ML20248L049

PNO-78-041:on 780306,while Inspecting for Possible Loose Parts in SG Upper Plenum,Licensee Found Burnable Poison Rod Coupling Assembly.Reactor Shut Down & Preparations Being Made for Reactor Vessel Head Removal & Insp

ML20248L049
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	03/07/1978
From:	Klingler G, Nolan F, Sniezek J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
References
PNO-78-041, PNO-78-41, NUDOCS 9806100389
Download: ML20248L049 (1)

Text

j 0 S 0 4]Al @ U & (( W 3 O f.] f

,P PRELIMINARY NOTIFISTION h, I

'r March 7, 1978 '

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-78-41 l

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation

'and it basically all that is known by IE staff as of this date.

FACILITY: Florida Power Corporation Crystal River Unit 3 Docket No. 50-302 Citrus County, Florida

SUBJECT:

FIXED BURNABLE POISON R0D COUPLING ASSEMBLY FAILURE I On March 6, while inspecting for possible loose parts in the steam i generator upper plenum, Florida Power Corporation (FPC) found a Burnable l Poison Rod Coupling Assembly. This coupling apparently broke loose from l' ,

one of the Burnable Poison Rod Assemblies and was carried in the reactor '

coolant stream to the steam generator. Sixty-eight' Burnable Poison Rod -

m Assemblies are normally locked in fuel assemblies to provide flux shaping

• during early stages of the fuel cycle. The reactor is shut down and preparations are being mode for reactor vessel head removal and inspec-r' tion. The licensee has not identified any fuel damage. The extent of sl y/

the shutdown is not known; however, Region II estimates a shutdown in 8 excess of 4 weeks.

Media interest is anticipated due to a possible extended plant shutdown O' during the coal strike. A news release will be issued by the licensee. Q The State of Florida has been informed. An NRC inspector is onsite.

Region II (Atlanta) received notification of this occurrence by telephone 4 from station management at 8:10 a.m. on March 7,- 1978. This information is current as of 9:00 a.m. on March 7.

Contact:

GKlingler, IE x28019 FNolan, IE x28019 JSniezek, IE x28019 Distribution: Transmitted.St/,'L[

Chairman Hendrie Comissione'r Bradford Commissioner Kennedy S. J. Chilk, SECY C. C. Vammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)

Transmitted: MNBB l' d PBldg/bf E. Volgenau IE L. V. Gossick, EDO E. G. Case,'NRR Region EC , /lJJ S. H. Hanauer, EDO J. J. Fouchard, PA d, 'A' SS Bldg /.') / (MAIL)

R. Hartfield, MIPC . v C. V. Smith, NMSS T. J. McTiernan, 0IA R. G. Ryan., OSP R. Minogue, SD H. K. Shapar, ELD

- __u PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION 9e061003e9 790307 PDR 14E PNO-78-041 PDR

.