PNO-IV-02-016, Alert Declared at Waterford 3 Because of Complications in Placing Normal Shutdown Cooling in Service
| ML020840609 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 03/25/2002 |
| From: | Thomas Farnholtz, William Jones NRC Region 4 |
| To: | Entergy Operations |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-02-016 | |
| Download: ML020840609 (1) | |
March 25,2002 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-IV-02-016 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 IV staff on this date.
Facility Licensee Emergency Classification Entergy Operations, Inc Notification of Unusual Event Waterford 3 X Alert 17265 River Road Site Area Emergency Killona, Louisiana 70066-0751 General Emergency Docket: 50-382 License No. NPF-38 Not Applicable
SUBJECT:
ALERT DECLARED AT WATERFORD 3 BECAUSE OF COMPLICATIONS IN PLACING NORMAL SHUTDOWN COOLING IN SERVICE DESCRIPTION:
On March 23, 2002, at 10:20 a.m. (CST) Entergy Operations, Inc. declared an ALERT at Waterford 3 because of the inability to establish shutdown cooling. The licensee had begun a plant shutdown to begin Refueling Outage 11. At 10:05 a.m. while continuing in a plant cool down (reducing pressure and temperature), operators determined that neither the Train A or B hydraulicly operated shutdown cooling valves would open. Plant pressure and temperature were at 340 psig and 320-F. Since the operators could not establish shutdown cooling, the shift manager declared an ALERT at 10:20 a.m. in accordance with the Emergency Plan because the shutdown cooling system was not available and Cold Shutdown could not be attained.
At 11:37 a.m. and 11:43 a.m. operators remotely opened the Train A and B shutdown cooling valves, respectively. Consequently, the shift manager exited the ALERT at 11:50 a.m. Operators placed Train A shutdown cooling in service at 1:27 p.m. The plant entered Mode 5 (200-F) at 2:47 p.m.
During this event all emergency systems remained available. Operators were using the atmospheric relief valves to remove heat from the steam generators. Steam generators are monitored for activity and no detectable release of radioactivity occurred.
Region IV received notification that the licensee had entered an ALERT by telephone from the Headquarters Operations Officer at 10:40 a.m. on March 23, 2002. Region IV entered the monitoring phase of normal mode at 10:49 a.m and exited the monitoring phase of normal mode at 1:35 p.m. The senior resident inspector arrived onsite at 11 a.m. and remained onsite until the operators placed the plant in Mode 5. The resident inspectors will evaluate the cause for the failure of the shutdown cooling valves to open.
The state of Louisiana has been informed.
Both Region IV and the licensee issued press releases.
Region IV has informed EDO/NRR/PA.
This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 8:45 a.m. (CST) on March 25, 2002.
CONTACTS: William B. Jones, (817) 860-8147 Thomas R. Farnholtz (504) 783-6253