ML13246A299

Midcycle Assessment Letter 2013

ML13246A299
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	09/03/2013
From:	Reynolds S Region 4 Administrator
To:	Matthew Sunseri Wolf Creek
References
IR-13-006
Download: ML13246A299 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I V 1600 EAST LAMAR BLVD ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4511 September 3, 2013 Matthew W. Sunseri, President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT:

MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION (REPORT 05000482/2013006)

Dear Mr. Sunseri:

On August 13, 2013, the NRC completed its mid-cycle performance review of Wolf Creek Generating Station. The NRC reviewed the most recent quarterly performance indicators (PIs) in addition to inspection results and enforcement actions from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. This letter informs you of the NRCs assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility.

Performance at Wolf Creek Generating Station during the most recent quarter was within the Degraded Cornerstone Column of the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix because there was one Yellow finding in the Mitigating Systems Cornerstone and one White performance indicator in the Mitigating Systems Cornerstone. The Yellow finding involved your staffs failure to provide adequate oversight of contractors while they performed work that could affect safety-related equipment. The White performance indicator involved the Mitigating Systems Performance Index - Emergency AC System (MSPI - EAC).

On June 7, 2013, the NRC completed a supplemental inspection pursuant to Inspection Procedure 95002, "Supplemental Inspection for One Degraded Cornerstone or Any Three White Inputs in a Strategic Performance Area," at Wolf Creek Generating Station. The team also performed a limited scope independent safety culture assessment follow-up in accordance with Inspection Procedure 40100, Independent Safety Culture Assessment Follow-up. The inspectors determined that your staff performed a comprehensive evaluation to identify appropriate causes for the Yellow finding, and corrective actions were appropriate to address those causes. Based on the results of this inspection, the Yellow finding was closed in NRC Inspection Report 05000482/2013010 (ML13203A329). Therefore, in accordance with IMC 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, because the Yellow finding is closed and four quarters had passed, the NRC determined that the performance issues associated with the Yellow finding will not be considered in the Action Matrix after the end of the second quarter of 2013.

M. Sunseri On February 19, 2013, we were notified by your staff of your readiness for the NRC to conduct a supplemental inspection to review the action taken to address the White MSPI - EAC performance indicator. On April 29, 2013, the NRC completed Inspection Procedure 95001, Supplemental Inspection for One or Two White Inputs in a Strategic Performance Area. As documented in NRC Inspection Report 05000482/2013009 (ML13126A197), the NRC determined you identified the causes and developed appropriate corrective actions for the White performance indicator.

Our review of the performance indicator data reported for Wolf Creek Generating Station for the second quarter of 2013 indicated that MSPI - EAC had returned to Green and that four quarters have passed since the White performance indicator was identified. Based on the closure of the Yellow finding and the White PI, the Wolf Creek Generating Station performance is in the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs action matrix effective July 1, 2013. Therefore, at this time, we plan to conduct baseline inspections at your facility.

In its assessment letter dated March 4, 2013 (ML13060A436), the NRC outlined the continued existence of substantive cross-cutting issues in the areas of problem identification and resolution and human performance associated with themes in the aspects of: (1) thoroughness of evaluating problems such that resolutions address causes and extent of condition P.1(c);

(2) appropriateness and timeliness of corrective actions P.1(d); (3) use of conservative assumptions in decision-making H.1(b); and (4) completeness and accuracy of design documentation, procedures, and work packages H.2(c). As part of the Inspection Procedure 95002 supplemental inspection the NRC determined that the causes for each substantive cross-cutting issue had been evaluated and appropriate corrective actions had been planned or implemented that would address the causes. In each case, corrective actions had resulted in sustained improved performance. As a result, the NRC is closing all four substantive cross-cutting issues.

After the assessment period, the NRC issued a Chilling Effect Letter (CEL) (ML13233A208) to Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation on August 19, 2013. The CEL was issued as the result of two issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified a finding of discrimination for raising safety concerns against a former employee of an engineering contractor employed by Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation, and the NRC identified a chilled work environment within your Quality Assurance Group. The purpose of the CEL is to ensure that you are taking appropriate actions to ensure Wolf Creek is a workplace that fosters an environment where employees feel free, and are encouraged, to raise safety concerns. The CEL requested that you implement actions to address these issues.

Issuance of a CEL meets the NRC criteria in Inspection Manual Chapter 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, for the identification of a crosscutting theme in the area of safety-conscious work environment. Due to the CEL being issued after the completion of this assessment period, this theme will be evaluated during the end-of-cycle performance review of Wolf Creek Generating Station scheduled to be conducted in February 2014.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through December 31, 2014.

Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan.

The inspections listed during the last nine months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the end-of-cycle performance review. The NRC provides the inspection plan to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should

M. Sunseri circumstances warrant any changes. This inspection plan does not include security related inspections, which will be sent via separate, non-publicly available correspondence.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter will be 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).

Please contact Neil OKeefe, Chief, at (817) 200-1141 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Steven A. Reynolds, Acting Regional Administrator Docket No.: 50-482 License No.: NPF-42

Enclosure:

Wolf Creek Generating Station Inspection / Activity Plan

M. Sunseri Electronic Distribution by RIV:

Acting Regional Administrator (Steven.Reynolds@nrc.gov)

Acting Deputy Regional Administrator (Thomas.Bergman@nrc.gov)

DRP Director (Kriss.Kennedy@nrc.gov)

DRP Deputy Director (Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov)

DRS Director (Thomas.Blount@nrc.gov)

DRS Deputy Director (Jeff.Clark@nrc.gov)

Senior Resident Inspector (Charles.Peabody@nrc.gov)

Resident Inspector (Raja.Stroble@nrc.gov)

Branch Chief / B (Neil.OKeefe@nrc.gov)

Senior Project Engineer (Michael.Bloodgood@nrc.gov)

Project Engineer (Megan.Williams@nrc.gov)

Public Affairs Officer (Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov)

Public Affairs Officer (Lara.Uselding@nrc.gov)

Regional State Liaison Officer (Bill.Maier@nrc.gov)

Congressional Affairs Officer (Jenny.Weil@nrc.gov)

R4DRP Branch Chiefs (R4DRP-BC@nrc.gov)

R4DRS Branch Chiefs (R4DRS-BC@nrc.gov)

Director, DIRS, NRR (Ho.Nieh@nrc.gov)

Deputy Director, DIRS NRR (Allen.Howe@nrc.gov)

Director, DORL, NRR (Michelle.Evans@nrc.gov)

Deputy Director, DORL, NRR (Louise.Lund@nrc.gov)

Chief, PLB IV, DORL, NRR (Michael.Markley@nrc.gov)

NRR Project Manager (Fred.Lyon@nrc.gov)

Regional Counsel (Karla.Fuller@nrc.gov)

RIV/ETA: OEDO (Vivian.Campbell@nrc.gov)

ACES (R4Enforcement@nrc.gov)

RITS Coordinator (Marisa.Herrera@nrc.gov)

Technical Assistant (Loretta.Williams@nrc.gov)

RidsNrrDirslpabResource@nrc.gov ROPAssessment.Resource@nrc.gov ROPreports@nrc.gov R:\ _Reactors\Midcycle Assessment Letters 2013.pdf SUNSI Rev Compl. Yes No ADAMS Yes No Reviewer Initials NFO Publicly Avail. Yes No Sensitive Yes No Sens. Type Initials NFO RIV:BC/B RIV:DRS/D RIV: DRP/D RIV: RA NOKeefe TBlount KKennedy SReynolds

/RA/ /RA/ /RA/ /RA/

8/28/13 8/28/13 8/30/13 8/30/13 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax