A non-cited violation (
NCV) was identified for implementing a change which decreased the effectiveness of the
Emergency Plan without prior NRC approval, contrary to the requirements of
10 CFR 50.54(q). The change concerned an emergency action level applicable to the inability to monitor a significant
transient in progress. The licensee entered this issue into its corrective action program for resolution. The finding was evaluated under the NRCs
Enforcement Policy using the traditional enforcement process because licensee reductions in the effectiveness of its
emergency plan impact the regulatory process. This finding is more than minor because it could have resulted in failure to accurately declare a Site Area Emergency under certain conditions. The finding was determined to be a
Severity Level IV NCV because it involved licensee failure to meet an emergency planning requirement (i.e.,
10 CFR 50.54(q)) not directly related to assessment or notification (Section 1EP4)
