IR 05000528/2015005

Mid-Cycle Assessment Letter for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1,2,and 3 (Report 05000528/2015005, 05000529/2015005 and 05000530/2015005)

ML15243A580
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	09/01/2015
From:	Miller G B NRC/RGN-IV/DRP
To:	Edington R K Arizona Public Service Co
Geoffrey Miller
References
IR 2015005
Download: ML15243A580 (6)

Text

September 1, 2015

Randall Executive Vice President, Nuclear/CNO Arizona Public Service Company P.O. Box 1856 Buckeye, AZ 85326

SUBJECT: MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 (REPORT 05000528/2015005, 05000529/2015005 AND 05000530/2015005)

Dear Mr. Edington,

On August 12, 2015, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its mid-cycle performance review of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. The NRC reviewed the most recent quarterly performance indicators (PIs) in addition to inspection results and enforcement actions from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. This letter informs you of the NRC's assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility. The NRC determined that overall, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 were operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives. The NRC determined the performance at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 during the most recent quarter was within the Licensee Response Column of the NRC's Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix because all inspection findings had very low (i.e., Green) safety significance, and all PIs indicated that your performance was within the nominal, expected range (i.e., Green). Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct ROP baseline inspections at your facility.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2017. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. The inspections listed during the second half 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 the resolution 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 response to the accident at Fukushima, the Commission issued Order EA-12-049, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events," which requires licensees to develop, implement, and maintain guidance and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities following a beyond-design-basis external event. Additionally, the Commission issued Order EA-12-051, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation," which requires licensees to have a reliable means of remotely monitoring wide-range Spent Fuel Pool levels to support effective prioritization of event mitigation and recovery actions in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. The NRC is conducting audits of licensee efforts towards compliance with these Orders. The audit has been completed at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, and the information gathered will aid staff in development of the ultimate Safety Evaluation for the site. After the NRC staff receives the Final Compliance letter for the site, the Final Safety Evaluation will be issued. Then, the NRC staff will confirm through inspections the full implementation of the orders mentioned above by performing Temporary Instruction 2515/191, "Inspection of the Implementation of Mitigating Strategies and Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation Orders and Emergency Preparedness Communication/Staffing/Multi-Unit Dose Assessment Plans."

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 817-200-1173 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,/RA/

Geoffrey B. Miller Chief, Branch D Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-528; 50-529; 50-530 License Nos.: NPF-41; NPF-51; NPF-74

Enclosure:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Inspection/Activity Plan and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities following a beyond-design-basis external event. Additionally, the Commission issued Order EA-12-051, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation," which requires licensees to have a reliable means of remotely monitoring wide-range Spent Fuel Pool levels to support effective prioritization of event mitigation and recovery actions in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. The NRC is conducting audits of licensee efforts towards compliance with these Orders. The audit has been completed at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, and the information gathered will aid staff in development of the ultimate Safety Evaluation for the site. After the NRC staff receives the Final Compliance letter for the site, the Final Safety Evaluation will be issued. Then, the NRC staff will confirm through inspections the full implementation of the orders mentioned above by performing Temporary Instruction 2515/191, "Inspection of the Implementation of Mitigating Strategies and Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation Orders and Emergency Preparedness Communication/Staffing/Multi-Unit Dose Assessment Plans." 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 817-200-1173 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,/RA/ Geoffrey B. Miller Chief, Branch D Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-528; 50-529; 50-530 License Nos.: NPF-41; NPF-51; NPF-74

Enclosure:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Inspection/Activity Plan DISTRIBUTION: See next page ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: SUNSI Review By: GBM ADAMS Yes No Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Sensitive OFFICE: RIV C/DRP/D D/DRS D/DRP NAME GMiller AVegel TPruett SIGNATURE /RA/ /RA/ /RA/ DATE 8/27/15 8/27/15 8/27/15 Letter to Randall from Geoffrey B. Miller dated September 1, 2015

