ML091460654
| ML091460654 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 05/26/2009 |
| From: | NRC/RGN-III |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML091460654 (34) | |
Text
Palisades Annual Assessment Meeting CY2008 Reactor Oversight Program South Haven, MI May 26, 2009
Purpose of Todays Meeting A public forum for discussion of the licensees performance NRC will discuss the licensee performance issues identified in the annual assessment letter Licensee will be given the opportunity to respond to the information in the letter and inform the NRC of new or existing programs to maintain or improve their performance
Agenda Introduction About the NRC Review of the Reactor Oversight Process National Summary of Plant Performance Di i
f P li d
Pl t P f
Discussion of Palisades Plant Performance Licensee Response and Remarks NRC Closing Remarks Break NRC available to address public questions
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established by Congress in 1946 to encourage the use of nuclear power and regulate its safety In 1974 Congress divided the AEC into two parts U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Department of Energy The NRC is headed by a Chairman and four Who We Are The NRC is headed by a Chairman and four Commissioners, all appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for staggered five-year terms.
Commissioner Peter B. Lyons Commissioner Dale E. Klein Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko Commissioner Kristine L. Svinicki Vacant
Mark A. Satorius Regional Administrator Vacant Deputy Regional Administrator Division of Reactor Projects Cynthia D Pederson Director Division of Reactor Safety K Steven West Director Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Steven C Reynolds Director Region III Organization Cynthia D. Pederson, Director Gary Shear, Deputy Director K. Steven West, Director Vacant, Deputy Director Jack Giessner Branch 4 Chief Regional Specialists Palisades Resident Inspection Staff John Ellegood, Senior Resident Inspector Thomas Taylor, Resident Inspector Cammie Hernandez, Office Assistant Branch Staff Robert Lerch, Project Engineer Diana Betancourt, Reactor Engineer Frank Tran, Reactor Engineer Jacob Wingebach, Reactor Engineer Steven C. Reynolds, Director Vacant, Deputy Director Regional Specialists
NRC Representatives Cynthia Pederson, DRP Director (630) 829-9600 Jack Giessner, Branch Chief (630) 829-9619 John Ellegood Senior Resident Inspector John Ellegood, Senior Resident Inspector (269) 764-8971 Thomas Taylor, Resident Inspector (269) 764-8971 Mahesh Chawla, Project Manager, NRR (301) 415-8371
The NRC employs approximately 3,700 people NRC inspectors are assigned full-time to each nuclear power plant and fuel cycle facility Who We Are
Who We Are The NRC Mission:
To license and regulate the nations civilian use of b
d t
d i l byproduct, source and special nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment.
104 nuclear plants at 65 sites produce approximately 20%
of U.S. electricity Nuclear electrical generation in 2007 totaled 806 billion kilowatt-hours World-wide, there are 437 nuclear plants in 30 countries (as of 2007)
Nuclear Power Facts
Nuclear materials are used in medicine for cancer treatment and diagnosis
Nuclear materials are widely used in industry, such as in density gauges flow measurement Nuclear Materials Facts gauges, flow measurement devices, radiography devices and irradiators
Approximately 22,000 licenses are currently issued for academic, industrial, medical, and other uses of nuclear material
Nuclear fuel spends 4-6 years in the reactor until it cannot be used anymore
Fuel is removed from the reactor and placed in large water pools that ensure adequate cooling and shielding Nuclear Waste Facts
After time in the pool fuel can be moved to gas-filled steel and concrete casks that continue to ensure adequate cooling and shielding
If a license application is submitted, NRC would review the application and regulate a geologic repository
Establish Rules and Regulations
Evaluate license applications and issue licenses if appropriate
Provide oversight through inspection of facilities, enforcement of regulatory NRC Primary Functions facilities, enforcement of regulatory violations, and evaluation of industry operational experience
Conduct research to provide technical support for regulatory decisions
Respond to events and emergencies at licensed facilities
NRC Regulatory Functions What We Regulate
Nuclear Reactors
Commercial power, research, test, and new reactor designs
Nuclear Material
Reactor fuel, radioactive t
i l f di l i d t i l What We DONT Regulate
Nuclear Weapons
Military Reactors
Space Vehicle Reactors
Naturally Occurring Radon or X-rays material for medical, industrial, and academic uses
Nuclear Waste
Transportation, storage, disposal, and facility decommissioning
Nuclear Security
Facility physical security y
These are regulated by other federal agencies
Oversight and Inspection
Full-time Resident Inspectors at each nuclear plant and fuel facility
Regional Inspection Specialists
Assessment
Inspection results are assessed to provide a comprehensive picture of facility performance NRC dj t i ti ff t
How NRC Regulates
NRC adjusts inspection effort
Enforcement
NRC Issues Findings and Violations
Investigation of allegations of wrong-doing
Emergency Response
NRC Inspectors are on-call 24/7 to respond to events at any nuclear plant and fuel facility
NRC Performance Goals Safety Ensure adequate protection of public health and safety and the environment Security Ensure adequate protection in the secure use and management of radioactive materials
Defense-in-Depth design philosophy
Safety systems must be fully independent and redundant
Multiple physical barriers
Routine testing of licensee Emergency Plans
Ensure Compliance with Regulations and License
NRC inspectors perform daily on-site inspections Ensuring Nuclear Safety
Reporting requirements for certain plant issues and safety data
Maintenance Programs
Equipment reliability, unavailability, and failures are tracked and verified
Continuing Training
Nuclear Plant Operators are required to undergo continuing training to retain their Operating License
Well-armed and well-trained security forces
