ML051860398

NRC Actions Under the Reactor Oversight Process for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2

ML051860398
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	07/15/2005
From:	Reyes L NRC/EDO
To:	Wallis G Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
Rodriguez VM, NRR/DRIP/RLEP, 415-3703
Shared Package
ML051860360	List: ML051860398
References
G20050428, TAC MC7321
Download: ML051860398 (2)

Text

NRC ACTIONS UNDER THE REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS FOR THE POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 In the first quarter of 2003, the Point Beach Nuclear Plant (PBNP), Units 1 and 2, entered the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone column (Column IV) of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix. The Region III staff conducted a three-phase supplemental inspection, in accordance with Inspection Procedure (IP) 95003, to review the licensees corrective actions. As stated in the NRC confirmatory action letter (CAL) dated April 21, 2004, the NRC must determine that performance improvements have actually been made before closing the inspection findings. In making this determination the NRC has considered: (1) plant events and findings that may reveal similar performance weaknesses, (2) performance indicators, (3) the implementation of the licensees performance improvement plan, and (4) the results of supplemental inspections. Nuclear Management Company (NMC) developed an improvement plan (entitled Excellence Plan) and submitted a commitment letter dated March 22, 2004, focusing on performance issues. NMC committed to make sustained improvement to address issues in: (1) human performance, (2) engineering design control, (3) the engineering/operations interface, (4) emergency preparedness, and (5) the corrective action program (CAP).

Since then, the Region III staff has been assessing and documenting PBNPs performance on a quarterly basis. In the first 2005 quarterly report, as in the annual assessment letter dated March 2, 2005, the Region III staff concluded that PBNP is operating in a manner that preserves the public health and safety. NMC has been providing its CAL action step completion reports to the NRC during periodic public meetings, and the Region III staff will continue to monitor improvement in all areas listed in the CAL. During June 2005, the Region III staff performed two CAL special inspections. These inspections evaluated the licensees actions in the areas of human performance and emergency preparedness. The Region III staff will also perform two CAL special inspections in the next few months. A team inspection of engineering effectiveness and the engineering/operations interface will be conducted during the weeks of July 26, 2005 and August 8, 2005. An expanded problem identification and resolution (PI&R) inspection of the licensees CAP will be conducted during the weeks of September 12, 2005 and September 26, 2005. Both inspection teams will include more inspectors than the standard baseline inspections and will be supplemented by inspectors from outside the region.

The Committee commented that an adequate CAP is a key element in the successful implementation of the aging management programs critical to license renewal. NRC has established measures to evaluate CAP effectiveness during biennial PI&R baseline inspections.

Items entered in the licensees CAP are reviewed daily by the resident inspectors and assessed for immediate or future followup and potential trends. For PBNP, in addition to the inspections described previously, the staff will perform at least two PI&R inspections (in CY07 and CY09) before the plant enters the period of extended operation. During these inspections, the staff will evaluate the licensees ability to identify and correct problems, including those related to license renewal. Consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter (MC) 0305, after the original red findings have been closed out, the Region III office may take actions, such as periodic senior management site visits, to ensure appropriate oversight of the licensees improvement initiatives. The MC prescribes up to 200 hours0.00231 days <br />0.0556 hours <br />3.306878e-4 weeks <br />7.61e-5 months <br /> of direct inspection activity to review selected performance areas when the licensee has been removed from Column IV. Once this happens, the Region III staff plans to expend at least 100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> of that allowance on special reviews of the licensees CAP. Although problems have been identified in the licensees CAP, inspections to date have shown that the licensees program is adequate.

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