SUBJECT: MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 (REPORT 05000528/2015005, 05000529/2015005 AND 05000530/2015005) DISTRIBUTION: Regional Administrator (Marc.Dapas@nrc.gov) Deputy Regional Administrator (Kriss.Kennedy@nrc.gov) DRP Director (Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov) DRP Deputy Director (Ryan.Lantz@nrc.gov) DRS Director (Anton.Vegel@nrc.gov) DRS Deputy Director (Jeff.Clark@nrc.gov) Senior Resident Inspector (Charles.Peabody@nrc.gov) Resident Inspector (Dustin.Reinert@nrc.gov) Resident Inspector (David.You@nrc.gov) Branch Chief (Geoffrey.Miller@nrc.gov) Senior Project Engineer (Bob.Hagar@nrc.gov) Project Engineer (Jan.Tice@nrc.gov) Public Affairs Officer (Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov) Public Affairs Officer (Lara.Uselding@nrc.gov) RIV State Liaison Officer (Bill.Maier@nrc.gov) Project Manager (Margaret.Watford@nrc.gov) Acting Team Lead, DRS/TSS (Eric.Ruesch@nrc.gov) Director, DIRS, NRR (Scott.Morris@nrc.gov) Deputy Director, DIRS, NRR (Allen.Howe@nrc.gov) Director, DORL, NRR (Anne.Boland@nrc.gov) Deputy Director, DORL, NRR (George.Wilson@nrc.gov) Director, NSIR/DPR (Rob.Lewis@nrc.gov) Chief, LPLIV-1, DORL, NRR (Michael.Markley@nrc.gov) Regional Counsel (Karla.Fuller@nrc.gov) RITS Coordinator (Marisa.Herrera@nrc.gov) Technical Support Assistant (Loretta.Williams@nrc.gov) Congressional Affairs Officer (Jenny.Weil@nrc.gov) RIV Congressional Affairs Officer (Angel.Moreno@nrc.gov) RIV/ETA: OEDO (Cindy.Rosales-Cooper@nrc.gov) ROPassessment Resource@nrc.gov ROPreports@nrc.gov OEMail Resource@nrc.gov Electronic Distribution for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

Page 1 of 208/26/201514:07:47Report 22UnitNumberPlanned DatesStart EndInspection ActivityTitleNo. of Staffon SitePalo VerdeInspection / Activity Plan07/01/2015-06/30/2017EP-2-HAB EXERCISE INSPECTION71, 2, 3 IPEmergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes711140409/14/201509/18/20151, 2, 3 IPExercise Evaluation - Hostile Action (HA) Event711140709/14/201509/18/2015EP-3-EP PERFORMANCE INDICATORS11, 2, 3 IPDrill/Exercise Performance71151-EP0109/14/201509/18/20151, 2, 3 IPERO Readiness71151-EP0209/14/201509/18/20151, 2, 3 IPAlert & Notification System Reliability71151-EP0309/14/201509/18/201571111.08-INSERVICE INSPECTION 2R191 2 IPInservice Inspection Activities - PWR7111108P10/19/201510/30/2015RS 5-RP INSPECTION11, 2, 3 IPRadiation Monitoring Instrumentation71124.0510/26/201510/30/2015EB1-07T-PV TRIENNIAL HEAT SINK PERFORMANCE11, 2, 3 IPHeat Sink Performance7111107T11/16/201511/20/2015EB2-05T-TRIENNIAL FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTION41, 2, 3 IPFire Protection [Triennial]7111105T12/14/201512/18/2015EB2-05T-TRIENNIAL FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTION41, 2, 3 IPFire Protection [Triennial]7111105T01/11/201601/15/2016RS 24-RADIATION SAFETY21, 2, 3 IPOccupational ALARA Planning and Controls71124.0201/18/201601/22/20161, 2, 3 IPOccupational Dose Assessment71124.0401/18/201601/22/2016EXAM-INITIAL EXAM71 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 1 (10/2016)X0257610/03/201610/07/2016 2 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (10/2016)X0257710/03/201610/07/2016 3 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (10/2016)X0257810/03/201610/07/20161 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 1 (10/2016)X0257610/31/201611/10/2016 2 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 2 (10/2016)X0257710/31/201611/10/2016 3 INITIAL EXAM PALO VERDE UNIT 3 (10/2016)X0257810/31/201611/10/2016TSB 52B-BIENNIAL PI&R INSPECTION41, 2, 3 IPProblem Identification and Resolution71152B03/07/201603/11/20161, 2, 3 IPProblem Identification and Resolution71152B03/21/201603/25/2016EP-1-EP PERFORMANCE INDICATORS11 IPDrill/Exercise Performance71151-EP0104/11/201604/16/20161 IPERO Readiness71151-EP0204/11/201604/16/20161 IPAlert & Notification System Reliability71151-EP0304/11/201604/16/2016This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities. This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.

