PNO-III-03-014, B: Palisades Loss of Shutdown Cooling Caused by Loss of Offsite Power (Second Update)

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PNO-III-03-014B: Palisades Loss of Shutdown Cooling Caused by Loss of Offsite Power (Second Update)
ML030870928
Person / Time
Site: Palisades Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 03/28/2003
From: Laura Kozak, Lennartz J
NRC/RGN-III
To:
References
PNO-III-03-014B
Download: ML030870928 (1)


March 28, 2003 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-III-03-014B 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 the Region III staff on this date.

Facility Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Licensee Emergency Classification Nuclear Management Corporation, LLC x Notification of Unusual Event Covert, MI 49043 Alert Docket: 50-255 Site Area Emergency License: DPR-20 General Emergency Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

PALISADES LOSS OF SHUTDOWN COOLING CAUSED BY LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER (SECOND UPDATE)

DESCRIPTION:

At 11:21 a.m. EST on March 25, 2003, the licensee declared an Alert under its emergency plan as a result of the loss of shutdown reactor cooling capability following a loss of offsite electrical power. The plant has been shut down since March 16, 2003, for refueling and maintenance.

The plants two emergency diesel generators started automatically, and plant safety system electrical loads were transferred to the diesel generators. After shutdown cooling was restored, the emergency classification was reduced to an Unusual Event at 12:31 p.m..

The licensee has identified the preliminary cause of the offsite electrical failure as damage to an underground cable during the installation of a sign post in the facilitys parking lot.

Electrical power was restored to the site with a temporary modification that connected conductors in an undamaged cable to a switchyard bus and the startup transformer. The licensee is developing plans for a permanent repair and intends to begin refueling activities.

The safety system electrical loads were transferred from the emergency diesel generators to the normal offsite power source, and the unusual event classification was terminated at 5:37 p.m. EST on March 27, 2003. The Region III (Chicago) Incident Response Center, which had remained in the monitoring phase since the event occurred, ended its monitoring at 5:53 p.m.

EST. NRC inspectors had also followed licensee activities onsite on an around the clock basis.

NRC inspectors have been dispatched to the site to conduct a special inspection into the circumstances around the event.

The information presented herein has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 1:00 p.m. on March 28, 2003.

CONTACTS: Laura Kozak Jay Lennartz (630) 829-9604 (269) 764-8971