IR 05000424/2012502

IR 05000424-12-502, 05000425-12-502; on 03/19/2012 - 03/23/2012; Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2; Baseline Inspection

ML12109A132
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	04/13/2012
From:	Brian Bonser NRC/RGN-II/DRS/PSB1
To:	Tynan T Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
IR-12-502
Download: ML12109A132 (12)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II 245 PEACHTREE CENTER AVENUE NE, SUITE 1200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1257 April 13, 2012 Mr. Tom Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830

SUBJECT: VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT - NRC EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INSPECTION REPORT 05000424/2012502 AND 05000425/2012502

Dear Mr. Tynan:

On March 23, 2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at your Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed inspection report documents the inspection results which were discussed on March 23, 2012, with you and other members of your staff.

The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commission's rules and regulations, and with the conditions of your license. The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel.

Based on the results of this inspection, no findings were identified.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response, if any, will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of

SNC 2 NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/ Brian Bonser, Chief Plant Support Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-424, 50-425 License Nos. NPF-68, NPF-81

Enclosure:

Inspection Report 05000424/2012502 and 05000425/2012502 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

REGION II==

Docket Nos.: 05000424, 05000425

License Nos.: NPF-68, NPF-81

Report No.: 05000424/2012502 and 05000425/2012502

Licensee: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Facility: Vogtle, Units 1 and 2

Location: Waynesboro, GA

Dates: March 19, 2012, through March 23, 2012

Inspectors: M. Speck, Senior Emergency Preparedness Inspector L. Cain, Senior Resident Inspector C. Fontana, Incident Response Coordinator T. Chandler, Resident Inspector Approved by: Brian Bonser, Chief Plant Support Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

IR 05000424/2012502, 05000425/2012502; 03/19/2012 - 03/23/2012;

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2; Baseline Inspection.

The report covered an announced inspection by one emergency preparedness inspector, one senior resident inspector, one resident inspector, and one regional incident response coordinator. No findings were identified. The NRC's program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors is described in NUREG-1649, "Reactor Oversight Process," Revision 4, dated December 2006.

A. NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None

B. Licensee-Identified Violations

None

REPORT DETAILS

REACTOR SAFETY

Cornerstone: Emergency Preparedness

1EP1 Exercise Evaluation

a. Inspection Scope

Prior to the arrival onsite, the inspectors conducted an in-office review of the exercise objectives and scenario submitted to the NRC to determine if the exercise would test major elements of the emergency plan as required by 10 CFR 50.47(b)(14).

The onsite inspection consisted of the following review and assessment:

• The adequacy of the licensee's performance in the biennial exercise, conducted on March 21, 2012, was reviewed and assessed regarding the implementation of the Risk Significant Planning Standards (RSPS) in 10 CFR 50.47 (b)(4), (5), (9), and

(10) which address emergency classification, offsite notification, radiological assessment, and protective action recommendations, respectively.

• The overall adequacy of the licensee's emergency response facilities with regard to NUREG-0696, "Functional Criteria for Emergency Response Facilities" and Emergency Plan commitments. The facilities assessed were the Control Room Simulator, Technical Support Center (TSC), Operations Support Center (OSC), and Emergency Operations Facility (EOF).

• Other performance areas, such as: the emergency response organization's (ERO) recognition of abnormal plant conditions; command and control, intra- and inter-facility communications; prioritization of mitigation activities; utilization of repair and field monitoring teams; interface with offsite agencies; and the overall implementation of the emergency plan and its implementing procedures.

• Past performance issues from NRC inspection reports and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Department of Homeland Security (DHS) exercise reports to determine the effectiveness of corrective actions as demonstrated during this exercise to ensure compliance with 10 CFR 50.47(b)(14).

• The post-exercise critique process and the presentation to the licensee's senior management conducted on March 23, 2012, to evaluate the licensee's self-assessment of its ERO performance during the exercise, and to ensure compliance with 10 CFR 50, Appendix E, Subsection IV.F.2.g.

The inspectors reviewed various documents which are listed in the Attachment.

This inspection activity satisfied one inspection sample for the exercise evaluation on a biennial basis.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA1 Performance Indicator Verification

a. Inspection Scope

The inspector sampled licensee submittals relative to the Performance Indicators (PIs) listed below for the period January 1, 2011, through December 2011. To verify the accuracy of the PI data reported during that period, PI definitions and guidance contained in NEI 99-02, "Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline", Revision 6, was used to confirm the reporting basis for each data element.

Emergency Preparedness Cornerstone

• Emergency Response Organization Drill/Exercise Performance (DEP)

• Emergency Response Organization Readiness (ERO)

• Alert and Notification System Reliability (ANS)

For the specified review period, the inspector examined data reported to the NRC, procedural guidance for reporting PI information, and records used by the licensee to identify potential PI occurrences. The inspector verified the accuracy of the DEP through review of a sample of drill and event records. The inspector reviewed selected training records to verify the accuracy of the ERO PI for personnel assigned to key positions in the ERO. The inspector verified the accuracy of the PI for ANS reliability through review of a sample of the licensee's records of periodic system tests. Licensee procedures, records, and other documents reviewed within this inspection area are listed in the Attachment.

The inspector reviewed various documents which are listed in the Attachment. This inspection activity satisfied one inspection sample for each of the three

(3) Emergency Preparedness PIs, i.e., DEP, ERO, and ANS, on an annual basis.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

On March 23, 2012, the lead inspector presented the inspection results to Mr. Tynan and other members of the plant staff. The inspectors confirmed that proprietary information was not provided during the inspection.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee personnel

T. Tynan, Site Vice President

A. Askew, Chemistry Specialist

M. Brett, Emergency Planning Specialist

P. Burwinkel, Shift Manager

T. Cucci, Maintenance Supervisor

R. Dedrickson, Plant Manager

J. Hall, Emergency Preparedness Supervisor (Units 3 and 4)

M. Hickox, Licensing Engineer

I. Kochary, Health Physics Manager

L. Mayo, Emergency Preparedness Supervisor

D. McCary, Operations Manager

J. Robinson, Engineering Program Manager

J. Stanley, Operations Superintendant

S. Swanson, Site Support Manager

S. Waldrup, Engineering Director

S. Walters, Emergency Preparedness Specialist

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

None