IR 05000313/2012001

Annual Assessment Letter for Arkansas Nuclear One - Units 1 and 2 (Report 05000313/2012001 and 05000368/2012001)

ML120610412
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	03/05/2012
From:	Allen D NRC/RGN-IV/DRP/RPB-E
To:	Schwarz C Entergy Operations
References
IR-12-001
Download: ML120610412 (5)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION rch 5, 2012

SUBJECT:

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE -

UNITS 1 AND 2 (REPORT 05000313/2012001 AND 05000368/2012001)

Dear Mr. Schwarz:

On February 16, 2012, the NRC completed its end-of-cycle performance review of Arkansas Nuclear One, 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, 2011, through December 31, 2011. This letter informs you of the NRCs assessment of your facility during this period and its plans for future inspections at your facility. This performance review and enclosed inspection plan do not include security information. A separate letter will include the NRCs assessment of your performance in the Security Cornerstone and its security-related inspection plan.

The NRC determined that, overall, Arkansas Nuclear One, 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 Arkansas Nuclear One, Units 1 and 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 (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 NRC identifies substantive cross-cutting issues (SCCIs) to communicate a concern with the licensees performance in a cross-cutting area and to encourage the licensee to take appropriate actions before more significant performance issues emerge. The NRC identified a cross-cutting theme in the decision-making component of the human performance cross-cutting area. Specifically, a review of the findings revealed a common theme in the aspect of conservative assumptions in decision-making and adoption of requirements to demonstrate that the proposed action is safe in order to proceed rather than a requirement to demonstrate that it is unsafe in order to disapprove the action (H.1(b)). The NRC determined that an SCCI exists because the NRC has a concern with your staffs scope of effort and progress in addressing the cross-cutting theme. Based on a review of your actions in response to previous findings in this area, it has been determined that your actions were too narrowly focused and have not shown sustained improvement. The NRC will close this substantive cross-cutting issue when you demonstrate sustainable performance improvements as evidenced by effective implementation of an appropriate corrective action plan that results in no safety significant inspection findings and a notable reduction in the overall number of inspection findings with the same common theme. The NRC plans to perform focused baseline inspections for this theme after you notify us in writing of your readiness for inspection.

The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2013. Routine inspections performed by resident inspectors are not included in the inspection plan. 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.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC=s ARules 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) 200-1574 with any questions you have regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Donald B. Allen, Chief Project Branch E Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos. 05000313, 05000368 License Nos. DPR-51, NPF-6 Enclosure: Arkansas Nuclear One Inspection Report/Activity Plan cc: w/enclosure via Electronic Distribution