IR 05000445/2015005
| ML15243A585 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 09/01/2015 |
| From: | Pruett T W NRC/RGN-IV/DRP |
| To: | Flores R G Luminant Generation Co |
| Ryan Alexander | |
| References | |
| IR 2015005 | |
| Download: ML15243A585 (7) | |
Text
September 1, 2015
Rafael Flores, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Attention: Regulatory Affairs Luminant Generation Company LLC Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant P.O. Box 1002 Glen Rose, TX 76043
SUBJECT: MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENT LETTER FOR COMANCHE PEAK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (REPORT 05000445/2015005 AND 05000446/2015005)
Dear Mr. Flores:
On August 12, 2015, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its mid-cycle performance review of Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2. The NRC reviewed the most recent quarterly performance indicators (PIs) in addition to inspection results and enforcement actions from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. 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 the performance at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2, during the most recent quarter was within the Regulatory Response Column of the NRC's Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix because of one or more greater-than-green Security Cornerstone inputs as described in our follow-up assessment letter on May 8, 2015. The specifics of the one or more greater-than-green Security Cornerstone inputs were further described in Inspection Report 05000445/2015406; 05000446/2015406, sent to you on April 28, 2015. On July 28, 2015, your staff notified the NRC of your readiness for it to conduct a supplemental inspection to review the actions taken to address the performance issues. Therefore, in addition to ROP baseline inspections, the NRC plans to conduct a supplemental inspection in accordance with the supplemental inspection procedure appropriate for the numbers and types of greater-than-green Security Cornerstone inputs. The date of the supplemental inspection has been determined and will be included with the inspection plan for security-related inspections, which will be sent via separate, non-publicly available correspondence. Per the guidance in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0305, "Operating Reactor Assessment Program," safety significant cornerstone inputs are considered in the Action Matrix assessment for four quarters after the final determination is made as to the significance of the finding/performance indicator. As noted in our May 8, 2015, letter to you, the one or more greater-than-green inputs to the Security Cornerstone resulted in our movement of Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2, to the Regulatory Response Column effective beginning the 3rd quarter 2014. In that your staff did not confirm its readiness for the NRC to complete the requisite supplemental inspection for these issues until recently, consistent with guidance in IMC 0305, Section 11.01.d. these inputs will be considered held-open in the current quarter until such time that the supplemental inspection is completed. The enclosed inspection plan lists the inspections scheduled through June 30, 2017. 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 end-of-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. In response to the accident at Fukushima, the Commission issued Order EA-12-049, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events," which requires licensees to develop, implement, and maintain guidance and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities following a beyond-design-basis external event. Additionally, the Commission issued Order EA-12-051, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation," which requires licensees to have a reliable means of remotely monitoring wide-range Spent Fuel Pool levels to support effective prioritization of event mitigation and recovery actions in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. The NRC is conducting audits of licensee efforts towards compliance with these Orders. The audit has been completed at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, and the information gathered will aid staff in development of the ultimate Safety Evaluation for the site. After the NRC staff receives the Final Compliance letter for the site, the Final Safety Evaluation will be issued. Then, the NRC staff will confirm through inspections the full implementation of the orders mentioned above by performing Temporary Instruction 2515/191, "Inspection of the Implementation of Mitigating Strategies and Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation Orders and Emergency Preparedness Communication/Staffing/Multi-Unit Dose Assessment Plans." 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 Ryan Alexander at (817) 200-1195 with any questions you have regarding this letter.
Sincerely,/RA/
Troy Pruett, Director Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-445; 50-446 License Nos.: NPF-87; NPF-89
Enclosure:
Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Inspection/Activity Plan