PNO-IV-11-002, Columbia Generating Station, Notification of Unusual Event
| ML110980728 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 04/08/2011 |
| From: | Victor Dricks, David Proulx NRC/RGN-IV/DRP/RPB-A |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-11-002 | |
| Download: ML110980728 (1) | |
April 8, 2011 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE - PNO-IV-11-002 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 Energy Northwest Columbia Generating Station P.O. Box 968, Mail Drop 1023 Richland, WA 99352-0968 Docket: 50-397 License No. NPF-21 Licensee Emergency Classification X Notification of Unusual Event Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency Not Applicable
SUBJECT:
COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION NOTIFICATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT DESCRIPTION:
On April 7, 2011, at 4:07 p.m. (PDT), Columbia Generating Station declared a Notification of Unusual Event following a small release of flammable gas in the turbine building. A small amount of hydrogen gas in a pipe ignited for less than one second when workers cut into the pipe during maintenance activities. At the time of the event, the plant was in a cold shutdown condition for a planned refueling outage. There were no personnel injuries and no equipment was damaged.
Hydrogen gas is injected into the stator cooling water system during normal plant operation for corrosion control. The stator cooling water system cools the main electrical generator during plant operation. The stator cooling water system was drained prior to starting maintenance activities; however, a small pocket of hydrogen gas remained. The licensee evacuated the affected area of the plant. At 8:53 p.m. (PDT), after ensuring that the small fire was extinguished and the hydrogen gas had dissipated, the licensee terminated the Notification of Unusual Event.
An NRC inspector responded to the event to monitor and assess the licensees actions.
The NRC received notification of this occurrence from the licensee at 4:22 p.m. (PDT) on April 7, 2011. The State of Washington has been notified.
The licensee issued a press release, and there has been media and congressional interest in this event.
The information presented herein has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 1 p.m. CDT, on April 8, 2011.
This preliminary notification is issued for information only.
ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: ML110980728 CONTACTS: David Proulx Victor Dricks (817) 320-5686 (817) 917-1227 David.Proulx@nrc.gov Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov