ML082460622
| ML082460622 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend, Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 09/02/2008 |
| From: | Division of Nuclear Materials Safety IV |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-2008-008 | |
| Download: ML082460622 (2) | |
Text
September 2, 2008 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-IV-2008-008 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 IV, Arlington, Texas, staff on this date.
Facility ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Waterford-3 Killona, LA. 70066 Docket:50-382 License No.NPF-38 Licensee Emergency Classification X Notification of Unusual Event Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency Not Applicable RIVER BEND STATION St. Francisville, LA 70775 Docket: 50-458 License No. NPF-47 Notification of Unusual Event Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable
SUBJECT:
NRC RESPONSE TO HURRICANE GUSTAV DESCRIPTION:
On August 31, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. (CDT), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV office activated its Incident Response Center in response to Hurricane Gustav. The agency entered the Monitoring Mode at the same time. Potentially affected sites included Waterford 3, Grand Gulf, River Bend Station, and the South Texas Project. Region IV had previously dispatched inspectors to each of those sites to monitor licensees hurricane preparations. Region IV staff members were also dispatched to FEMA Region 6 in Denton, Texas, for liaison purposes.
Based upon the projected wind speed, Waterford 3 initiated a plant shutdown on August 31, 2008, and declared a Notice of Unusual Event, in accordance with their procedures. On September 1, 2008, at approximately 10:00 a.m., (CDT), Hurricane Gustav made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, as a Category 2 hurricane with wind speeds at 110 mph. During its movement in a northwest direction, the storm traveled close to Waterford 3 and River Bend. The River Bend Station initiated a plant shutdown on September 1, 2008, at 6:02 p.m. (CDT), due to electrical grid conditions. The River Bend Station site sustained some damage to its non-safety related turbine building siding. Although similar wind speeds were observed at Waterford 3, there was no reported damage. Grand Gulf and South Texas Project had no impact from the storm.
The NRC has initiated Manual Chapter 1601 reviews to assess restart readiness for both River Bend Station and Waterford 3.
At 4:00 a.m. (CDT), September 2, 2008, the center of Tropical Depression Gustav was located at approximately 135 miles NW of Lafayette, Louisiana, which is approximately 126 miles NW of River Bend Station. The storm continues to travel NW, away from all Region IV reactor sites. Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast for the next 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.
In addition to monitoring the reactor sites in the vicinity of the storm, Region IV and the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi contacted radioactive material licensees prior to Gustavs landfall.
Region IV will continue to coordinate with the states. Region IV has received no reports regarding any material licensee impacts from the storm.
This preliminary notification is issued for information only. The Region IV office will continue staffing its Incident Response Center until weather conditions improve and no additional licensees could be affected.
ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: ML082460622 CONTACTS: Wayne Walker, (817) 276-6523, Wayne.Walker@NRC.GOV Geoff Miller, (817) 860-8144, Geoffrey.Miller@NRC.GOV