IR 05000263/2011502

IR 05000263-11-502(DRS); 08/22/2011 – 08/26/2011; Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant; Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection

ML11286A297
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	10/06/2011
From:	Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III
To:	O'Connor T Northern States Power Co
References
IR-11-502
Download: ML11286A297 (13)

Text

October 6, 2011

SUBJECT:

MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT BASELINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BIENNIAL EXERCISE INSPECTION REPORT 05000263/2011502

Dear Mr. OConnor:

On August 26, 2011, the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed a Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise inspection at your Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The enclosed inspection report documents the inspection findings which were discussed on August 26, 2011, with Mr. and other members of your staff.

The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.

The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel.

Based on the results of this inspection, there were no findings of significance identified during this inspection.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure 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), accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-263 License No. DPR-22

Enclosure:

Inspection Report 05000263/2011502(DRS)

w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

Letter to Timothy from Hironori Peterson dated October 6, 2011.

SUBJECT:

MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT BASELINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BIENNIAL EXERCISE INSPECTION REPORT 05000263/2011502

REGION III==

Docket No:

50-263 License No:

DPR-22 Report No:

05000263/2011502(DRS)

Licensee:

Northern States Power Company, Minnesota Facility:

Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Location:

Monticello, MN Dates:

August 22 through 26, 2011 Inspectors:

R. Jickling, Sr. Emergency Preparedness Inspector

J. Beavers, Emergency Preparedness Inspector

S. Thomas, Sr. Resident Inspector

S. Burton, Sr. Resident Inspector Approved by:

Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

IR 05000263/2011502(DRS); 08/22/2011 - 08/26/2011; Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant;

Baseline Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Inspection.

This report covers a one week period of announced baseline inspection by two regional inspectors and two resident inspectors. The significance of most findings is indicated by their color (Green, White, Yellow, Red) using Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0609, Significance Determination Process (SDP). Findings for which the SDP does not apply may be Green or be assigned a severity level after NRC management review. The NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors is described in NUREG-1649, Reactor Oversight Process, Revision 4, dated December 2006.

A.

NRC-Identified

and Self-Revealed Findings

No findings were identified.

B.

No violations were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

1.

REACTOR SAFETY

REPORT DETAILS

Cornerstone: Emergency Preparedness

1EP1 Exercise Evaluation

.1

a.

Exercise Evaluation The inspectors reviewed the August 23, 2011, biennial emergency preparedness exercises objectives and scenario to ensure that the exercise would acceptably test major elements of the licensees emergency plan and to verify that the exercises simulated problems provided an acceptable framework to support demonstration of the licensees capability to implement its plan. The inspectors also reviewed records of other drills and exercises conducted in 2009, 2010, and 2011, to verify that those drills scenarios were sufficiently different from the scenario used in the August 23, 2011, exercise.

Inspection Scope The inspectors evaluated the licensees exercise performance, focusing on the risk significant activities of emergency classification, notification, and protective action decision making, implementation of accident mitigation strategies, and correction of past exercise weaknesses in the following emergency response facilities:

• Control Room Simulator (CRS);

• Technical Support Center (TSC);

• Operations Support Center (OSC); and

• Emergency Operations Facility (EOF).

The inspectors also assessed the licensees recognition of abnormal plant conditions, transfer of responsibilities between facilities, internal communications, interfaces with offsite officials, readiness of emergency facilities and related equipment, and overall implementation of the licensees emergency plan.

The inspectors attended post-exercise critiques in the CRS, OSC, TSC and EOF to evaluate the licensees initial self-assessment of its exercise performance. The inspectors later met with the licensees lead exercise evaluators and managers to obtain the licensees findings and assessments of its exercise participants performances.

These self-assessments were then compared with the inspectors independent observations and assessments to assess the licensees ability to adequately critique its exercise performance. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

This exercise evaluation inspection constituted one sample as defined in Inspection Procedure (IP) 71114.01-05.

b.

No findings were identified.

Findings

4OA1 Performance Indicator (PI) Verification

.1

a.

Drill/Exercise Performance The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Drill/Exercise Performance PI for the period from the second quarter 2010 through second quarter 2011. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used. The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the performance indicator to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI, assessments of PI opportunities during pre-designated control room simulator training sessions, and performance during other drills. Documents reviewed are listed in the to this report.

Inspection Scope This inspection constituted one drill/exercise performance sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b.

No findings were identified.

Findings

.2 a.

Emergency Response Organization Drill Participation The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Drill Participation PI for the period from the second quarter 2010 through second quarter 2011. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the NEI Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used.

The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI; performance during the 2010 and 2011 drills; and revisions of the roster of personnel assigned to key emergency response organization positions. Documents reviewed are listed in the to this report.

Inspection Scope This inspection constituted one ERO drill participation sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b.

No findings were identified.

Findings

.3 a.

Alert and Notification System The inspectors sampled licensee submittals for the Alert and Notification System (ANS)

PI for the period from the second quarter 2010 through second quarter 2011. To determine the accuracy of the PI data reported during those periods, PI definitions and guidance contained in the NEI Document 99-02, Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline, Revision 6, were used. The inspectors reviewed the licensees records associated with the PI to verify that the licensee accurately reported the indicator in accordance with relevant procedures and the NEI guidance. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed licensee records and processes including procedural guidance on assessing opportunities for the PI and results of periodic scheduled ANS operability tests. Documents reviewed are listed in the Attachment to this report.

Inspection Scope This inspection constituted one alert and notification system sample as defined in IP 71151-05.

b.

No findings were identified.

Findings 4OA6

.1 Management Meetings

On August 26, 2011, the inspectors presented the biennial exercise inspection results to Mr. T. OConnor and other members of the licensee staff. The licensee acknowledged the issues presented. The inspectors confirmed that none of the potential report input discussed was considered proprietary.

.2 On August 26, 2011, the inspector summarized the NRC's preliminary exercise

inspection conclusions at a public and media briefings hosted by Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Region V Field Office staff at the Wright County Government Center in Buffalo, Minnesota.

Public and Media Briefing ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

T. OConnor, Site Vice President

Licensee

J. Grubb, Plant Manager

J. Callahan, Corporate Emergency Preparedness Manager

J. Davis, Tagging Manager

J. Earl, Emergency Preparedness Manager

W. Flaga, Maintenance Support Supervisor

G. Holthaus, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

S. OConnor, Regulatory Affairs Analyst

A. Ward, Business Support Manager

T. Witschen, Production Planning Manager

S. Thomas, Senior Resident Inspector

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

LIST OF ITEMS

OPENED, CLOSED AND DISCUSSED

None Opened, Closed and