ML23199A147

(Vegp), Unit 4 - Transition to the Operating Reactor Assessment Program (NRC Report 05200026/2023010)

ML23199A147
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	07/19/2023
From:	Bradley Davis NRC/RGN-II
To:	Coleman J Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
IR 2023010
Download: ML23199A147 (1)

Text

July 19, 2023 Jamie Coleman Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Company 7825 River Road, BIN 63031 Waynesboro, GA 30830

SUBJECT:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT (VEGP) UNIT 4 - TRANSITION TO THE OPERATING REACTOR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NRC REPORT 05200026/2023010)

Ref.: (a) Memorandum dated August 20, 2020; Transition to Reactor Oversight Process for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4, (ADAMS Accession No. ML20191A378)

Dear Jamie Coleman:

In accordance with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2505, Periodic Assessment of Construction Inspection Program Results, only one oversight and assessment process shall be in place at any given time for a licensee. As such, after an affirmative finding pursuant to 10 CFR 52.103(g) is made by the NRC for VEGP Unit 4, the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) described in IMC 0308, Reactor Oversight Process Basis Document, and the associated licensee assessment requirements in IMC 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, will apply. In addition, Vogtle Units 3 & 4 will be a two-unit site in the ROP. Conversely, the Construction Reactor Oversight Process (cROP) described in IMC 2506, Construction Reactor Oversight Process General Guidance and Basis Document, and its associated assessment process in IMC 2505 will no longer apply to VEGP Unit 4.

Therefore, upon making an affirmative 10 CFR 52.103(g) finding; VEGP Unit 4 will transition from the Licensee Response Column of the cROP Construction Action Matrix to the Licensee Response Column of the ROP Action Matrix. Should performance subsequent to this letter dictate placement of VEGP Unit 4 in an ROP Action Matrix column other than the Licensee Response Column, you will be notified by a follow-up letter after the 10 CFR 52.103(g) finding is made.

The planned placement of VEGP Unit 4 in the Licensee Response Column of the ROP Action Matrix is based on our June 20, 2023, review that was conducted per IMC 2505 in preparation for transferring VEGP Unit 4 to the ROP. This review was led by Region IIs Division of Construction Oversight (DCO) and included NRC staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Vogtle Project Office (VPO) and Division of Reactor Oversight (DRO) and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR). During our review we considered the results from our last plant assessment (ADAMS Accession No. ML23053A134), your performance subsequent to that assessment, and the open inspection issues for VEGP Unit 4.

J. Coleman 2 At the time of our review, all Unit 4 inspection findings were of very low safety significance (i.e.

Green). Reference (a) describes how a Greater than Green inspection finding identified prior to transitioning Unit 4 to the ROP will be handled in the ROP assessment process.

The NRC plans to conduct ROP baseline inspections at VEGP Unit 3 & 4 as described in the Transition to the Reactor Oversight Process memorandum (ADAMS Accession No. ML20191A378) and the remaining inspections associated with the completion of the startup testing and operational programs for VEGP Unit 4. The NRCs inspection plan for VEGP Unit 4 for the next 12 months is enclosed 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 circumstances warrant any changes. The results of our ROP baseline inspections will be provided in a combined quarterly inspection report for VEGP Units 3 and 4. Results of our startup testing, and operational programs inspections will be documented in a separate VEGP Unit 4 report.

Section V, Performance Indicators (PIs), and Table 1, Performance Indicator Validity Summary, of the Transition to Reactor Oversight Process for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant memorandum (ADAMS Accession No. ML20191A383) identifies the PIs applicable to VEGP Unit 4 and describes when each PI goes into effect.

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 (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Please contact me at (404) 997- 4428 with any questions you have regarding this letter Sincerely, Signed by Davis, Bradley on 07/19/23 Bradley J. Davis, Chief Construction Inspection Branch 2 Division of Construction Oversight Docket No.: 52-00026 License No.: NPF-92

Enclosure:

Vogtle Unit 4 Inspection Plan cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERV

ML23199A147 x Non-Sensitive x Publicly Available x SUNSI Review Sensitive Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII/DCO RII/DCO NAME C. Even B. Davis DATE 07/19/23 07/19/23 UNIT 4 month inspection plan Inspection Unit IP Date Initial Test Program Non-ITAAC System Tests 4 70702 3Q-4Q 2022 Startup Testing (IMC 2514) 4 3Q-4Q 2022 71130.02 7/10-14, 2023 Security Baseline Inspection 1, 2, 3, 4 71130.09 71151 71124.01 8/21-25/2023 Radiation Protection Inspection 3, 4 71124.05 Fire Protection Engineering Inspection 1, 2, 3, 4 71111.21N.05 1/22-2/9/2024 Problem Identification and Resolution 1, 2, 3, 4 71152 2/26-3/1/2024 71114.01 5/20-24/2024 Emergency Preparedness Exercise Inspection 1, 2, 3, 4 71114.04 71114.08 Cyber Security Inspection 1, 2, 3, 4 71130.1 3/25-29/2024 71124.06 6/10-14/2024 Radiation Safety - Public 1, 2, 3, 4 71124.07 71151 71130.04 5/20/-24/2024 Security Baseline Inspection 1, 2, 3, 4 71130.07 Material Control and Accounting 1, 2, 3, 4 71130.11 6/10-14/2024 71130.02 7/29-8/8/2024 Security Baseline Inspection 1, 2, 3, 4 71130.09 71151 Enclosure