ML20083G828

Ro:On 831224,fire Protection Tank a & B Levels Fell to Approx 232,000 Gallons Each Due to Extreme Cold,Causing Cooling Tower 1C Fire Protection Sys to Fail.On 831226,tank Levels Found Below Min Due to Personnel Error

ML20083G828
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	12/27/1983
From:	Hairston W ALABAMA POWER CO.
To:	James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
References
FNP-83-1348, NUDOCS 8401040359
Download: ML20083G828 (1)

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Al;bama Power Company J. M. FtrtJy Nucleir Plant P. O. Dr wer 470 Ashford. Alibima 36312 Telephone 205 899-5156 FNP-83-1348 h

Alabama Pbwer qDEC 29 Pj2 ** gesouthemdect:csystem December 27, 1983 Mr. J. P. O'Reilly, Director U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 101 Marietta Street, N. W.

Suite 3100 Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Dear Mr. O'Reilly:

This is to confirm the telephone calls to Mr. Gould (NRC duty officer, Bethesda) at 1335 on Decemt,er 25, 1983 and to Mr. Butcher (NRC) at 0930 on December 27, 1983 by Mr. D. N. Morey (APCO) in accordance with Unit I and 2 Technical Specification 3.7.11.1.

Fire Protection Tank A and B levels fell to approximately 232,000 gallons each at 2017 on 12/24/83 due to an inadvertent actuation of the fire protection deluge system on cooling tower IC. Technical Specifications require a minimum tank level of 250,000 gallons. A backup fire suppression system was established by 1810 on 12/25/83 and both tank levels were returned to minimum acceptable Technical Specification levels by 2110 on 12/25/83.

This event occurred due to extreme cold, which caused the IC cooling tower's fire protection system to fail, thereby deluging the tower.

While taking the 2000 readings on 12/26/83, the system operator found the levels of Fire Protection Tanks A and B to be 25.5 feet. Technical Specifications require a minimum tank level of 250,000 gallons (26 feet).

The tank levels were returned to minimum acceptable Technical Specification levels at 2110 on 12/26/83.

This event occurred because the system operator assigned responsibility for keeping the Fire Protection Tanks filled did not take timely action to maintain minimum level in the tanks. The Fire Protection Tanks were being manually filled due to the extreme cold conditions.

Further details will be provided in the followup report.

Sincerely yours, g.) . /Y' V W. G. Hairston, III WGH/MKG:rhh cc: H. O. Thrash Y-W. G. Ware Offl g , COP D. N. Morey File

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__L0 8401040359 831227 PDR ADOCK 05000348 B PDR /Q

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