ML17306A559

NRC Reactive Inspection Report 05000482/2017407, and Preliminary Greater than Green Finding EA-17-149

ML17306A559
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	11/02/2017
From:	Anton Vegel Division of Reactor Safety IV
To:	Heflin A Wolf Creek
References
EA-17-149 IR 2017407
Download: ML17306A559 (4)

See also: IR 05000482/2017407

Text

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

November 2, 2017

EA-17-149

Mr. Adam C. Heflin, President,

Chief Executive Officer,

and Chief Nuclear Officer

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

P.O. Box 411

Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT: WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, NRC REACTIVE INSPECTION

REPORT 05000482/2017407, AND PRELIMINARY GREATER THAN GREEN

FINDING

Dear Mr. Heflin:

On August 17, 2017, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its initial

assessment of the circumstances surrounding the security event identified on August 11, 2017,

at the Wolf Creek Generating Station. Based on this initial assessment, the NRC sent a

physical security inspector to Wolf Creek Generating Station on August 21, 2017. On

October 4, 2017, the NRC completed its special inspection and the inspector discussed the

results of the inspection with Mr. S. Smith, Plant Manager, and other members of your staff.

The results of this inspection are documented in the enclosed inspection report.

The enclosed report documents a finding, with an associated apparent violation, that the NRC

has preliminarily determined to have a greater than very low security significance that may

require additional inspections, regulatory actions, and oversight. We assessed the significance

of each finding using the Baseline Security Significance Determination Process using best

available information. The deficiencies were promptly corrected or compensated for, and the

plant was in compliance with applicable physical protection and security requirements within the

scope of the inspection before the inspectors left the site. We are considering escalated

enforcement for the apparent violation in accordance with our Enforcement Policy, which can be

found at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/enforce-pol.html. Because we

have not made a final determination, no notice of violation is being issued at this time. Please

be aware that further NRC review may prompt us to modify the number and characterization of

the apparent violations.

We intend to issue our final significance determination and enforcement decision, in writing,

within 90 days from the date of this letter. The NRCs significance determination process is

designed to encourage an open dialogue between your staff and the NRC; however, neither the

Enclosure transmitted herewith

contains SUNSI. When separated

from enclosure, this transmittal

document is decontrolled.

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

A. Heflin 2

dialogue nor the written information you provide should affect the timeliness of our final

determination.

Before we make the final decision, you may choose to communicate your position on the facts

and assumptions used to arrive at the finding and assess its significance by either (1) attending

and presenting at a regulatory conference or (2) submitting your position in writing. The focus of

a regulatory conference is to discuss the significance of the finding. Written responses should

reference the inspection report number and enforcement action number associated with this

letter in the subject line.

If you request a regulatory conference, it should be held within 40 days of your receipt of this

letter. Please provide information you would like us to consider or discuss within 10 days prior

to the conference in an effort to make the conference more efficient and effective. If you choose

to attend a regulatory conference, it will be closed for public observation since security-related

information will be discussed. If you choose not to request a regulatory conference or to submit

a written response, you relinquish your right to appeal the final SDP determination, in that by not

doing either, you fail to meet the appeal requirements stated in the Prerequisite and Limitations

sections of Attachment 2 of NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 0609.

If you decide to submit a written response, it should be sent to the NRC within 40 days of your

receipt of this letter. Written responses should be clearly marked as a Response to an

Apparent Violation; EA-17-149 and should include for the apparent violation: (1) the reason for

the apparent violation or, if contested, the basis for disputing the apparent violation; (2) the

corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved; (3) the corrective steps that will

be taken; and (4) the date when full compliance will be achieved.

Your written response should be sent to the NRCs Document Control Center, Washington,

DC 20555-0001, with a copy mailed to Mr. Anton Vegel, Director, Division of Reactor Safety,

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV, 1600 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington,

TX 76011-4511, within 40 days of the date of this letter. If an adequate response is not

received within the time specified or an extension of time has not been granted by the NRC, the

NRC will proceed with its enforcement decision or schedule a regulatory conference.

Please contact Mr. Jeremy Groom at 817-200-1527, and in writing, within 10 days from the

issue date of this letter to notify the NRC of your intentions. If we have not heard from you

within 10 days, we will continue with our significance determination.

One cross-cutting aspect was assigned to the finding in the area of human performance.

Specifically, leaders failed to ensure that personnel and procedures were available and

adequate to support nuclear safety [H.1].

If you disagree with this cross-cutting aspect assignment, you should provide a response within

30 days of the date of this inspection report, with the basis of your disagreement, to the

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington,

DC 20555-0001; with copies to the Regional Administrator, Region IV; and the NRC Resident

Inspector at the Wolf Creek Generating Station.

In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.390, of the NRCs

Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public

inspection in the NRCs Public Document Room and in the NRC's Agencywide Documents

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

A. Heflin 3

Access and Management System (ADAMS), accessible from the NRC Web site at

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.

However, the enclosed report contains Security-Related Information, in accordance with

10 CFR 2.390(d)(1) and its disclosure to unauthorized individuals could present a security

vulnerability. Therefore, the material in the enclosure will not be made available for public

inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or in ADAMS. If you choose to provide a

response that contains Security-Related Information, please mark your entire response

Security-Related Information-Withhold from Public Disclosure Under 10 CFR 2.390 in

accordance with 10 CFR 2.390(d)(1) and follow the instructions for withholding in

10 CFR 2.390(b)(1). The NRC is waiving the affidavit requirements for your response in

accordance with 10 CFR 2.390(b)(1)(ii).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Anton Vegel, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket No. 50-482

License No. NPF-42

Nonpublic Enclosure:

Inspection Report 05000482/2017407

w/Attachments:

1. Supplemental Information

2. Special Inspection Charter

cc w/enclosure:

Mr. Mike Skiles

Security Manager

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

P.O. Box 411

Burlington, KS 66839

cc w/o enclosure: Electronic Distribution

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

ML17306A548

Entire Report: ADAMS: Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Keyword:

SUNSI Review By: ADM Yes No Publicly Available Sensitive _______MD 3.4 A.3

ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: ML17306A559

Cover Letter Only: ADAMS: Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Keyword:

SUNSI Review By: ADM Yes No Publicly Available Sensitive NRC-002

OFFICE PSI:PSB1 PSI:PSB1 C:PSB1 C:PBB TL:ACES D:DRS

NAME AMeyen CJewett JGroom NTaylor MVasquez AVegel

SIGNATURE /RA/ /RA/ /RA/ DP for JK for /RA/

DATE 10/23/17 10/5/17 10/23/17 10/26/17 11/01/17 11/2/17