IR 05000440/2007001

03/02/2007 Perry EOC Annual Assessment Letter (Report 05000440-07-001)

ML070610120
Person / Time
Site:	Perry
Issue date:	03/02/2007
From:	Caldwell J Region 3 Administrator
To:	Pearce L FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co
References
IR-07-001 IR-07-001
Download: ML070610120 (8)

Text

rch 2, 2007

SUBJECT:

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - PERRY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT (REPORT 05000440/2007001)

Dear Mr. Pearce:

On February 13, 2007, the NRC staff completed its performance review of the Perry Nuclear Power 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, 2006. 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 your facility.

This performance review and enclosed inspection plan do not include physical protection information. A separate letter designated as "Exempt from Public Disclosure in Accordance with 10 CFR 2.390" and marked as "Official Use Only - Security-Related Information" will include the physical protection review and resultant inspection plan.

Plant performance for the most recent quarter remained within the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone column of the Action Matrix. This is based on two longstanding White findings in the Mitigating Systems cornerstone that have been open since 2003. FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) was initially notified that Perry had entered the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone column in our August 12, 2004, assessment followup letter. Although Perry remained within the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone column for the 2006 assessment period due, in large part, to these White findings, we recently concluded that the two White findings could be closed. A detailed discussion of this decision, as well as our decision to close Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) 3-05-001 and transition Perry out of the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone column, are contained in separate correspondence dated March 2, 2007.

In addition, a second quarter 2006 Emergency Alternating Current Power System Mitigating System Performance Index (MSPI) that was originally reported to be Green, was identified by your staff in the fourth quarter of 2006 to be White. Consequently, you corrected the second quarter 2006, MSPI from Green to White. This White MSPI subsequently returned to Green for both the third and fourth quarters of 2006. Although this White MSPI occurred in the second quarter of 2006, it is being discussed in this annual assessment letter since we had not had an opportunity to discuss it previously. A supplemental inspection was conducted for this White MSPI in accordance with Inspection Procedure 95001, Inspection for One or Two White Inputs in a Strategic Performance Area. That inspection concluded that you understood the root causes and contributing causes of the issues, that you identified the extent of condition and extent of cause of the issues, and that your corrective actions were sufficient to address the cause and to prevent recurrence of the issues.

In our mid-cycle assessment letter, dated September 2, 2006, we advised you of the continuation of substantive cross-cutting issues in the areas of problem identification and resolution (PI&R) and human performance.

Regarding the area of PI&R, during this assessment period we have noted that the number and significance of PI&R related findings have declined measurably. These results have been realized through the effective implementation of the CAL and Performance Improvement Initiative efforts in the Corrective Action Program area, as demonstrated by no new safety significant (Greater-than-Green) findings and not more than three Green findings identified with a common cross-cutting aspect of PI&R, i.e., the findings did not establish a theme. In addition, based upon the results of NRC inspections and our assessments of the results of your actions to address the PI&R area, we have concluded that you have satisfactorily addressed the underlying issues that led to PI&R problems at Perry and have established programs and procedures to effect sustained performance improvements. Therefore, we have concluded that the substantive cross-cutting issue in the PI&R area is closed. We will monitor this area in the future through our baseline inspection program inspection activities.

Regarding the area of human performance, during this assessment period we have also noted that the number and significance of human performance related findings have declined. These results have been realized through the effective implementation of the CAL and Performance Improvement Initiative efforts in the human performance area, as demonstrated by no new safety significant findings and not more than three Green findings identified with a common cross-cutting aspect, i.e., the findings did not establish a theme. In addition, based upon the results of NRC inspections and our assessments of the results of your actions to address the human performance area, we have concluded that you have satisfactorily addressed the underlying issues that led to human performance problems at Perry and have established programs and procedures to effect sustained performance improvements. Therefore, we have concluded that the substantive cross-cutting issue in the human performance area is closed.

We will monitor this area in the future through our baseline inspection program inspection activities.

In accordance with IMC 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, your plant will be discussed at the upcoming Agency Action Review Meeting. We will notify you through separate correspondence if any agency actions change as a result of this meeting.

This letter advises you of our planned inspection effort resulting from the Perry end-of-cycle review. The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, less those related to physical protection, through June 30, 2008. 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 inspection activities are not listed due to their ongoing and continuous nature. The inspections in the last 9 months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the mid-cycle review. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs 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), accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

If circumstances arise which cause us to change the inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the change as soon as possible. Please contact Eric Duncan at (630) 829-9628 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,

/RA/

James L. Caldwell Regional Administrator Docket No. 50-440 License No. NPF-58 Enclosure:

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