ML071020166

Memo from David Trimble to James Clifford, Subject: Safety Evaluation Input for Order Approving Transfer of Licensed Operating Authority for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

ML071020166
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	01/08/2001
From:	Trimble D NRC/NRR/DIPM
To:	Clifford J NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
References
FOIA/PA-2007-0068, TAC MB3154
Download: ML071020166 (5)

Text

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January 8, 2001 MEMORANDUM TO: James W. Clifford, Section Chief Project Directorate 1-2 Division of Licensing and Project Management, NRR FROM: David C. Trimble, Section Chief IRA/

Equipment and Human Performance Branch Division of Inspection Program Management, NRR

SUBJECT:

SAFETY EVALUATION INPUT FOR ORDER APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF LICENSED OPERATING AUTHORITY FOR VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION (TAC NO. MB 3154)

Name: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Utility: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation TAC No.:. MB 3154 Docket Nos: 50-271 Operating Licenses: DPR-28 Branch: PD1-2 Project Manager: R. Pulsifer Review Branch: IEHB Review Status: COMPLETE The Equipment and Human Performance Branch (IEHB) has reviewed the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (VYNPC) request for the transfer of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY) from VYNPC to Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC (Entergy Nuclear VY) to possess, and to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (ENO), to possess, use, and operate VY dated October 5, 2001.

The attached staff's safety evaluation (SE) addresses the areas of organization and management, and technical qualifications as described in the NRC Standard Review Plan (NUREG-0800), Chapter 13, Conduct of Operations, Section 13.1.1, "Management and Technical Support Organization," and Section 13.1.2-13.1.3, "Operating Organization." As stated in the attached SE, the staff concludes that VYNPC satisfied the requirements for license transfer, as they apply to the Entergy Nuclear VY and ENO management and technical support organization and operating organization, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.40 (b) and 10 CFR 50.80.

Attachment:

As stated

January 8, 2001 MEMORANDUM TO: James W. Clifford, Section Chief Project Directorate 1-2 Division of Licensing and Project Management, NRR FROM: David C. Trimble, Section Chief IRA!

Equipment and Human Performance Branch Division of Inspection Program Management, NRR

SUBJECT:

SAFETY EVALUATION INPUT FOR ORDER APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF LICENSED OPERATING AUTHORITY FOR VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION (TAC NO. MB 3154)

Name: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Utility: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation TAC No.: MB 3154 Docket Nos: 50-271 Operating Licenses: DPR-28 Branch: PD1-2 Project Manager: R. Pulsifer Review Branch: IEHB Review Status: COMPLETE The Equipment and Human Performance Branch (IEHB) has reviewed the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (VYNPC) request for the transfer of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY) from VYNPC to Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC (Entergy Nuclear VY) to possess, and to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (ENO), to possess, use, and operate VY dated October 5, 2001.

The attached staff's safety evaluation (SE) addresses the areas of organization and management, and technical qualifications as described in the NRC Standard Review Plan (NUREG-0800), Chapter 13, Conduct of Operations, Section 13.1.1, "Management and Technical Support Organization," and Section 13.1.2-13.1.3, "Operating Organization." As stated in the attached SE, the staff concludes that VYNPC satisfied the requirements for license transfer, as they apply to the Entergy Nuclear VY and ENO management and technical support organization and operating organization, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.40 (b) and 10 CFR 50.80.

Attachment:

As stated DISTRIBUTION:

Licensing Action/Transfer folder R. Pulsifer Accession #: ML020070273 Office IOHS:IEHB IOHS:IEHB Name R Pelton D Trimble Date 01/07/02 01/08/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

SAFETY EVALUATION INPUT FOR ORDER APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF LICENSED OPERATING AUTHORITY FOR VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION 1.0

Introduction:

In a letter dated October 5, 2001, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (VYNPC)

Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC (Entergy Nuclear VY), and Entergy Nuclear operations, Inc. (ENO) submitted a request for the transfer of Facility Operating License DPR-28 from VYNPC to Entergy Nuclear VY and ENO. VYNPC, Entergy Nuclear VY and ENO, collectively, will be referred to as the applicants. In addition, the applicants also request conforming amendments to Facility Operating License DPR-28 to delete references to VYNPC and to authorize Entergy Nuclear VY to possess and ENO to possess, use, and operate the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY), under the same conditions and authorizations included in the current license.

