IR 05000321/2014001

Annual Assessment Letter for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Unit 1 and Unit 2 (NRC Inspection Report 05000321/2014001 and 05000366/2014001)

ML15063A573
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	03/04/2015
From:	Austin J D NRC/RGN-II/DRP/RPB4
To:	Vineyard D R Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
IR 2014001
Download: ML15063A573 (5)

Text

March 4, 2015

Mr. David Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant 11028 Hatch Parkway North Baxley, GA 31513

SUBJECT: ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 (NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000321/2014001 AND 05000366/2014001)

Dear Mr. Vineyard:

On February 12, 2015, the NRC completed its end-of-cycle performance review of Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2. 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 that overall, Hatch Units 1 and 2 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives. The NRC determined the performance at Hatch Unit 1 and Unit 2 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 safety significance (i.e., Green), 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, 2016. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. In addition to baseline inspections, the NRC will conduct reactor operator initial licensing examinations. 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 will occur in the Fall of 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 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 404-997-4482 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,/RA/ Joseph Austin, Acting Chief Reactor Projects Branch 2 Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-321, 50-366 License Nos.: NPF-57, NPF-5

Enclosure:

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