ML072430412

Mid Cycle Letter - Performance Review and Inspection Plan

ML072430412
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	08/31/2007
From:	Casto C Division Reactor Projects II
To:	Jerrica Johnson Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Shared Package
ML072430406	List: ML072430412 ML072430424
References
FOIA/PA-2008-0016
Download: ML072430412 (5)

Text

August 31, 2007 Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

ATTN: Mr. J. Randy Johnson Vice President Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant 7388 N. State Highway 95 Columbia, AL 36319

SUBJECT:

MID-CYCLE PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND INSPECTION PLAN - JOSEPH M.

FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT

Dear Mr. Johnson:

On August 15, 2007, the NRC staff completed its performance review of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant for the first half of the calendar year 2007 assessment cycle. Our technical staff reviewed performance indicators (PIs) for the most recent quarter and inspection results over the previous twelve 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.

This performance review and the enclosed inspection plan do 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 a resultant inspection plan.

Overall, both Farley Unit 1 and Unit 2 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives. Plant performance for Unit 1 for the most recent quarter as well as the previous three quarters was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix. Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct only baseline inspections at Unit 1 through March 31, 2009. In addition, we plan to conduct non-ROP activities involving initial reactor operator examinations at both Unit 1 and Unit 2.

Plant performance for Unit 2 for the previous three quarters was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix. However, the Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI), Residual Heat Removal (RHR) System PI crossed the threshold from Green to White in the second quarter of calendar year 2007. This White PI resulted in Unit 2 moving into the Regulatory Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix which reflected performance at a level requiring increased regulatory response. Therefore, in addition to conducting baseline inspections at Unit 2, the NRC plans to conduct Supplemental Inspection Procedure 95001, Inspection for One or Two White Inputs In a Strategic Performance Area when you have notified us of your readiness.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, less those related to physical protection, scheduled through March 31, 2009. The inspection plan is provided to minimize the resource impact on your staff and to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel

SNC 2 availability issues well in advance of inspector arrival onsite. Routine resident inspections are not listed due to their ongoing and continuous nature.

During the calendar year 2006 assessment cycle, the MSPI, Cooling Water Systems PI for both Unit 1 and Unit 2 crossed the threshold from Green to White in the second quarter. In March 2007, we conducted Supplemental Inspection Procedure 95001 for this White PI.

Supplemental Inspection Report 05000348/2007008 and 05000364/2007008 documented a parallel PI White finding due to continuing problems with evaluating safety-related breaker failures. This parallel White finding was not considered during this performance review because the final determination was made after the review had been completed. However, this parallel White finding will be applied to the NRCs Action Matrix beginning with the third quarter of calendar year 2007.

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).

The NRC is currently evaluating the scope and frequency of all baseline inspection procedures.

If the results of this evaluation, or any other circumstances, cause us to change the inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the changes as soon as possible. Please contact Scott Shaeffer to (404) 562-4521 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Charles A. Casto, Director Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-348 and 50-364 License Nos.: NPF-2 and NPF-8

Enclosure:

Farley Inspection/Activity Plan cc w/encl: (See page 3)

OFFICE RII:DRP RII:DRP RII:DRP RII:DRP SIGNATURE SMS /RA/ CWR /RA/ CAC /RA/

NAME SShaeffer CRapp HChristensen CCasto DATE 08/30/2007 08/30/2007 08/30/2007 E-MAIL COPY? YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO SNC 3 cc w/encls:

B. D. McKinney, Licensing Services Manager, B-031 Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution L. M. Stinson, Vice President, Fleet Operations Support Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution J. T. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution David H. Jones Vice President - Engineering Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Moanica Caston Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Bin B-022 P. O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 State Health Officer Alabama Department of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration 201 Monroe St., Suite 700 P. O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 M. Stanford Blanton Balch and Bingham Law Firm P. O. Box 306 1710 Sixth Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35201 William D. Oldfield Quality Assurance Supervisor Southern Nuclear Operating Company Electronic Mail Distribution

SNC 4 Letter to J. Randy Johnson from Charles A. Casto dated August 31, 2007

SUBJECT:

MID-CYCLE PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND INSPECTION PLAN - JOSEPH M.

FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT Distribution w/encl:

R. Martin, NRR C. Evans, RII EICS L. Slack, RII EICS RIDSNRRDIRS OE Mail PUBLIC