ML16167A372

Nrc'S Annual Performance Assessment of Palisades for 2015

ML16167A372
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	06/23/2016
From:	NRC/RGN-III
To:
References
Download: ML16167A372 (18)

Text

NRC's Annual Performance Assessment of Palisades for 2015 Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Region III South Haven, MI June 23, 2016

Introductions

Eric Duncan Branch Chief, Palisades NRC Region III 2

Purpose and Agenda Discuss NRCs Actions to Ensure the Safety of Palisades

• NRC Presentation

• Break

• Town Hall Discussion 3

NRC Inspections

• In 2015, more than 6700 hours0.0775 days <br />1.861 hours <br />0.0111 weeks <br />0.00255 months <br /> were committed to Palisades for performing NRC inspections.

• Two full-time NRC resident inspectors are dedicated to Palisades to perform plant inspections and immediately respond to events.

• Additionally, region-based specialist inspectors perform inspections in focused areas including operations, maintenance, engineering, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, security, and spent fuel storage.

4

2015 Annual Assessment

• Palisades continued to operate safely.

• Palisades began 2015 under increased NRC oversight due to an issue of low to moderate safety significance associated with Occupational Radiation Safety that was identified in 2014.

• The NRC conducted a follow-up inspection and concluded that Palisades had appropriately addressed the issue.

• On October 1, 2015, the plant returned to normal NRC oversight.

5

2015 Annual Assessment

• No worker dose limits were exceeded.

• The increased NRC oversight was due to an issue in 2014 that involved the failure to use an NRC-approved method for determining the effective dose to workers wearing dosimeters on several areas of their bodies.

• NRC follow-up inspection concluded 1) the cause of the deficiency was understood, 2) the extent of the issue had been identified, and

3) corrective actions will prevent recurrence.

6

2015 Annual Assessment

• The NRC issued a Severity Level III Violation in 2015 when Palisades failed to provide complete and accurate information to the agency.

• Subsequent NRC review determined safety was not affected since no actual actions were taken by Palisades as a result of the incorrect information that was provided.

• A follow-up NRC inspection is in progress to review corrective actions.

7

Safety Conscious Work Environment (SCWE)

• Safety Conscious Work Environment - an environment where workers feel free to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation, intimidation, harassment, or discrimination.

• All NRC licensees and contractors are expected to establish and maintain a SCWE which contributes to the safe operation of NRC-regulated facilities.

8

SCWE Inspections

• NRC identified problems with SCWE in 2011.

• NRC continued to focus on SCWE for the past five years and conducted numerous inspections.

- Inspections were performed by safety culture experts

- Inspections included focus group discussions and individual interviews

• The last NRC inspection conducted in 2016 identified no SCWE concerns.

• The NRC will continue to evaluate SCWE through the normal baseline inspection program.

9

Review of Discrimination Allegations

• In December 2013, the NRC received discrimination claims for raising safety issues from two former supervisors.

• The NRC completed an extensive investigation in March 2015 concerning these allegations of discrimination.

• The NRC determined that the allegations were not substantiated.

• The Department of Labor (DOL) received claims from the same two supervisors alleging discrimination 10 in December 2013.

Review of Discrimination Allegations

• The DOL review found reasonable cause for discrimination.

• The DOL focuses on labor issues while the NRC focuses on Nuclear Safety.

• In response to the DOL ruling, the NRC requested that Palisades describe actions to assure the DOL findings would not have an adverse impact on SCWE.

• The NRC reviewed Palisades response and found it appropriate.

11

Safety Injection Refueling Water Tank (SIRWT) Investigation

• The NRCs Office of Investigations (OI) initiated an investigation in 2012 concerning SIRWT leakage.

• The NRC identified a violation involving the willful failure of plant personnel to enter SIRWT leakage information into the Corrective Action Program.

• The leakage did not affect plant or public safety.

• The SIRWT leakage issue was resolved in 2013.

• The NRC issued an Order in May 2016 that required Palisades to take comprehensive actions, including improving public communications.

12

Palisades 2.206 Petitions 2.206 Petition - allows any member of the public to request that the NRC take enforcement action, including action to modify, suspend, or revoke a nuclear plants license.

• Two 2.206 Petitions were closed in 2015.

- Primary coolant pump impeller degradation

- Security department SCWE

• No 2.206 Petitions are currently open.

13

License Amendments of Public Interest

• Palisades submitted a License Amendment Request (LAR) in July 2014 to use alternate criteria to meet reactor vessel fracture toughness requirements for protection against pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events.

• Palisades submitted a LAR in November 2014 for approval of an analysis to meet 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G, fracture toughness of the reactor vessel during normal operations.

• Following an extensive review, the NRC approved these LARs on November 23, 2015.

14

Contacting the NRC

• Report an emergency

- (301) 816-5100 (call collect)

• Report a safety concern

- (800) 695-7403 or e-mail: Allegation@nrc.gov

• NRC Public Affairs Officers

- Vika Mitlyng (630) 829-9662

- Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663

• General information or questions

- www.nrc.gov

- Select What We Do for Public Affairs 15

Reference Sources

• Reactor Oversight Process

- http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/

ASSESS/index.html

• Public Electronic Reading Room

- http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html

• NRC Information Digest

- http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1350/

• Public Document Room

- (800) 397- 4209 (Toll Free) 16

Closing Remarks Pat Louden Director, Division of Reactor Projects NRC Region III 17

NRC's Annual Performance Assessment of Palisades for 2015 Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Region III South Haven, MI June 23, 2016