ML041130646
| ML041130646 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 04/22/2004 |
| From: | Diane Screnci, Neil Sheehan Office of Public Affairs Region I |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Press Release-I-04-023 | |
| Download: ML041130646 (2) | |
See also: see also:Press Release-I-04-023
Text
NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs, Region I
475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406
www.nrc.gov
No. I-04-023
April 22, 2004
CONTACT:
Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330
Email: opa1@nrc.gov
Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331
NRC TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL INSPECTION AT VERMONT YANKEE
TO LOOK INTO POTENTIALLY MISSING SPENT FUEL SEGMENTS
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has initiated a special inspection at the Vermont
Yankee nuclear power plant to look into potentially missing spent fuel segments at the facility.
The plant, which is operated by Entergy Nuclear, is located in Vernon, Vt.
NRC Resident Inspectors, while performing a spent fuel pool accountability inspection,
questioned plant officials regarding aspects of their procedures for the verification of older fuel
assemblies.
Vermont Yankee formally notified the NRC yesterday that two short spent fuel rod
segments were not in the spent fuel pool in the location specified in documents. The segments
are described as about 7 inches long and 17 inches long. Both are approximately the diameter of
a pencil. These segments had been placed in a special container at the bottom of the spent fuel
pool in 1980. The company has also told the agency it will undertake a comprehensive search of
the pool and perform a records review in an effort to determine the location of the missing
segments.
NRCs Resident Inspectors at Vermont Yankee have been closely following the
companys efforts through onsite inspection. NRC officials in the Region I office in King of
Prussia, Pa., and at its headquarters in Rockville, Md., have also been following this issue
closely.
This situation does not pose a threat to public health and safety as it is highly unlikely
that the material is in the public domain. Given the extensive array of radiation detectors at the
site, it is very probable that the potentially missing fuel fragments are in a location designed to
deal with radioactive waste. If they were removed from the site, this could only have occurred in
heavily shielded, sealed containers directed to other controlled, safe locations.
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The NRC has been, and will continue to be, in contact with the State of Vermont and
other officials to keep them apprised of the situation and our inspections.