IR 05000263/2020006

Annual Assessment Letter for the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (Report 05000263/2020006)

ML21060B581
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	03/04/2021
From:	Hironori Peterson NRC/RGN-III
To:	Conboy T Northern States Power Company, Minnesota
References
IR 2020006
Download: ML21060B581 (7)

Text

March 4, 2021

SUBJECT:

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR THE MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT (REPORT 05000263/2020006)

Dear Mr. Conboy:

The NRC has completed its end-of-cycle performance assessment of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, reviewing performance indicators (PIs), inspection results, and enforcement actions from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. This letter informs you of the NRCs assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility.

The NRC concluded that overall performance at your facility preserved public health and safety.

The baseline inspection program was completed at your facility as defined in Inspection Manual Chapter 2515, Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program - Operations Phase.

The NRC determined the performance at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant during the most recent quarter was within the Licensee Response Column, the highest performance category of the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix, because all inspection findings had very low safety significance (i.e., Green), and all PIs were within the expected range (i.e., Green). Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct ROP baseline inspections at your facility.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through December 31, 2022.

The NRC provides the inspection plan to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. The inspections listed during the last twelve months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should circumstances warrant any changes.

Please note that the Inspection Procedure 37060, 10 CFR 50.69 Risk-Informed Categorization and Treatment of Structures, Systems, and Components Inspection has been assigned a tentative date in calendar year 2022; however, the inspection dates are dependent on Xcel informing the NRC of its readiness for this inspection.

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the NRC is adjusting inspection plans and schedules in order to safeguard the health and safety of both NRC and licensee staff while still effectively implementing the ROP. Each planned inspection is being carefully reviewed in order to determine if any portions of the inspection can be performed remotely, how best to perform on-site portions to minimize personnel health risks and adjust inspection schedules if needed. This is done in accordance with guidance contained in the February 1, 2021 memo, Calendar Year 2021 Inspection Guidance During COVID-19 Telework Restrictions (ML21027A274). For inspections requiring extensive coordination with offsite organizations, such as evaluated emergency preparedness exercises, NRC guidance and frequently asked questions for security and emergency preparedness can be found here:

https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/covid-19/security-ep/. Similarly, the NRC has developed guidance if force-on-force inspections cannot be completed as scheduled due to an emergency, such as the COVID-19 PHE. These changes help ensure the health and safety of both NRC and licensee staff while maintaining the NRCs important safety and security mission during the COVID-19 PHE. The attached inspection plan is accurate on the date of issuance but remains subject to change based on approval of potential exemption requests or other changes needed due to changing conditions in the COVID-19 PHE. NRC staff will contact your appropriate regulatory affairs staff in order to coordinate inspection planning and scheduling.

Additionally, during this period the NRC will perform inspections per Temporary Instruction (TI)

2515/194, Inspection of the Licensees Implementation of Industry Initiative Associated with the Open Phase Condition Design Vulnerability in Electrical Power Systems (NRC Bulletin 2012-01).

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 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 contact me at 630-829-9707 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Hironori Peterson, Chief Branch 3 Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos. 50-263 License Nos. DPR-22 Enclosure:

Inspection Plan cc: Distribution via LISTSERV