PNO-I-97-008, 970123,manual Reactor Scram Initiated at FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant,When Decreasing Lake Intake Water Level Indication Noted.All Rods Inserted & Sys Functioned as Required
| ML20133P572 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 01/24/1997 |
| From: | Cowgill C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-97-008, PNO-I-97-8, NUDOCS 9701270025 | |
| Download: ML20133P572 (2) | |
y DCS No. 05000333970124 January 24,1997 PRELIMINARY NOTlFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-l-97-008 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region I staff in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this date.
Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification Nsw York Power Authority Notification of Unusual Event James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant Alert Oswego, New York Site Area Emergency Docket No.: 50-333 General Emergency Licensa No.: DPR-59 X Not Applicable Event No: 31644 Subjrct: REACTOR SCRAM AT THE FITZPATRICK NUCLEAR PLANT At 10:24 p.m. on January 23,1997, a manual reactor scram was initiated at the FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant when decreasing lake intake water levelindication was noted. All rods inserted and all systems functioned as rsquired. There were no engineered safety features actuations. While the lake intake water level dropped from 246' to 239', adequate water flow was available to support the multiple safety related pumps and the fire water pumps which take suction from this intake. NYPA procedures require declaration of an unusual event whsn intake level drops below 237' due to the pending loss of water to these pumps.
The initial indication of the cause of the decrease lake intake levelindication was ice fouling on the three circulating water screen intakes since weather conditions at the time were indicative of possible frazile ice formation, a condition which occurred several times in the past at FitzPatrick. Prior to the manual scram, optrators had reduced plant power to 57% to help reduce the rate of ice / debris accumulation on the screens.
Subssquent inspection and cleaning of the circulating water screens determined the cause of the fouling to be a larga eccumulation of 1 1/2" long stickleback fish.
At tha time of this event, two of the three circulating water screens had their drive motors tagged off for the conduct of a preventive maintenance activity. When NYPA initially attempted to clear these two screens just prior to the scram, tho high loading caused shear pins on the traveling screens to break; the lone operating screen also tripped prior to the manual scram. NYPA is currently planning a three to four day forced outage to
' repair the traveling screens, perform a post-trip review and cu.nplete other minor maintenance tasks.
-The resident inspectors have been following NYPA's review of this event. NYPA issued a press release
- regtrding this event. Region l Public Affairs is prepared to respond to media inquiries. The State of New York has bssn notified.
Contcct:
Curtis Cowgill (610) 337-5233 i
i 9701270025 970124
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PDR I&E I
s PNO-I-97-OOS PDR ;
l 270004 tE34 WI
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2 DISTRIBUTION:
OWFN TWFN LSI Mail: DCD Chrirman Jackson AEOD PDR Comm. Rogers IRM Comm. Dieus ACRS Comm. Diaz Comm. McGaffigan Jr.
OCAA NRC Ops Ctr OlP
EDO OE OSP NRR** (Phone Verif: Violet Bowden 415-1168 or 4151166)
Karen Cotton, NRR SECY l
Rrgional Offices FitzPatrick Resident Office Nsw York Power Authority
- Generd ht fw sordng PNs by FAX Region i Form 83 (Rsv. August 1996) l e
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