ML052520468

Follow-up Letter Regarding Restart

ML052520468
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford  (NPF-038)
Issue date:	09/09/2005
From:	Mallett B Region 4 Administrator
To:	Venable J Entergy Operations
References
Download: ML052520468 (11)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION IV 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400 ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76Oli-4005 September 9, 2005 Joseph E. Venable Vice President Operations Waterford 3 Entergy Operations, Inc.

17265 River Road Killona, LA 70066-0751

SUBJECT:

WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3, FOLLOW-UP LETTER REGARDING RESTART

Dear Mr. Venable:

Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3, was shutdown on August 28, 2005, in preparation for the arrival of hurricane force winds on site from Hurricane Katrina. Following the hurricane, the NRC requested that Entergy not restart its Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 facility until a review of the emergency response infrastructure was performed. The purpose of the review was to provide reasonable assurance that adequate emergency preparedness processes and facilities were available to support plant restart and operation. You agreed to our request.

On September 6, 2005, representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with NRC staff accompaniment, commenced a disaster initiated review of the status of the offsite emergency preparedness infrastructure surrounding the Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3, site. This review was completed on September 8, 2005, and the results of this review were documented in a letter from FEMA to the NRC dated September 9, 2005. A copy of that letter is enclosed. During that same period, NRC inspectors also conducted an assessment of the general condition of the onsite emergency preparedness status in accordance with NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 1601, "Communication and Coordination Protocol for Determining the Status of Offsite Emergency Preparedness Following a Natural Disaster, Malevolent Act, or Extended Plant Shutdown." These assessments concluded that the emergency preparedness infrastructure, both onsite and offsite, was adequate to support plant restart and provide reasonable assurance that protective measures can be taken to protect public health and safety in the event of a radiological emergency. The results of the NRC assessment will be documented in a future inspection report. In a conference call conducted on September 9, 2005, between you and your staff and the NRC, Entergy provided its basis for assurance that Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3, can resume safe operation including a discussion of the actions that you have taken to restore off-site electrical power and to address the communications issues. We also understand that you are taking appropriate steps to monitor grid conditions during plant startup to ensure that stable offsite power is available to support full power plant operation. Based on your affirmative statements related to readiness to resume safe operation of Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3, as well as the

Entergy Operations, Inc.

satisfactory independent reviews discussed above, this letter documents our authorization for Entergy to resume operation of the Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. This authorization was granted via a telephone call on September 9, 2005.

Should you have any questions regarding this letter, or if there are any adverse changes in the status of the emergency preparedness infrastructure addressed in our reviews, please contact us.

Docket No.: 50-382 License: NPF-38

Enclosure:

As stated cc:

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Operations, Inc.

P.O.

Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1 995 Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Operations, Inc.

P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1 995 Wise, Carter, Child & Caraway P.O. Box 651 Jackson, MS 39205 Regional Administrak General Manager, Plant Operations Waterford 3 SES Entergy Operations, Inc.

17265 River Road Killona, LA 70066-0751

Entergy Operations, Inc.

Manager - Licensing Manager Waterford 3 SES Entergy Operations, Inc.

17265 River Road Killona, LA 70066-0751 Chairman Louisiana Public Service Commission P.O. Box 91 154 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 -91 54 Director, Nuclear Safety &

Waterford 3 SES Entergy Operations, Inc.

17265 River Road Killona, LA 70066-0751 Regulatory Affairs Michael E. Henry, State Liaison Officer Department of Environmental Quality Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313 Parish President St. Charles Parish P.O. Box 302 Hahnville, LA 70057 Winston & Strawn LLP 1700 K Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20006-381 7

Entergy Operations, Inc.

