ML051820371
| ML051820371 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 07/01/2005 |
| From: | Jason White NRC Region 1 |
| To: | |
| Jackson D RGN-I/DRP/PB2/610-337-5306 | |
| References | |
| DCS 0500033050630 PNO-I-05-020 | |
| Download: ML051820371 (3) | |
Text
DCS No.: 05000333050630 Date: July 1, 2005 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-I-05-020 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.
Facility Entergy Nuclear Northeast Licensee Emergency Classification James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant X Notification of Unusual Event Lycoming, New York 13093 _ Alert Site Area Emergency Docket: 50-333 General Emergency License: DPR-059 __ Not Applicable
SUBJECT:
SHUTDOWN EXPECTED TO BE GREATER THAN 72 HOURS TO REPAIR A SMALL CRACK IN THE TORUS PORTION OF PRIMARY CONTAINMENT Entergys James A. FitzPatrick plant declared the Primary Containment inoperable due to a small crack located below the waterline of the torus at 7:29 p.m. on June 30, 2005. The plant began a Technical Specification required shutdown to cold shutdown. In addition, Entergy declared a Notification of Unusual Event (NOUE) in accordance with EAL 9.1.2, for the Potential Loss of Containment. The crack was initially identified during a walk down associated with an unrelated surveillance test on June 27, 2005. The crack had an active weeping leak of torus water at a rate of one to two drops per minute to the torus room floor.
The crack was determined to be X shaped with a major dimension of 4.6 inches in length.
Entergy developed a reasonable expectation of operability shortly after the discovery of the crack. This initial evaluation identified a maximum acceptable crack length under required design conditions. The maximum acceptable crack length that was calculated was 16.8 inches, therefore Entergy initially believed that the primary containment was operable. On June 29, 2005, it was determined that the high pressure coolant injection (HPCI) pump turbine exhaust was located near the crack in the torus. Entergy re-evaluated their operability evaluation, and determined that the torus and thus the primary containment were inoperable due to the potential for cyclic thermal stresses at the crack location caused by HPCI pump exhaust during a postulated Small Break LOCA.
As of 12:00 p.m. on July 1, 2005, the plant is in Mode 3 at 140 psig, and in the process of cooling down. Entergy plans to complete the plant cool down to Mode 4 by approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 1, 2005, and terminate the NOUE at that time.
The licensee currently plans to complete a code repair of the crack area and perform required testing of the repair prior to restart of the unit.
The Region 1 Public Affairs has been responding to media inquiries. The State of New York was notified. Entergy released a statement to the press during the evening of June 30, 2005, stating that a NOUE had been declared, the plant was being shutdown, and that a small leak exists in the torus.
Region 1 received initial notification of this occurrence by phone to the Resident Inspector by control room personnel at approximately 7:30 p.m. on June 30, 2005. The information presented herein has been discussed with the licensee, and is current as of 12:00 p.m. on July 1, 2005.
ADAMS Accession Number: ML051820371 CONTACT: John R. White (610) 337-5114
DISTRIBUTION: (PN Recipient List)
OWFN TWFN LST Chairman Meserve IRO PDR Comm. Dicus NMSS Comm. Diaz ACRS Comm. McGaffigan Jr. OIG Comm. Merrifield RES OIP NSIR OCA OGC OPA EDO OE NRR SECY Regional Offices By Fax:
DOT:Trans INPO NSAC RI Resident Office Licensee: ________________________
ML051820371 SISP Review Complete: ___DEJ____ (Reviewers Initials)
DOCUMENT NAME: E:\Filenet\ML051820371.wpd After declaring this document An Official Agency Record it will be released to the Public.
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE RI/ORA RI/ORA RI/DRP RI/DRP NAME RBores/SAM for DScrenci/DPS DJackson/DEJ BHolian/BEH DATE 07/01/05 07/01/05 07/01/05 07/01/05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Region I Form 83
(Rev. July 2, 2003)