PNO-IV-97-024, on 970428,new Fuel Assembly Raised from Location in Spent Fuel Pool Rack & After Being Moved Short Distance Laterally,Fell from Spent Fuel Pool Handling Machine.Licensee Assembled Team to Perform in-depth Review
| ML20138D058 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 04/29/1997 |
| From: | Harrell P NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-97-024, PNO-IV-97-24, NUDOCS 9705010018 | |
| Download: ML20138D058 (1) | |
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_. _ __ _.. April 29,1997 O
PREl.lMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-97-024 t
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 1
l known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.
1 Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification
{
Entergy Operations, Inc.
Notification of Unusual Event Waterford 3 Alert Killona, Louisiana Site Area Emergency Dockets: 50-382 General Emergency l
X Not Applicable
}
Subject:
DROPPED NEW FUEL ASSEMBLY At 9:37 p.m. (CDT) on April 28,1997, during plant refueling activities, a new (unused) 4 fuel assembly was raised from its location in the spent fuel pool rack, anJ after being moved a short distance laterally, fell from the spent fuel pool handling machine. The fuel i
assembly dropped about 2 feet, landed on top of the junction of two rack dividers, and fell against an adjacent wall. The fuel assembly is currently leaning against the spent fuel pool liner at a 45 degree angle and is about 15 degrees from being upright. Of the four fuel s
j i
storage locations adjacent to the divider junction, two were empty and two contained new i
fuel assemblies. The integrity of spent fuel was never affected as a result of this event.
L When the drop of the assembly occurred, the area was evacuated and confirmation was 1
performed that there was no release of radioactive material and the radiation levels did not i
increase. The licensee re-entered the area and is currently in the process of securing the assembly in place to ensure that it does not topp!p. The licensee is in the process of generating a procedure to provide instructions to regain control of the assembly in order to move it to a safe location.
The licensee has stopped all fuel movernent activities until the cause of the dropped assembly can be identified and corrected. The licensee assembled a team to perform an l
in-depth review of this event, t
i The state of Louisiana has been informed.
3 Region IV received notification of this cccurrence by telephone from the senior resident j
inspector at approximately 10 p.m. (CDT). Region IV has informed the EDO/NRR/PA.
l The licensee issued a press release on this issue on April 29,1997.
j This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 3:30 p.m. (CDT) on April 29,1997.
I
Contact:
P. Harrell (8171860-8260
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9705010019 970429 PDR I&E PNO-IV-97-024 PDR I
010011 o t
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