IR 05000387/2009001

Annual Assessment Letter - Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (05000387-09-001 and 05000388-09-001)

ML090620789
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	03/04/2009
From:	Krohn P G Reactor Projects Region 1 Branch 4
To:	Spence W H PPL Corp
BELLAMY RR
References
IR-09-001
Download: ML090620789 (5)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I 475 ALLENDALE ROAD KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406-1415 March 4, 2009 Mr. William Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW16

Allentown, PA 18101-1179

SUBJECT: ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION (REPORT 05000387/2009001and 05000388/2009001)

Dear Mr. Spence:

On February 10, 2009, the NRC Staff completed its performance review of Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. Our technical staff reviewed performance indicators (PIs) for the most recent quarter and inspection results for the period from January 1 through December 31, 2008. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our assessment of your safety performance during this period and our plans for future inspections at your facility.

This performance review and enclosed inspection plan do not include security information. A separate letter designated and marked as "Official Use Only - Security Information" will include the security cornerstone review and resultant inspection plan.

Overall, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives. Plant performance for the most recent quarter, as well as for the first three quarters of the assessment cycle, was within the Licensee Response column of the NRC's Action Matrix, based on all inspection findings being classified as having very low safety significance (Green) and all PIs indicating performance at a level requiring no additional NRC oversight (Green). Therefore, we plan to conduct reactor oversight process (ROP) baseline inspections at your facility.

The enclosed inspection plan details the inspections, less those related to physical protection scheduled through June 30, 2010. In addition to the baseline inspections, we plan on conducting inspections concerning your independent spent fuel storage installation and power uprates. The inspection plan is provided to allow for the resolution of any scheduling conflicts and personnel availability issues well in advance of inspector arrival onsite. Routine resident inspections are not listed due to their ongoing and continuous nature. The inspections in the last nine months of the inspection plan are tentative and may be revised at the mid-cycle review.

The NRC also issued a potential chilling effect letter (CEL) to Susquehanna on January 28, 2009, regarding the safety conscious work environment (SCWE) at the site (ML090280115).

1 The NRC expressed concern with the progress and effectiveness of PPL actions during 2008 to address indications of a declining SCWE and negative employee perceptions, as it may impact 1 Designation in parentheses refers to an ADAMS ascension number. Documents referenced in this letter are publicly available using the ascension number in ADAMS. employee willingness to raise safety concerns and lead to a chilling effect at the site. PPL subsequently responded to the potential CEL on February 27, 2009 (ML090620124). The NRC is evaluating the adequacy of PPL's response, and will schedule a meeting to discuss the progress and results of PPL's work environment improvement activities. NRC will continue to monitor PPL's progress through the ROP baseline inspection program. Although not included in the current assessment period, the CEL will be a formal input to our upcoming assessment of plant performance for the period ending June 30, 2009, as described in Inspection Manual Chapter 0305, "Operating Reactor Assessment Program" (ML082770835).

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its

enclosure will be made 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).

If circumstances arise which cause us to change this inspection plan, we will contact you to discuss the changes as soon as possible. Please contact me at 610-337-5120 with any questions you may have regarding this letter or the inspection plan.

Sincerely,/RA/

Paul G. Krohn, Chief Division of Reactor Projects Projects Branch 4 Docket Nos. 50-387, 50-338

License Nos. NPF-14, NPF-22

Enclosure:

Susquehanna Inspection/Activity Plan cc w/encl:

C. Gannon, Vice President, Nuclear Operations R. Paley, General Manager, Plant Support R. Pagodin, General Manager, Nuclear Engineering T. Harpster, Vice President, Bell Bend Development

M. Crowthers, Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs R. Smith, General Manager, Site Preparedness and Services D. Brophy, Supervisor, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs J. Helsel, Manager, Training D. McGann, Manager, Quality Assurance J. Scopelliti, Community Relations Manager B. Snapp, Esq., Associate General Counsel, PPL Services Corp Supervisor, Document Control Services, PPL Susquehanna, LLC R. Osborne, Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

D. Allard, Director, PA Dept of Environmental Protection Board of Supervisors, Salem Township J. Johnsrud, National Energy Committee, Sierra Club E. Epstein, TMI-Alert (TMIA)

J. Powers, Dir, PA Office of Homeland Security R. French, Dir, PA Emergency Management Agency Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)