ML18136A440
| ML18136A440 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Surry, North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 01/04/1980 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Proffitt W VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001290315 | |
| Download: ML18136A440 (5) | |
Text
e UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II 10.1 MARIETTA ST., N.W., SUITE 3100 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 JAN 4 1980 Virginia Electric and Pow~r Company Attn:
W. L. Proffitt Sentor Vice President, Power
. P. O. Box 26666 Richmond, Virginia Gentlemen:
23261 e
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possible significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office~
Enclosures:
- 1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-01
- 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices Sincerely,
~~~~---
James P. O'Reilly Director 8001~90
Virginia Electric and Power Company cc w/encl:
W.R. Cartwright, Station Manager Post Office Box 402 Mineral, Virginia 23117 P. G. Perry Senior Resident Engineer Post Office Box 38 Mineral, Virginia 23117
, W. L. Stewart, Manager Post Office Box 315 Surry, Virginia 23883 JAN 4 1980 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 January 4, 1980 SSINS NO.:
6870 Accessions No.:
7910250523 IE Information Notice No. 80-01 FUEL HANDLING EVENTS Description of Circumstances:
Two recent fuel handling events at the Pilgrim Nuclear Station have been reported to the NRC wherein there were no interlocks to control or limit the movement of nuclear fuel in the reactor building.
The first event occurred on December 11, 1979 when a spent fuel assembly was inadvertently raised high enough in the fuel pool to activate area radiation alarms.
The reactor building overhead crane was being used to move new fuel from the inspection rig to the high density storage racks in the fuel pool.
After the release of a new fuel element, the lifting hook became caught between the lifting bail and the assembly channel of a spent fuel assembly.
The operating personnel were unaware of the fact that the spent fuel assembly was being raised until radiation alarms sounded.
The operators quickly lowered the assembly to clear the radiation alarms and ultimately placed it in a storage position.
The licensee subsequently increased the administrative controls on fuel handling activities by assigning more personnel and limiting concurrent duties.
On December 17, 1979, the second fuel handling event occurred at Pilgrim Nuclear Station when a new fuel assembly was dropped while it was being transferred to its storage location in the spent fuel pool.
The assembly was being transported with the reactor building overhead crane when it struck the top edge of the high density fuel racks and the latching device on the auxiliary hook failed to retain the fuel assembly lifting bail in the hook.
The assembly fell, striking the lifting bails on four spent fuel elements, then coming to rest on the top of the fuel racks. It has since been moved to a spent fuel preparation stand; an inspection of the assembly will be made at the site and then it will be returned to the supplier for further evaluation.
A visual inspection of the four spent assemblies was performed and there was no apparent damage.
Samples of the fuel pool water were analyzed and no change in activity levels was detected.
The licensee has terminated the use of contract personnel and will use members of the plant operating staff for future fuel handling operations; a licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO) will be responsible for proper alignment of the crane before fuel movement and a Reactor Engineer will supervise all fuel movement.
All fuel movement will be limited to the minimum speed of the crane.
The events described above occurred at a boiling water reactor; however, the potential for raising a spent fuel element with the new _fuel elevator may also exist at some pressurized water reactors.
Movement of spent fuel by cranes or
IE Information Notice No. 80-01 e
January 4, 1980 Page 2 of 2 mechanisms intended for use on new fuel, which are not interlocked to prevent withdrawal from the pool, have the potential for producing extremely high dose rates or resulting in fuel damage.
This IE Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibl:~
significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff. It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requeste4 at this time.
If NRC evaluations so indicate; further licensee actions may be requested or r~quired.
No written response to this IE Information Notice is required.
If you have any questions.regarding this matter please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
/
IE Information Notice No. 80-01 January 4, 1980 Information Notice No. 80-01 79-37 79_-36 79-35 79-34 79-33 79-32 79-31
~ 79-30 79-29 79-28 79-27 79-12A RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Subject Fuel Handling Events Cracking in Low Pressure Turbine Discs Computer Code Defect in Stress Analysis of Piping Elbow Date Issued 1/4/80 12/28/79 12/31/79 Control of Maintenance 12/31/79 and Essential Equipment Inadequate Design of 12/27/79 Safety-Related Heat Exchangers Improper Closure of 12/21/79 Primary Containment Access Hatches Separation of Electrical 12/21/79 Cables for HPCI and ADS Use of Incorrect Amplified 12/13/79 Response Spectra (ARS)
Reporting of Defects and 12/6/79 Noncompliance, 10 CFR Part 21.
Loss of NonSafety-Related 11/16/79 Reactor Coolant System Instrumentation During Operation Overloading of Structural 11/16/79 Elements Due to Pipe Support Loads Steam Generator Tube 11/16/79 Ruptures At Two PWR Facilities Attempted Damage To New 11/9/79 Fuel Assemblies Enclosure Issued To All power reactor OLs and CPs All power reactor OLs and CPs All power reactor OLs and CPs All power reactor facilities with an OL or CP
- All holders of power reactor OLs and CPs All power reactor facilities holding OLs and CPs All power reactor facilities holding OLs and CPs All holders of power reactor OLs and CPs All power reactor facilities holding OLs and CPs and vendors inspected by LCVIP All power reactor facilities holding OLs or CPs All power reactor facilities with an OL or CP All power reactor facilities holding OLs and CPs All Fuel Facilities, research reactors, and power reactors with an Of, or CP