ML12209A019
| ML12209A019 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 07/24/2012 |
| From: | Southern California Edison Co |
| To: | Office of Information Services |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2012-0220 | |
| Download: ML12209A019 (1) | |
Text
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Media ('ontact: Mledia Relations. *626) 3*2-2-255 San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Provides Status Update ROSEMEAD, Calif. March 2. 2012 - Southern California Edison (SCE) Continues to perfirm extensive testing and inspections ofIhe steam generators at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stalion.
Unit 2 was taken out of service on Jan. 9 fOr a planned refueling ouuage. inspections and inaimenance, During these inspections. SCE engineers fomd somc isolated areas of ubc. wear. This resulted in the plugging of approximately onepercent o" the tubes preventively in Unit 2. Tihat amount is well within the extra tube allowance fbr each steam generator to account for wear and other routine operational developments.
On Jan, 3 1. a water leak was detected in one of the Unit 3 steam generator tubes. The unit was safely taken off line. Initial analysis from the inspections does not indicate any correlation between the leak in Unit 3 and the tube wear seen in Unit 2. However, SCE has decided not to restart Unit 2 until it is satisfied that the issue with Unit. 3 will not occur in Unit 2. This is a thoughtful process that requires deliberate and rneiculous analysis. Based on that analysis, the utilitv will identify any other tests or decisions that may he necessary as a result.
"Nuclear safety is our top priority," said Pete Dietrich, SCE senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. "-Everythingwe do -- from normal plant operations and routine refueling outages to spccializ.ed repairs and e(luipmentreplaeclnent.*-- is done with tle utmost care to protect the health and well-being of the community and our enphoyces. There is no timeline on safety."
During the Unit 2 planned outage, SCE engineers performed inspection, maintenance and repair work, including replacing the reactor head and modilfying the steam turbine with new high-pressure turbine comrponcnts thatl run nmore eficientl y. Approxi matelv half1thc reactor fuel also was replaced with new fuel.
Inspection, testii o and analyd.sis continuC in Unit 3.
SCE is c=nitied to the sAte operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating, Station and will inot return the plant's generating units to senrice until the company is satisfied it is safe to do so.
About Southern California Edison An Edison International (N YSF:[,IX company, Southern Cali fnrniia F*Edison is onC of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer ecCot.L its in a 50.0()O-sqLN1arc-Ciilc service area within Ccntrr-l. Coastal and Southern Cali lboria,