ML17292B642

Responds to NRC 990319 Ltr Re Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-397/99-01.Corrective Actions:Provisions Are Presently in Place to Maintain Adequate Level of Security

ML17292B642
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	04/19/1999
From:	Webring R WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
50-397-99-01, 50-397-99-1, GO2-99-074, GO2-99-74, NUDOCS 9904270144
Download: ML17292B642 (5)

See also: IR 05000397/1999001

Text

pg g-r~~r Y WASHINGTON

PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM P.O.Box 968~Richla>>rl.

i 4>a.'i>i>>q>lo>>

99352-0968

April 19, 1999 G02-99-074

pg p fc)1l'0 Docket No.50-397 U.S.Nuclear Regulatory

Commission

Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

Subject: WNP-2, OPERATING LICENSE NPF-21, RESPONSE TO NRC INSPECTION

REPORT 50-397/99-01

Reference:

Letter dated March 19, 1999, GM Good (NRC)to JV Parrish (Supply System),"NRC Inspection

Report 50-397/99-01" In the reference the NRC Staff requested that the Supply System provide an evaluation

of our provisions

to maintain an adequate level of security.As requested in the reference, this response does not contain safeguards

information.

The Staff was concerned that the practice of relocating

armed personnel may invalidate

the Supply System's respon'se to the design basis threat of radiological

sabotage as stated in 10 CFR 73.1(a).Also, the Staff noted a difference

between the number of armed personnel described in the physical security plan and the number used during the recent Operational

Safeguards

Response Evaluation (OSRE).Thus, the Staff questions the Supply System's ability to respond to a design basis threat with the number of armed personnel presently specified in the WNP-2 physical security plan.The Staff did acknowledge

in the reference that subsequent

to the recent OSRE the Supply System has maintained

an appropriate

number of on-duty armed security personnel inside the protected area.The Supply System has reviewed the Staff's concerns and has determined

that provisions

are presently in place to maintain an adequate level of security at WNP-2.Regarding the practice of relocating

armed personnel, our compensatory

measure guidelines

have been changed for specific environmental

conditions

so that fixed compensatory

measure positions are no longer required.Regarding our response to a design basis threat with the number of armed personnel specified in our physical security plan, the Supply System has used the consulting

services of Nuclear Security Services Corporation (NSSC)to review and validate our defense strategy.We have concluded that WNP-2 maintains an appropriate

level of security (as presently defined in our physical security plan)to defend against the design basis threat of radiological

sabotage as stated in 10 CFR 73.1(a).Our conclusions

are based, in part, on the following:

, Page2 RESPONSE TO NRC INSPECTION

REPORT 99-01~The number of armed response personnel and their locations are adequate to defend against the design basis threat.~The posture of the WNP-2 defensive strategy provides for defense-in-depth

and a high probability

of interdiction, neutralization

and survival.~The defensive positions are not predictable

or exploitable

due to their physical nature and manning requirements.

~Armed response personnel now continually

maintain a defensive posture through validated response times to plant target sets and weapons deployment.

This was accomplished, in part, because of changes in the compensatory

measure guidelines

as discussed above.~Armed response personnel carry appropriate

response equipment and use appropriate

defensive cover/positions..

In summary, the Supply System has a defensive strategy in place to defend against the design basis threat using the number of security forces specified in our physical security plan.Should you have any questions or desire additional

information

regarding this matter, please call DW Martin at (509)377-8628 or PJ Inserra at (509)377-4147.R.L.Webring Vice President, Operations

Support/PIO

Mail Drop PE08 REB cc: PPf Merschoff-NRC RIV JS Cushing-NRR NRC Sr.Resident Inspector-927N DL Williams-BPA/399 PD Robinson-Winston&Strawn I

Washington

Public Power Supply System-3-DISTRIBUTION

w/co of licensee's

letter dated A ril 19 1999: DMB (IE04)Regional Administrator

WNP-2 Resident Inspector DRP Director DRS-PSB DRS Director Branch Chief (DRP/E)Senior Project Inspector (DRP/E)MIS System RIV File Action Item 99-8-0059 (Goines)DOCUMENT NAME: R:QWN2tWN901AK.TWD.WPD

To receive co of document, indicate In box: "C"=Co without enclosures"E"~Co with enclosures"N"=No co RIV:PSB E TW Dexter:nh ffl 05/10/99 C:DRS'tPSB

6MGood 05//99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY