IR 05000324/2008001

Annual Assessment Letter (NRC Inspection Report 05000325/2008001 and 05000324/2008001)

ML080630664
Person / Time
Site:	Brunswick
Issue date:	03/03/2008
From:	Mccree V Region 2 Administrator
To:	Waldrep B Carolina Power & Light Co
References
IR-08-001
Download: ML080630664 (8)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II SAM NUNN ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET, SW, SUITE 23T85 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8931 March 3, 2008 Carolina Power and Light Company ATTN: Mr. Benjamin Waldrep Vice President

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant P. O. Box 10429 Southport, NC 28461

SUBJECT: ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - BRUNSWICK STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT (NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000325/2008001 AND 05000324/2008001)

Dear Mr. Waldrep:

On February 6, 2008, the NRC staff completed its performance review of Brunswick Steam Electric Plant. Our technical staff reviewed performance indicators (PIs) for the most recent quarter and inspection results for the period from January 1 through December 31, 2007. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our assessment of your safety performance during this period and our plans for future inspections at Brunswick. This performance review and enclosed inspection plan do not include security information. A separate letter designated and marked as "Official Use Only - Security-Related Information" will include the security cornerstone review and resultant inspection plan.

Overall, Brunswick Units 1 and 2 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives with moderate degradation in safety performance. Unit 1 plant performance for the most recent quarter was within the Regulatory Response Column of the NRC=s Action matrix based on a White inspection finding in the Mitigating Systems Cornerstone. Unit 2 plant performance for the most recent quarter was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRC

=s Action matrix.

While plant performance for Unit 1 for the most recent quarter is within the Regulatory Response Column, Unit 1 was within the Degraded Cornerstone Column of the NRC

=s Action matrix for the first, second, and third quarters of the assessment cycle. A White inspection finding for a circumstance where the Emergency Di esel Generator #1 was out of service for a period of time in excess of that allowed by Technical Specifications was identified in the first quarter 2007. In addition, the performance indicator related to the Mitigating Systems Performance Indicator (MSPI) Emergency AC Power System, crossed the Green to White threshold in the second quarter of 2006 and remained White. Subsequently, the MSPI for Cooling Water Systems crossed the threshold from Green to White in the third quarter of 2007 due to issues associated with the service water and residual heat removal service water systems. Some of these issues included the identification of foreign material within these

safety-related systems which were the subject of an NRC Special Inspection Team inspection, the results of which are documented in NRC inspection report 05000325, 324/20070011. A CP&L 2 Supplemental Inspection was completed on February 1, 2008, for the White MSPI - Cooling Water Systems, the results of which are documented in NRC inspection report 05000325/2008007. During the third quarter of calendar year (CY) 2007, Brunswick installed two Severe Accident Management Guideline (SAMG) diesel generators that reduced the site's core damage frequency by approximately 60 percent. These portable 176kw, 60hz SAMG diesel generators were installed to mitigate a loss of 125VDC during a Station Blackout (SBO).

The SAMG diesel generators are classified as non-safety related and are not credited during a SBO, but will restore power to battery chargers and prevent depleting the units' batteries. As a result of this modification, the two White performance indicators transitioned to Green in the 4 th quarter, 2007, thereby placing Unit 1 into the Regulatory Response Column for the 4 th quarter.

Unit 2 was within the Regulatory Response column of the NRC

=s Action matrix for the first three quarters of the assessment cycle. The MSP I, Emergency AC Power System PI crossed the threshold from Green to White in the second quarter of 2006 and remained White. As a result of your modification that installed the two SAMG diesel generators (discussed above), the White performance indicator transitioned to Green in the 4 th quarter 2007, thereby placing Unit 2 into the Licensee Response Column for the 4 th quarter.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, less those related to security, scheduled through June 30, 2009. In addition, we will be conducting NRC Temporary Instruction 171(B.5.b) and initial reactor operator licensing examinations. The inspection plan is provided to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues well in advance of inspector arrival onsite. Routine resident inspections are not listed due to their ongoing and continuous nature. The inspections in the last nine months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the mid-cycle review.

