IR 05000269/2014001

Annual Assessment Letter for Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2 and 3, (NRC Inspection Report 05000269/2014001, 05000270/2014001 and 05000287/2014001)

ML15063A483
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee
Issue date:	03/04/2015
From:	Ehrhardt F J NRC/RGN-III/DRP/B1
To:	Batson S Duke Energy Corp
References
IR 2014001
Download: ML15063A483 (6)

Text

March 4, 2015

Mr. Scott Batson Site Vice President Duke Energy Corporation Oconee Nuclear Station 7800 Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672-0752

SUBJECT: ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION UNITS 1, 2 AND 3 (NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000269/2014001, 05000270/2014001 AND 05000287/2014001)

Dear Mr. Batson:

On February 10, 2015, the NRC completed its end-of-cycle performance review of the Oconee Nuclear 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 January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. 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 the performance at Oconee 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 White inspection finding in the initiating events cornerstone. On January 20, 2015, your staff notified the NRC of your readiness for it to conduct a supplemental inspection to review the actions taken to address the performance issues. Therefore, in addition to ROP baseline inspections at your facility, the NRC conducted a supplemental inspection using Inspection Procedure 95001, "Supplemental Inspection for One or Two White Inputs in a Strategic Performance Area" during the week of February 23, 2015. The NRC determined the performance at Oconee Units 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 Oconee. The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2016. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. Additionally, the staff will continue its review of modifications associated with fire, tornado, and high energy line break mitigation. The inspections listed during the last nine months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the mid-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.

Additionally, an NRC audit of licensee efforts towards compliance with Order EA-12-049, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events," and Order EA-12-051, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation" is ongoing for various sites. The audit includes an onsite visit for the NRC staff to evaluate mitigating strategies as described in the licensee submittals, and to receive and review information relative to associated open items. This onsite audit will occur prior to the first unit at the site achieving compliance with the Orders and the audit will aid NRC staff in developing a final Safety Evaluation for the site. The audit at your site has been scheduled for the week of July 20, 2015. A site-specific audit plan for the visit will be provided in advance to allow sufficient time for preparations. 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 NRC's documentation 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 404-997-4611 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,/RA/ Frank Ehrhardt, Chief Reactor Projects Branch 1 Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-269, 50-270, 50-287 License Nos.: DPR-38, DPR-47, DPR-55

Enclosure:

Oconee Inspection/Activity Plan (03/01/2015 - 06/30/2016) cc distribution via ListServ