ML20248L067
| ML20248L067 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fort Saint Vrain  |
| Issue date: | 02/09/1978 |
| From: | Constable G, Sniezek J, Thornburg H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-78-026, PNO-78-26, NUDOCS 9806100401 | |
| Download: ML20248L067 (1) | |
Text
79/'(kh4%2 % Pa' M %G-PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION February 9, 1978 r
-C PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF. EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-26
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This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSI 3LE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility:
Public Service Company of Colorado Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Power Plant, DN 50-267 Platteville, Colorado
Subject:
RESUMPTION OF REACTOR OPERATIONS - FORT ST. VRAIN The Public Service Company of Colorado has been authorized by the NRC to operate the Fort St. Vrain plant up to a power level of 2% of rated power to dry the reactor core and stabilize Primary System chemistry.
Moisture was introduced into the core as a result of the event which occurred at Ft. St. Vrain on January 23,1978 (PNO-78-11 and 78-ll A).
Timely drying of the graphite, boron carbide, and fuel elements will help preclude degradation of these components.
Operation at 2% power for approximately one month will be required to dry the core.
This mode of operation was authorized under the terms of*an NRC Immediate' s
Action Letter issued on February 9,1978, and is contingent upon the m
licensee's repair / replacement of c,omponents that malfunctioned during h
i the January 23 event and increased surveillance of the Helium circulator
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bearing water storage tank level controllers.
The Immediate Action Letter precludes operation above 2% power without h
NRC approval and specifies certain prerequisites which must be met.
These prerequisites include modification of the Helium Circulator
.g Auxiliary System to permit remote isolation of the helium dryers from s
the control room and an augmented surveillance and testing program for the Helium Circulator Auxiliary System.
The NRC investigation of the January 23, 1978 event is continuing.
Special emphasis is being placed on fully evaluating the initiating cause of the event.
A press release will be issued by the NRC.
Contact:
GLConstable, IE x28019 JHSniezek, IE x28019 HDThornburg, IE x28019 Distribution:
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Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Kennedy S. J. Chilk, SECY C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky (ForDistribution)
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