Electronic distribution by RIV:

Regional Administrator (BSMl )

DRP Director (ATH)

DRS Director (DDC)

DRS Deputy Director (KMK)

Senior Resident Inspector (MCH)

Branch Chief, DRPE (DNG)

Senior Project Engineer, DRP/E (VGG)

Team Leader, DRPRSS (RLNI)

RlTS Coordinator (KEG)

RSLO (WAM)

SlSP Review Completed: -AV-ADAMS: J Yes 0 No Initials: -T1/

J Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available I7 Sensitive J Non-Sensitive R: Reactors\\Waterford\\Wat Restart Letter 9-9-05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=yelephone E=E-mail F=Fax

SEP. 9. 2005 10:41AM EP&R (FEMA) CSEPP

- Facsimile Transmission 1

To:

Fa:

I Roy 2i.rQmermanIhthony McMurtray (301) 816-5151 From:

be Craig ConklSn/Craig Fforc.

9 / 0 9 / 0 5 FEMA D i s P s t e r Initiated RevLew - Waterford 3 Notes/Comnnentsr 09/09/2005 FRI 11:38 [TX/RX NO 64261 @IO01

SEP.

9. 2005 10:41AM EP&R (FEMA) CSEPP SEP -9 2005 Roy P. 2iman-m Director Office of Nuclear Security and hcident Response US. Nuclear Regulatory Commission MaiI Stop T4D22A washizzgton, D.C. 20555 Dear Mr. Zimmmnan; NO. 898 P. 2 US. Repartmcnt of Homclmd Security 500 C Street SW Wnshington, DC 20472 FEMA This letter is to inform you that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (?EW) has completed its disaster initiated review (DE) ofthe State o f buisiana and local offsite response organizations continued capability to adequately respond to an incident at the Waterford-3 Seam Electric Station in the aftermath of Hunicans JCafrha, On September 6-8,2005, a comprehensive investigation and collection of field data was pwrformed by the joint FEWuclear Regulatory Commission DIR Team, in accordance with F E U S Past-Natuxal Risaster Assessment of Oaite Preparedness Capabilities procedure. In addition to the field observations, the Team conducted interviews with &e Louisiana Departrnent of Environmental Quality, St. Charles Parish, St, John the Baptist Parish, Waterford-3 Emergency Planning, and Entergy personnel.

Based on ow review of dl ofthis information, FEMA concludes that offsite radiological emergency preparedness is adequate to provide reasonable assurance that appropriate measures can be taken to proteot the health and sa&@ of the public in the event of a radiological aergency at the Waterford-3 Steam Electric Station. At fhis time, FEMA is not aware of any wesolved offsite emergency preparedness issues around Watarford-3, and therefore, we have no objections to plant startup and full-power operations.

Please find enclosed a copy of the FEMA Region VI DIR Report for the Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station for your information. Please contact me at (202) 646-3030, if you have any questions or require any mer assistance on this matter.

Sincerely, Chief Nuclear and Chexxical Hazards Branch Enclosure www.fema.gov 09/09/2005 FRI 11:38

[TX/RX NO 64261 @IO02

SEP, 9, 2005 10:42AM E P & R (FEMA) C S E P P MEMORfWDUlk FOR:

ATTENTTON:

Septembes 9,2005 Dco~n.TX7h9-3698 FEMA Disaster hitiated Review -

wateJ6x-d 3 stearn Electric station Ilunicane Katrjnamoved thtou& Waterfbrd 3 Steam Electric Station on the bmrnhg of Monday, August 29,2005. The maximum sustahed Winds aperlenced by WatecEM 3 were less than bunicarre force. The plant shut down at 1 :18 pcm. on Sunday August, 28 2005 in accordance with plant procedums and seflabry r e q h a &. Other fbmr 8n impact on off-she pywz and Communicah'ans theplant was um6leOteh FEMA Region VI amductcd a review of state and local ernexgencyprepdw. The 10-tl3ilk En=gc~~cy Plarming-e p Z ) fbr Waterhnl3 d s b ; ofpoxtiow o f s t Charles Parish and St. Johu &E Baptkt Parkh.