Surveillance and perimeter patrols Ensuring Nuclear Security
State-of-the-art site access equipment and controls
Physical barriers and detection zones
Intrusion detection systems and alarm stations
Reactor Oversight Process 3 Strategic Performance Areas are divided into 7 Cornerstones of Safety Cornerstones of Safety Inspection Findings and Performance Indicators are assigned to a Cornerstone Inspection Findings can be assigned a cross-cutting aspect (a causal factor for the issue)
Human Performance
Problem Identification and Resolution
Safety Conscious Work Environment Numerous findings with a common cross-cutting aspect results in a Substantive Cross-Cutting Issue
Reactor Oversight Process Strategic Performance Areas Safety Cornerstones Inspection Results Performance Indicator Results Significance Evaluation Significance Evaluation Action Matrix Regulatory
Response
Baseline Inspections Routine inspection effort performed, as a minimum, at all reactor sites Includes daily unannounced resident inspector activities and periodic regional team inspections Over 2,000 person-hours of direct inspection p
p effort annually Major focus areas Reactor safety Radiation safety Emergency preparedness Security
Special Inspections Inspection response to unusual or unexpected plant issues Conducted during an ongoing event or soon after Focus on the licensees evaluation and response to ongoing plant issues Beyond Baseline Inspections Supplemental Inspections Inspection response to White, Yellow, and Red inspection results and performance indicators Conducted upon completion of licensee actions to address the issue Focus on the licensees evaluation of the issue and adequacy of corrective actions
Inspection Findings and Performance Indicators Green Implement Baseline Inspection program White Yellow Yellow Red Significance Threshold Increasingly intrusive supplemental inspections to ensure causes are determined and corrected Significance Definitions Green:
Very Low safety significance White:
Low to Moderate safety significance Yellow Yellow:
Substantial safety significance Red:
High safety significance
Action Matrix Increased safety significance of findings and Licensee
Response
Regulatory
Response
Degraded Cornerstone Multiple /
Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone Unacceptable Performance Increased safety significance of findings and performance indicators results in movement to the right Movement to the right results in:
NRC supplemental inspections Increased management involvement Increased regulatory actions
Action Matrix Status at End of CY 2008 Licensee Response 86 Regulatory Response 14 Degraded Cornerstone 3
National Plant Performance Degraded Cornerstone 3
Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone 1
Unacceptable Performance 0
TOTAL 104
National Plant Performance Performance Indicator Results (end of CY 2008)
Green:
1762 White:
6 Yellow Yellow:
0 Red:
0 Total Inspection Findings (CY 2008)
Green:
776 White:
17 Yellow Yellow:
0 Red:
0
January 1 - December 31, 2008
Over 2,800 person-hours of direct inspection 1 White finding 28 Green findings
Mar 31 - Apr 18: Biennial Problem Identification & Resolution Inspection Inspection Report 2008006 Palisades Inspection Activities Inspection Report 2008006 No findings or violations
Aug 6 - Sep 25: Special Inspection - Containment Egress Issues Inspection Report 2008010 4 Green findings
Nov 3 - Dec 4: Triennial Component Design Bases Inspection Inspection Report 2008009 2 Green findings
January 1 - December 31, 2008 Jan 13: Operators manually tripped the reactor in response to the B main feed pump tripped due to a failed shaft driven lube oil pump Palisades Assessment Activities May 23: The reactor tripped due to the main generator tripped caused by a spurious actuation of a protective relay Aug 05: The licensee shut the plant down to replace several leaking Control Rod Drive seals
Plant performance for the first three quarters of the CY2008 assessment period was within the Licensee Response Column (Column I) of the Action Matrix; however, the fourth quarter was within the Regulatory 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Licensee
Response
Licensee
Response
Licensee
Response
Regulatory
Response
Palisades Assessment Results however, the fourth quarter was within the Regulatory Response Column (Column II) due to a White finding in Radiation Safety area Human Performance Substantive Cross-Cutting Issue:
The cross-cutting theme in the aspect of error prevention techniques opened in 2007 was closed A new cross-cutting theme in the aspect of documentation/procedures was opened CY 2008 Regulatory Actions:
1 White finding 28 Green findings
Palisades Assessment Summary January 1 - December 31, 2008 Entergy operated Palisades in a manner that preserved public health and safety One White finding in the Occupational Radiation Safety cornerstone was identified during the Safety cornerstone was identified during the CY2008 assessment period; however, all cornerstone objectives were met NRC plans baseline inspections at Palisades and a supplemental inspection (95001) in response to the White finding for the CY2009 assessment period
For general information or questions:
www.nrc.gov Select About NRC then Locations to contact Region III To report a safety concern:
Contacting the NRC o epo t a sa ety co ce (800) 695-7403 Allegation@nrc.gov To report an emergency:
(301) 816-5100 (collect calls accepted)
Reference Sources
Reactor Oversight Process Select Nuclear Reactors then Operating Reactors from NRC website menu
Public Electronic Reading Room Link on the left menu of NRC homepage Link on the left menu of NRC homepage
Public Document Room 1-800-397-4209 (Toll Free)
Region III Public Affairs Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662 Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663
Licensee Remarks Entergy Representatives Entergy Representatives
Licensee Remarks Closing Remarks NRC Closing Remarks NRC
Palisades Annual Assessment Meeting CY2008 Reactor Oversight Program Questions and Comments from members of the public Information on the NRC and our assessment processes is available at this meeting. We encourage you to take copies of this information home with you.