Page 2 of 208/26/201514:07:47Report 22UnitNumberPlanned DatesStart EndInspection ActivityTitleNo. of Staffon SitePalo VerdeInspection / Activity Plan07/01/2015-06/30/2017EP-2-BIENNIAL EP PROGRAM INSPECTION11, 2, 3 IPAlert and Notification System Testing711140204/11/201604/16/20161, 2, 3 IPEmergency Preparedness Organization Staffing and Augmentation System711140304/11/201604/16/20161, 2, 3 IPEmergency Action Level and Emergency Plan Changes711140404/11/201604/16/20161, 2, 3 IPCorrection of Emergency Preparedness Weaknesses and Deficiencies711140504/11/201604/16/2016RS 13 PI-RADIATION SAFETY21, 2, 3 IPRadiological Hazard Assessment and Exposure Controls71124.0104/18/201604/22/20161, 2, 3 IPIn-Plant Airborne Radioactivity Control and Mitigation71124.0304/18/201604/22/20161, 2, 3 IPOccupational Exposure Control Effectiveness71151-OR0104/18/201604/22/20161, 2, 3 IPRETS/ODCM Radiological Effluent Occurrences71151-PR0104/18/201604/22/201671111.08-INSERVICE INSPECTION11 IPInservice Inspection Activities - PWR7111108P04/18/201604/29/2016EB1-21T-PV COMPONENT DESIGN BASIS INSPECTION21, 2, 3 IPComponent Design Bases Inspection711112108/01/201609/02/201671111.08-INSERVICE INSPECTION1 3 IPInservice Inspection Activities - PWR7111108P10/17/201610/28/2016INSP-BIENNIAL REQUAL INSPECTION31, 2, 3 IPLicensed Operator Requalification Program7111111B12/12/201612/16/2016RS 5678-RS TEAM51, 2, 3 IPRadiation Monitoring Instrumentation71124.0501/23/201701/27/20171, 2, 3 IPRadioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment71124.0601/23/201701/27/20171, 2, 3 IPRadiological Environmental Monitoring Program71124.0701/23/201701/27/20171, 2, 3 IPRadioactive Solid Waste Processing and Radioactive Material Handling, Storage, and Transportation71124.0801/23/201701/27/2017EB1-17T-PV PERMANENT PLANT MODS & 50.5931, 2, 3 IPEvaluations of Changes, Tests, and Experiments and Permanent Plant Modifications7111117T02/27/201703/17/2017EP-3-EP PERFORMANCE INDICATOR VERIFICATION11, 2, 3 IPDrill/Exercise Performance71151-EP0103/06/201703/10/20171, 2, 3 IPERO Readiness71151-EP0203/06/201703/10/20171, 2, 3 IPAlert & Notification System Reliability71151-EP0303/06/201703/10/2017EP2-BIENNIAL EP EXERCISE INSPECTION41, 2, 3 IPExercise Evaluation711140103/06/201703/10/201771111.08-INSERVICE INSPECTION UNIT 21 2 IPInservice Inspection Activities - PWR7111108P04/17/201704/28/2017This report does not include INPO and OUTAGE activities. This report shows only on-site and announced inspection procedures.