Press Release-IV-07-024, NRC Conducting Special Inspection at San Onofre Nuclear Station

Press Release-IV-07-024: NRC Conducting Special Inspection at San Onofre Nuclear Station

ML071790120
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	06/27/2007
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-07-024
Download: ML071790120 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Arlington TX 76011 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. IV-07-024 June 27, 2007 CONTACT: Victor Dricks 817-860-8128 E-mail: OPA4@nrc.gov NRC CONDUCTING SPECIAL INSPECTION AT SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR STATION The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV office in Arlington, Texas, is conducting a special inspection at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, located southeast of San Clemente, Calif. The purpose of the inspection is to review the circumstances related to a manual reactor shutdown of one of the two units at the plant on June 20. That shutdown was caused by a failed pipe connection in a non-safety related compressed air system. The compressed air system provides the power to operate many valves at the San Onofre plant. All air-operated safety valves are designed to fail in their safe position if they lose air. During the shutdown, all safety systems responded as expected. NRC resident inspectors responded to the event and have been monitoring the investigation and repair activities.

The special inspection team dispatched to the site has two inspectors from the NRCs Region IV office. Those inspectors are evaluating the licensees response to the event, the cause of the problem and corrective actions. The inspectors will also determine if there are any generic implications either for the other San Onofre unit or for other nuclear power plants. The special inspection will continue until the inspection goals are achieved.

The special inspection team will issue its report about 30-45 days after the completion of the inspection. The report will be available from the Region IV Office of Public Affairs or in the agencys online document library at: www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html.

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