2.0 Evaluation

The staff used the following regulations and guidance during the technical qualification evaluation: 10 CFR 50.40(b), "Common Standards," Standard Review Plan (SRP) NUREG-0800, Section 13.1.1, "Management and Technical Support Organization," SRP, Sections 13.1.2-13.1.3, "Operating Organizations," and ANSI N18.1-1971, "Selection and Training of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel."

Purpose of the Evaluation The purpose of this evaluation is to ensure that the proposed corporate management is involved with, informed of, and dedicated to the safe operation of the plant and that sufficient, qualified technical resources will be provided to support safe plant operation and maintenance; and to evaluate proposed changes to the operating organization that may occur as a result of the license transfer.

Evaluation: Management and Technical Support Organization The staff reviewed the applicant's submittal to determine the acceptability of the proposed corporate management and technical support organization. The staff evaluated the submittal using the applicable acceptance criteria contained in Standard Review Plan, Chapter 13, "Conduct of Operations," Section 13.1.1, "Management and Technical Support Organization."

ATTACHMENT

The applicants stated "The organizational structure provides for the integrated management of the activities that support the operation and maintenance of Vermont Yankee. Clear management control, clear lines of authority, and effective communications exist between the organizational units involved in the management, operations, and technical support for operation of Vermont Yankee. The only anticipated changes will be that the senior officer at the site (Site Vice President-Operations) will report to the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ENO rather than the President of VYNPC. Sufficient experience and availability of personnel exist to implement the responsibility for technical support of Vermont Yankee ....The Chief Nuclear Officer will be clearly responsible for nuclear activities and will be free of ambiguous assignments of primary responsibility without ancillary responsibilities that might detract from nuclear safety matters."

Based on the applicant's submittal, the applicant has shown and described its organization for managing and its means for providing technical support to the plant staff that will be essentially equivalent to the current qualifications of the VYNPC management and technical support organization, regarding which the staff is aware of no deficiencies. Accordingly, the staff concludes that the proposed ENO organization for managing and its means of providing technical support for the continued operation of VY under both normal and off-normal conditions are in accordance with Standard Review Plan, Chapter 13, "Conduct of Operations, Section 13.1.1, "Management and Technical Organization.

Evaluation: Operating Organization The staff reviewed applicant's submittal to determine the acceptability of the ENO operating organization and to evaluate changes to the operating organization proposed as a' result of the license transfer. The initial operating organization was determined to be acceptable by the initial licensing review. Subsequent safety-related changes to the operating organization should have been evaluated with an appropriate methodology. Therefore, the existing operating organization remains acceptable. The staff's review focused on evaluating any changes to the operating organization proposed as a result of the transfer. The staff evaluated the applicant's submittal using the applicable acceptance criteria contained in Standard Review Plan, Chapter 13, "Conduct of Operations," Section 13.1.2-1.3, "Operating Organization."

In its October 5, 2001, submittal, the applicants indicated that, "All regular employees of the VYNPC will be offered employment with ENO. Thus, no changes to the technical qualifications of the operating organization are expected. The position currently held by the senior officer on site will be renamed Vice President, Operations, Vermont Yankee, and will report to the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ENO.. .The Senior Vice-President and COO of ENO will report to the President and CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of ENO ...who will also serve as the Chief Nuclear Officer. The nuclear operating organization will not otherwise be significantly affected by the transfer."

ATTACHMENT

Since substantially all of the operating organizations and personnel now responsible for the operation and maintenance of VY will be transferred to ENO, the staff concludes that ENO's onsite organizations established to operate and maintain VY under both normal and off-normal conditions are in accordance with Standard Review Plan, Chapter 13, "Conduct of Operations, Section 13.1.2-1.3, "Operating Organization."

3.0 Conclusions VYNPC has described the corporate level management and technical support organization and the onsite operating organizations responsible for the operation and maintenance of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station after the transfer of licensed operating authority. The staff concludes that ENO will have an acceptable corporate organization, onsite organization, and adequate resources to provide technical support for the safe operation of the plants under both normal and off-normal conditions after the transfer of licensed operating authority from VYNPC to ENO. The VYNPC submittal adequately addresses the relevant requirements of 10 CFR 50.40 (b) and 10 CFR 50.80.

ATTACHMENT