PNO-I-98-013, on 980417,alert Declared After Detection by Smell of Unidentified Odor,Initially Believed to Be Acetylene or Propane Gas,Resulting in Evacuation of Area. Fire Brigade Activated

PNO-I-98-013:on 980417,alert Declared After Detection by Smell of Unidentified Odor,Initially Believed to Be Acetylene or Propane Gas,Resulting in Evacuation of Area. Fire Brigade Activated

ML20206R745
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	04/17/1998
From:	Anderson C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-98-013, PNO-I-98-13, NUDOCS 9901200155
Download: ML20206R745 (1)

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April 17, 1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENC3 PNO-I-98-013 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 Liceisee Emergency Classification Peco Energy Company. Notification of Unusual Event Limerick 1 2 X Alert Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Site Area Emergency Dockets: 50-352,50-353 General Emergency Not Applicable

Subject:

ALERT DECLARED AT LIMERICK GENERATING STATION At 11:54 a.m., Limerick Generating Station declared an alert after detection by smell of an unidentified odor, initially believed to be acetylene or propane gas, in the condenser bay of Unit 1, resulting in an evacuation of that area. Unit 1 was in a refueling outage at the time; Unit 2 was operating at full power. The odor was later detected in the turbine hall, common to Unit 1 and Unit 2, resulting in evacuation of the common turbine hall. PECO Energy activated its fire brigade and partially staffed its emergency facilities as a precaution. This event caused no impact on the safety systems at either Limerick unit. The common control room for both units was unaffected; the control room ventilation system was isolated as a precaution.

As of 3:05 p.m., PECO had not been able to identify the source of the odor nor measure any toxic or flammable gases in the turbine hall using hand-held gas detectors. However, based on an extensive inspection of the turbine building which identified no detectable gases or odors, PECO

! Energy elected to secure from the Alert as permitted by its emergency preparedness procedures. Continued gas sampling and inspection in the turbine hall is planned.

According to the PA Department of Environmental Protection, at least one siren was inadvertently sounded in Chester County. Additionally, several j schools reportedly released students early. The DEP, PEMA or the counties did not make an "early dismissal" recommendation.

l NRC Region I and headquarters staffed the Incident Response Center and was in a monitoring mode. The commonwealth of Pennsylvania was notified of the event. PECO Energy issued a press release regarding the Alert.

Contact:

Cliff Anderson (610)337-5227

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9901200155 980417 PDR I&E pf/

PNO-I-98-013 PDR e