The NRC notes that Brunswick's current assessment in the Regulatory Response Column (RRC) and Licensee Response Column (LRC) for Unit s 1 and 2 respectively, reflects heavily the reduction in risk that was achieved by installation of the SAMG EDGs. The installation of risk-informed modifications such as this reflects a strong safety focus on the part of Progress Energy at Brunswick. However, the NRC also notes that absent the installation of the SAMG EDGs, Brunswick 1 and 2 would have been assessed at a le vel of performance warranting substantially increased NRC oversight and licensee actions. As a result, we believe that additional licensee management attention to address the underlying performance issues is still warranted. The staff had concluded that it was appropriate to conduct an additional Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R) inspection during the current biennial period. The onsite portion was completed on February 29, 2008. This additional inspection was performed based on weaknesses in the Corrective Action Program identified during the 95002 supplemental inspection completed in August 2007. Based on the results of this additional PI&R inspection, we will determine the need for any further inspection in this area.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC

=s A Rules of Practice,@ a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be made 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).

CP&L 3 If circumstances arise which cause us to change this inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the change as soon as possible. Please contact Randall Musser at 404-562-4603 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Victor M. McCree Acting Regional Administrator

Docket Nos.: 50-325 and 50-324 License Nos.: DPR-71 and DPR- 62 Enclosure: Brunswick Inspection/Activity Plan

_________________________ OFFICE RII/DRP RII/DRP RII/DRP RII/ORA SIGNATURE /RA/ /RA/ /RA/ /RA/ NAME RMusser GWilson JShea VMcCree DATE 3/3/08 2/25/08 3/3/08 3/3/08 E-MAIL COPY? YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO CP&L 4 cc w/encl:

Director, Site Operations

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant Carolina Power & Light Company P. O. Box 10429

Southport, NC 28461-0429

Benjamin Vice President Brunswick Steam Electric Plant Carolina Power & Light Company Electronic Mail Distribution

Paul Fulford Manager Performance Evaluation and Regulatory

Affairs PEB5 Carolina Power & Light Company Electronic Mail Distribution Edward L. Wills, Jr.

Plant General Manager

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant

Carolina Power and Light Company Electronic Mail Distribution Donald L. Griffith

Manager Brunswick Steam Electric Plant

Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. Electronic Mail Distribution

Randy C. Ivey

Manager Support Services Brunswick Steam Electric

Plant Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. Electronic Mail Distribution

Garry D. Miller

Manager License Renewal James Ross Nuclear Energy Institute Electronic Mail Distribution John H. O'Neill, Jr.

Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge

2300 N. Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1128

Beverly Hall Progress Energy Electronic Mail Distribution

Chief Radiation Protection Section N.C. Department of Environmental Commerce & Natural Resources Electronic Mail Distribution

Peggy Force Assistant Attorney General

State of North Carolina P.O. Box 629

Raleigh, NC 27602

Public Service Commission State of South Carolina P.O. Box 11649

Columbia, SC 29211

David R. Sandifer Brunswick County Board of Commissioners P.O. Box 249 Bolivia, NC 28422

Warren Lee Emergency Management Director New Hanover County Department of Emergency Management 230 Government Center Drive

Suite 115 Wilmington, NC 28403

CP&L 5 Letter to Benjamin from Victor M. McCree dated March 3, 2008

SUBJECT: ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - BRUNSWICK STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT NUCLEAR PLANT (NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000325/2008001 AND 05000324/2008001)

Distribution w/encl:

C. Evans, RII EICS (Part 72 Only)

L. Slack, RII EICS M. Cox, EDO OE Mail (email address if applicable) RIDSNRRDIRS

PUBLIC S. Bailey, NRR ROPReports@nrc.gov Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)