OD September 6 ad 7,2005, FEMA Region VI coaduded an assessrmnt ofoff4te cspa~5ties utiliphg thehsesment of Off-Site Capabilities -PostNatmal Disaster finm as the basis fir the B S S ~ ~ S ~ ~ R L Nan calhoun and Tinrathy Pf%egtx, REP Emergency Plarmers for the Louisiana Department of En-arsaI Qwlitr; Tab TmxIcr, St Charles Parish Emagency Managemeat 13ln=ctar; Paul Oncate, St John the Sapbipt Parish Emergency Management D-,

Ron Pary, Waterfbrd 3 Emerge~;lcy Planning; Bill Maim, NRC Regon TV State Liaison; Robert Trojanodci, NRC Region II State Ilaison; Stephen Regia VI NE9 Pragrarn Managar participated in thehew.

FEMA REP Tmbing Specialist; arid Sco# Flowerday, FEMA 09/09/2005 FXI 11:38

[TX/RX NO 64261 @003

SEP. 9. 2005 1 0 : 4 2 A M EP&R (FEMA) CSEPP Assessment:

3;.

Emerzerm Rnoanse Faditiq The State of Louisiana, St. CbarJes Parish, and St. John &he Baptist Parish bwgency Operations Cerzterr; am all operational. ]Each of the facilities are structurally safe and am opemting on primary power.

is one shelter upen in St. Chmles Pdsh with five evacuees from N m Orleans. This skltcr i s functioaing as a pass though to shelfuls f'urthar away h r n rhc impacted mea and psonnd in the shdtm are moved after processing.

The shelter had aspopulation of fiw at the t h e the review ws9 conducted. There ate no shelters currently o p a within St. John the Baptist Parish.

The two hospitals used for the treatment af radiolo@jcalIy contaginat&, injured individuals are open ;md ready to respond ifnecessary (west J~ffmon and Ocbsns), In addition to these hospitals, Louisiana Department of Envimmnnsd Qualjty has confirmed that Our Lady ofthe Lakc Hospital in Babn Rouge is available. Our Lady of the Lake is designaid as a back-up hospital in &e state plan for Wamfbrd 3, River Bend Station and Gmnd Gulf Nuclcar Stdon.

Tbc Emergency News Center that was located in New O t l a s is not available.

Waterfard 3 w'li utilize the Altmate Joint hfarmstioa Center for Riws B d Station; which is operatea by the same utility. Tlds faci3ity is located in Baton Rouge. hisitma and both padsbes have b#n infanned of this change and interim pJans been developed to implement this change The Alternate Emmgency Oparations Facility @OF) is not available. The Altmate EOF far River Bend whicb is located in Baton Rouge has been designated as the tempomy alternate EOF for W~lterfbrd 3. The near site primary EOF was verified to be functional.

2.

AX] emergemy msposc organizations are available, Louisiana Office of Homeland Securiw 8tEmcrgency Preprcdncss (LHLSEP), Louisiana Department of Envi~onmental Qudity (LDEQ), St. Charles Parish, and St. John the Baptist P&sh have indicated that they am capable of hplementkg the REP plan in mponse to Watafbrd 3 if neccssaty, During interviews with both St. Chad es Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish both paxish emergency management h c t a r s have i'ndicated that they have an hmased cap&jlity due to additional resources in the pan'shes that are not n o d l y available.

09/09/2005 FRI 11:38

[TX/RX NO 64261 @I004

SEP. 9. 2005 10:42AM EP&R (FEMA) C S E P P

. 3.

Communicatjons

. The operational hotline fbm the plant to both parishes, LDEQ and L;HLS/EP has becn restored and tested. This test WBS confirmed by thc NRC as part of the on-site emergency ptcparednesss mim-The indu&ial hotline that links the plant and the St. Charles Parish is operational. Satellite tejephmes m available both on-site, at both parish EOCs, at LDEQ, mil at LHLs/Es. Amateur radio is available at both parishes. Nonnal telephone service is in the process of being mxtored in both pm~shes. Cell phone servicc Sa both parishes is avdable but is IiWed. Statewide $00 MHz radjo is available between the state offices and the pati&es as an addjtional option this systm i s a shared system.

ne Wstarfard 3 1 0-mile EPZ has 72 s i m s that are placed throughout the two parishes. All 72 of the sims are functbnd. The sirens at Watwford 3 am powered by DC batteries with AC comections that provide a trickle charge to the installed batteries. Thc utility is in the process of restorhg AC power to the sims. At the b e

of this report, 51 Sirens are operating with AC p w a restored. The remaining 2 1 aye operaional using their installed baWes. Those sir-that do not have AC power restored arc on a periodic maintenance schedule ami-the batteries in use arc properly charged dth battery change.

