ML17320A265
| ML17320A265 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 11/16/2017 |
| From: | Troy Pruett NRC/RGN-IV/DRP |
| To: | Reddemann M Energy Northwest |
| MARK HAIRE | |
| References | |
| Download: ML17320A265 (3) | |
Text
November 16, 2017 Mr. Mark E. Reddemann, Chief Executive Officer Energy Northwest MD 1023 P.O. Box 968 Richland, WA 99352
SUBJECT:
ASSESSMENT FOLLOW-UP LETTER FOR COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Dear Mr. Reddemann:
As a result of our quarterly review of plant performance, which was completed on November 7, 2017, the NRC updated its assessment of Columbia Generating Station. The NRCs evaluation consisted of a review of performance indicators and inspection results. This letter informs you of the NRCs assessment and its plans for a future inspection at your facility.
This letter supplements, but does not supersede, the annual assessment letter issued on March 1, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML17059D545), and the follow-up assessment letter issued on July 6, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17187A364).
The NRCs review of Columbia Generating Station identified that the Unplanned Scrams with Complications performance indicator has crossed the Green-to-White threshold due to two unplanned scrams with complications within a four quarter period. The performance issues included in this performance indicator were associated with: (1) a reactor scram that occurred in December 2016 due to a load rejection that originated at a 500 kV substation downstream of the station and where post-scram conditions developed such that reactor drywell pressure increased requiring operators to enter emergency operating procedures, and (2) a reactor scram that occurred in August 2017 due to loss of condenser vacuum and where the station experienced challenges in controlling reactor vessel level with main feed water.
The NRC determined the performance at Columbia Generating Station remains in the Regulatory Response Column of the Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix following this new White input into the Action Matrix in the Initiating Events cornerstone. Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct a supplemental inspection in accordance with Inspection Procedure 95001, Supplemental Inspection Response to Action Matrix Column 2 Inputs, relative to this second White Input into Action Matrix. The objectives of the supplemental inspection are: (1) to assure that the root causes and contributing causes of significant performance issues are understood, (2) to independently assess and assure that the extent of condition and extent of cause of significant performance issues are identified, (3) to assure that corrective actions taken to address and preclude repetition of significant performance issues are prompt and effective, and UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION IV 1600 E. LAMAR BLVD ARLINGTON, TX 76011-4511
M. Reddemann 2
(4) to assure that corrective plans direct prompt actions to effectively address and preclude repetition of significant performance issues. This inspection will be scheduled after you notify the NRC of your readiness.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (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 Agencywide Documents Access and Management 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 Mark Haire at 817-200-1148 with any questions you have regarding this letter.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Troy Pruett, Director Division of Reactor Projects Docket No.
50-397 License No.
SUNSI Review ADAMS:
Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Keyword:
By: RDA/dll Yes No Publicly Available Sensitive NRC-002 OFFICE DRP:A/SPE DRP:A/BC DRP: D NAME RAlexander MHaire TPruett SIGNATURE
/RA-E/
/RA/
/RA/
DATE 11/09/2017 11/16//2017 11/16/2017