Brunswick Inspection / Activity Plan 03/03/2008-06/30/2009 Inspection Type Inspection Activity Planned Dates Start End No. of Staff on Site Title Unit Number Page 1 of 2 03/03/2008 17:18:54 Report 22 1 PSB1-RP-RAD PROTECTION - ACCESS CONTROLS Baseline Inspections A ccess Control to Radiologically Significant Areas 03/17/2008 03/21/2008 1, 2 7112101 IP Baseline Inspections Occupational Exposure Control Effectiveness 03/17/2008 03/21/2008 1, 2 71151-OR01 IP 2 EB3-ISI-UNIT 1 - ISI Baseline Inspections Inservice Inspection Activities - BWR 03/24/2008 03/28/2008 1 7111108G IP 1 OL EXAM-INITIAL EXAM - JPM & WRITTEN RETAKE Not Applicable BRUNSWICK/APRIL 2008 RETAKE EXAM AT POWER FACILITIES 04/14/2008 04/18/2008 1 V23302 3 TI-171-B.5.B PHASE 2&3 Generic Safety Inspecti o Verification of Site Specific Implementation Of B.5.b Phase 2 & 3 Mitigating Strategies 05/12/2008 05/16/2008 1, 2 2515/171 IP 4 PSB1-RP-RADIATION PROTECTION PUBLIC CORNERSTONE Baseline Inspections Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation and Protective Equipment 06/16/2008 06/20/2008 1, 2 7112103 IP Baseline Inspections Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment and Monitoring Systems 06/16/2008 06/20/2008 1, 2 7112201 IP Baseline Inspections Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) And Radioactive Material Control Program 06/16/2008 06/20/2008 1, 2 7112203 IP Baseline Inspections RETS/ODCM Radiological Effluent 06/16/2008 06/20/2008 1, 2 71151-PR01 IP Baseline Inspections In-depth Reviews 06/16/2008 06/20/2008 1, 2 71152-Reviews IP 5 EB1-MODS-MODIFICATIONS-10CFR50.59 Baseline Inspections Evaluations of Changes, Tests, or Experiments & Permanent Plant Modifications 07/14/2008 07/18/2008 1, 2 7111117B IP Baseline Inspections Evaluations of Changes, Tests, or Experiments & Permanent Plant Modifications 07/28/2008 08/01/2008 1, 2 7111117B IP 3 OL EXAM-INITIAL EXAM PREP Not Applicable BRUNSWICK/DECEMBER 2008 EXAM AT POWER FACILITIES 09/29/2008 10/03/2008 1 V23291 7 EB2-TFP-TRIENNIAL FIRE PROTECTION Baseline Inspections Fire Protection-NFPA 805 Transition Period [Triennial]

11/03/2008 11/07/2008 1, 2 7111105P IP Baseline Inspections Fire Protection-NFPA 805 Transition Period [Triennial]

11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 7111105P IP 3 OL EXAM-INITIAL EXAM Not Applicable BRUNSWICK/DECEMBER 2008 EXAM AT POWER FACILITIES 10/27/2008 11/07/2008 1 V23291 3 OL RQ-REQUAL INSPECTION Baseline Inspections Licensed Operator Requalification Program 11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 7111111B IP 3 PSB1-EP-EP EXERCISE EP Baseline Inspection Exercise Evaluation 11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 7111401 IP EP Baseline Inspection Emergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes 11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 7111404 IP Baseline Inspections Drill/Exercise Performance 11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 71151-EP01 IP Baseline Inspections ERO Drill Participation 11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 71151-EP02 IP Baseline Inspections A lert & Notification System 11/17/2008 11/21/2008 1, 2 71151-EP03 IP 1 PSB1-RP-RADIATION PROTECTION PREINSPECTION VISIT Baseline Inspections A ccess Control to Radiologically Significant Areas 02/02/2009 02/04/2009 1, 2 7112101 IP This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.

This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.

Brunswick Inspection / Activity Plan 03/03/2008-06/30/2009 Inspection Type Inspection Activity Planned Dates Start End No. of Staff on Site Title Unit Number Page 2 of 2 03/03/2008 17:18:54 Report 22 1 EB3ISI-U2 ISI Baseline Inspections Inservice Inspection Activities - BWR 03/09/2009 03/13/2009 2 7111108G IP 2 PSB1-RP-RAD PROTECTION OCCUPATIONAL WK1 Baseline Inspections A ccess Control to Radiologically Significant Areas 03/09/2009 03/13/2009 1, 2 7112101 IP Baseline Inspections A LARA Planning and Controls 03/09/2009 03/13/2009 1, 2 7112102 IP Baseline Inspections Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation 03/09/2009 03/13/2009 1, 2 7112202 IP Baseline Inspections Occupational Exposure Control Effectiveness 03/09/2009 03/13/2009 1, 2 71151-OR01 IP Baseline Inspections RETS/ODCM Radiological Effluent 03/09/2009 03/13/2009 1, 2 71151-PR01 IP 2 PSB1-RP-RADIATION PROTECTION OCCUPATIONAL WK2 Baseline Inspections A ccess Control to Radiologically Significant Areas 03/23/2009 03/27/2009 1, 2 7112101 IP Baseline Inspections A LARA Planning and Controls 03/23/2009 03/27/2009 1, 2 7112102 IP Baseline Inspections Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation 03/23/2009 03/27/2009 1, 2 7112202 IP 5 PI&R-PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION & RESOLUTION Baseline Inspections Identification and Resolution of Problems 04/20/2009 04/24/2009 1, 2 71152B IP Baseline Inspections Identification and Resolution of Problems 05/04/2009 05/08/2009 1, 2 71152B IP 2 EB3-HS-HEAT SINK Baseline Inspections Heat Sink Performance 05/18/2009 05/22/2009 1, 2 7111107B IP This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities.

This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.