ML072530970
| ML072530970 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  |
| Issue date: | 09/10/2007 |
| From: | Division Reactor Projects II |
| To: | |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2008-0016 PNO-II-07-009 | |
| Download: ML072530970 (1) | |
Text
September 10, 2007PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-II-07-009This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of possible safety or public interestsignificance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region II staff (Atlanta, Georgia) on this date.FacilityLicensee Emergency ClassificationSouthern CompanyNotification of Unusual EventJoseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant Unit 1Alert Columbia, ALSite Area Emergency Dockets/License: 50-348 & 50-364/NPF-2 & NPF-8 General EmergencyXNot Applicable
Subject:
Component Cooling Water Pump Breaker FailuresOn September 4, following planned maintenance on the 1B component cooling water (CCW) pump, FarleyNuclear Plant encountered a problem when testing the functional relationships between the Unit 1 1B CCW pump (Train 'B') and the 1C CCW pump (Train 'A'). When the licensee attempted to manually start the 1C CCW pump from the control room, the Cutler-Hammer breaker failed to close. The licensee replaced the breaker with a spare Allis-Chalmers breaker. Additionally, the licensee tested the functionality between the 1B CCW pump and the 1A CCW pump (Train'B'). The 1A CCW pump Allis-Chalmers breaker also failed to close when manually started from the control room. Initial troubleshooting activities for the 1A CCW concluded all breaker interlocks were in the correct status with proper continuity. The breaker was successfully closed following troubleshooting. The licensee subsequently replaced the breaker with another Allis-Chalmers breaker. The original breakers for the 1A and 1C CCW pumps have been quarantined for further troubleshooting. At this time, no definitive root cause has been determined for either of the failed breakers and all CCW pumps and associated components currently installed are considered operable. Similar testing has recently been accomplished satisfactorily on the Unit 2 CCW breakers. The licensee has been in the process of replacing the older Allis-Chalmer breakers with Cutler-Hammer over the previous eight months.Through the MD 8.3 process, Region II determined that the failure met both the deterministic and risk criteriato warrant a Special Inspection (SI) or Augmented Inspection Team (AIT). Based on Farley's previous problems involving repetitive breaker failures, issues involving the thoroughness of previous breaker related root cause evaluations, and the risk associated with the CCW system at Farley, the staff determined that an AIT is warranted.The NRC will send an AIT to Farley Nuclear Plant on September 10, 2007, to assess the circumstancessurrounding the breaker failures. A public exit will be scheduled at the end of the inspection.Region II received initial notification of this occurrence by telephone from the Resident Inspectors. Thisinformation presented herein has been discussed with the licensee/State and is current as of 1:00 pm, September 10, 2007.CONTACT:Scott Shaeffer404-562-4521Gerald Wilson404-562-4613