ML20062K243

Framatome Inc. - Licensee Performance Review NRC Inspection Report 70-1257/2020-005

ML20062K243
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	03/02/2020
From:	Ladonna Suggs NRC/RGN-II/DFFI
To:	Land R Framatome
References
IR 2020005
Download: ML20062K243 (3)

Text

March 2, 2020 Dr. Ronald J. Land Site Manager Framatome Inc.

2101 Horn Rapids Road Richland, WA 99354

SUBJECT:

FRAMATOME INC. - LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW (NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INSPECTION REPORT 70-1257/2020-005)

Dear Dr. Land:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff in our Region II office, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response completed a periodic review of the Framatome Inc., Richland fuel fabrication facility performance in conducting NRC-licensed activities. The review covered the period of January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2019. The performance of Framatome Inc., was evaluated in the following areas: Safety Operations, Safeguards, Radiological Controls, Facility Support, and Other Areas.

Overall, the staff determined that Framatome Inc., has continued to conduct activities safely and securely and in a manner that protects public health and the environment. Based on our review of activities, no area needing improvement was identified for the performance areas of Safety Operations, Safeguards, Radiological Controls, Facility Support, and Other Areas. Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct the core inspection program for a Category III Fuel Facility as described in NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 2600 Appendix B, NRC Core Inspection Requirements Table 1, for the period of January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. Because there were no violations identified at your facility during this review, there will not be an enclosure to this letter. Since there was no area needing improvement identified in Safeguards, no separate letter will be issued.

The results of our review will be discussed with you at a public meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at the Richland Community Center in Richland, WA. Although your site had no areas needing improvement for this current review cycle, you will still be granted the opportunity to discuss your facilitys performance, in the same areas as those evaluated by the NRC, if you so choose.

Beginning in April 2019, the NRC and its stakeholders participated in public meetings aimed at building a smarter inspection program seeking to improve effectiveness and efficiency, while further integrating risk-informed insights to ensure the appropriate focus is applied on the areas most important to safety. The staffs assessment of the inspection program resulted in recommended modifications to inspection frequencies and resource estimates as well as changes to reduce overlaps and improve inspection guidance. If the Agency decides to endorse the staffs recommended program changes, the new core program would take effect starting on January 1, 2021, which will be the middle of your next licensee performance review cycle. A final decision on the program recommendations is expected by the end of March 2020.

R. Land 2 In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice and Procedure," a copy of this letter and its enclosure 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 refer questions and comments regarding your licensee performance review to Mr. Eric Michel, Chief, Projects Branch 2, by telephone at 404-997-4555.

Sincerely,

/RA/

LaDonna B. Suggs, Director Division of Fuel Facility Inspection Docket No. 70-1257 License No. SNM-1227 cc: Distribution via ListServ

ML20062K243 OFFICE RII:DFFI BC RII:DFFI RII:DFFI NMSS:DFM NMSS:DFM RII:DFFI NAME E. Michel R. Gibson G. Goff A. Pearson A, Kock L. Sugg DATE 2/ /2020 2/ /2020 2/ /2020 2/26/20 2/26/20 3/2/2020