safety System Design and Performance Capability 03/20/2006 03/24/2006 Baseline Inspections This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.

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