wt being accomplished ES nccesaxy. Operability of each EAS radio station has been confirmed and communications be6~een thc parish EOCs and the radio stations was also c m e d with tbe parishes. Enrergency Managuncnt Ditbctpxs at botb pm'sh EOCs confinned thcb ability to accomplish rohtc alerting (refixred to as Fan Out Wambg Terns in St john the Baptist Parish).

Waterford 3 has confinred that the contractd helicopter s d c c fm exception area dating is avdlable.

5.

Evacuation Routes Representatives fim the assessment team have traversed all the mcuation mutes and found than passable. As was indicated by botb pa15shes' traffic and access control has been enhaaced through additional law enfhxrncnt resources mailable due to tbe humcane response.

6.

P Z Pmdatioq An updated evacuation time estimate (ETE) was oQmpkted in May of 2003. EPZ population at that time was 83,448 with population wmbinal Within both pan'shes rcported at 91,t 16. The transient population within botb padshes is fluctuating.

The utility contracted with Earth Tech: Inc. to update the ETE With lo%, 20% and 30% increases to the population witb. a baseline 2005 population. The updated 09/09/2005 FRI 11:38 [TX/RX N0'64261 @I005

SEP. 9. 2005 10:42AM EP&R (FEMA) CSEPP study was provided to the Assessment Team. Ndmd Guard manbess are bebg lodged at a magnet high school in St. chdes Parish. "be utility is providing public infomation mate.riaSs and ppsters regarding evacuation to tbe National Guard.

Shelters outside of both risk pan'shes are operating at or near capacity. The

-tion centers (for monitoring and decontamination) are located at some of these shehr~, f i e ability to establish rnonitclring and ilecOntamination ogemtions at the plan locations is irnpajrcd because of tbe current aheltcr population. This issue has beq identified to both the utility and the state "he utility has provided a mutual suppart statement committing monitoring resources frarn River Bend Station aud Grand GuE The state will monitor restoration of monitoriog and decontaminatbn capacity at each of the plan reception centas and will advise when normal. capacity bas been restored.

7.

AccidentAss essment The abjljty of the State of Lauisiana to conduct independent accident assessment analysis and field monitoring was not adversely impacted by Hurricaac Katxina.

The state laboratory in Baton Rouge is also 0pCratioaral and was not impacted.

. All supporting documentation gathered by the Assessment Team will be on file in the FFEMA VI Regional Office in Renton, Texas.

ConcImians: '

Based on the -Its of the post disaster assessment the review team has made the fillowing conclusions:

1.

No significant chgcs to the infrastructrtre of the Wated" 3 Steam Eleohic Station EPZ haw occurred which wodd necessitate the devdgrmmt of extra-ordinary compensatory measwes.

2.

Compmsatory measures taken for 'IWS of oE-site faciities outside the in New Orleans have been reviowed and found to be akquate. These WIities include:

a.

The Waterfiord 3 Emergency News Centes which will now be located In the back-up Joint Infmation Center for River Bend Stath which k located in Baton Rouge (approximately 70 dles fhm WateJfwd 3).

b.

The Waterford 3 tempomy alternate Emergency O p e r a t i ~ s Facility which will DQW be coo-iocated with thc River Bend Station 09/09/2005 FRI ii:38 ITX/RX NO 64261 @I006

SEP, 9. 2005 1 0 : 4 2 A M EP&R (FEMA) CSEPP alternate EOF that is in the same building as the Joint Information Center h Balm Rouge.

3.

The Off-site Response Organizations capabilities to wpond to a radiOlOgiGd accident at Waterford 3 Steam E1eCtric Station are intact and there is reasonable assurance that offsite metgetlcy response capabilities are sufficient ta protect public health and safety-09/09/2005 FRI 11:38 [TX/RX NO 64261 a 0 0 7