IR 05000390/2012006

Mid Cycle Assessment Letter Watts Bar 2012

ML12248A102
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	09/04/2012
From:	Shaeffer S M Reactor Projects Region 2 Branch 6
To:	Shea J W Tennessee Valley Authority
References
IR-12-006
Download: ML12248A102 (7)

Text

September 4, 2012

Mr. JosephManager, Corp. Nuclear Licensing Programs Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street, LP 4B-C Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT: MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 1, REPORT 05000390/2012006

Dear Mr. Shea:

On August 16, 2012, the NRC completed its mid-cycle performance review of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. The NRC reviewed the most recent quarterly performance indicators (PIs) in addition to inspection results and enforcement actions from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012. This letter informs you of the NRC's assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility. This assessment reflects the integration of the Security Cornerstone into the ROP performance assessment program.

The NRC determined the performance at Watts Bar Unit 1 during the most recent quarter was within the Regulatory Response Column of the NRC's Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix because of one greater-than-green Security Cornerstone input as described in Report Number 05000390/2011402 sent on September 20, 2011. On June, 29, 2011, the NRC completed a supplemental inspection for the security issue. Based on the successful completion of the supplemental inspection, the finding was removed from the assessment process after four quarters and Watts Bar Unit 1 will return to the Licensee Response Column in the 3rd quarter 2012. Therefore, based on all other inspection findings having very low (i.e., Green) safety significance and all PIs indicating your performance was within the nominal, expected range (i.e., Green), the NRC plans to conduct ROP baseline inspections at your facility.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through December 31, 2013. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. In addition to the baseline inspections, consistent with the Agency's actions related to Fukushima, the NRC will perform TI-187, "Inspection of Near-Term Task Force Recommendation 2.3 Flooding Walkdowns" and TI-188 "Inspection of Near-Term Task Force Recommendation 2.3 Seismic Walkdowns." We also plan on conducting initial reactor operator licensing examinations and Temporary Instruction (TI) 2515/182, Review of the Implementation of the Industry Initiative to Control Degradation of Underground Piping and Tanks. The inspections listed during the last nine months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the end-of-cycle performance review. The NRC provides the inspection plan to allow for theresolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues. The NRC will contact you as soon as possible to discuss changes to the inspection plan should circumstances warrant any changes. This inspection plan does not include security related inspections, which will be sent via separate, non-publicly available correspondence.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter will be 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).

Please contact me at 404-997-4521 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,/RA/

Scott M. Shaeffer, Chief Reactor Projects Branch 6 Division of Reactor Projects Docket No. 50-390 License No. NPF-90

Enclosure:

Watts Bar Inspection / Activity Plan (09/01/2012 - 12/31/2013) cc w/encl: (See page 3)