Press Release-11-212, NRC Approves Restart of North Anna Reactors, Will Ensure Dominion Meets Commitments

Press Release-11-212: NRC Approves Restart of North Anna Reactors, Will Ensure Dominion Meets Commitments

ML11318A064
Person / Time
Site:	North Anna
Issue date:	11/11/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
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Press Release-11-212
Download: ML11318A064 (2)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No.11-212 November 11, 2011 NRC APPROVES RESTART OF NORTH ANNA REACTORS, WILL ENSURE DOMINION MEETS COMMITMENTS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after careful analysis of inspection findings and related information, has concluded Dominion Generations North Anna Unit 1 and 2 reactors can be restarted. The North Anna reactors, in Louisa, Va., have been shut down since Aug. 23, when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred about 11 miles from the plant.

The earthquake shook the reactors more strongly than the plants design anticipated, so Dominion had to prove to us that the quake caused no functional damage to the reactors safety systems, said Eric Leeds, director of the NRCs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. Weve asked Dominion dozens of detailed questions, and our experts have examined Dominions answers as well as information from our own inspections. Were satisfied the plant meets our requirements to restart safely, and well monitor Dominions ongoing tests and inspections during startup of both reactors.

The NRC issued Dominion a letter describing the staffs review, which started with existing guidance for determining a reactors response to an earthquake. The staff used more recent experience, including insights learned from a reactor site in Japan damaged by a 2007 earthquake, in asking Dominion additional questions regarding proper examination of technical areas that included: piping systems, including buried segments; nuclear fuel assemblies; steam generators; pumps and valves; and emergency diesel generators.

The NRCs independent actions included an Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) that examined the plant shortly after the quake, as well as a restart readiness inspection in mid-October. Both Dominion and NRCs results showed only minor damage that did not affect North Annas safety systems. The NRC held public meetings near the plant on Oct. 3 regarding the AITs findings, and on Nov. 1 regarding the restart readiness inspection findings and the staffs technical review. The NRC also held a public meeting at the agencys Rockville, Md.,

headquarters Sept. 8 regarding Dominions initial assessment. On Oct. 21 the staff briefed the Commission regarding the plants response to the earthquake.

The NRC has issued Dominion a separate letter documenting the companys commitment to several additional quake-related actions, including:

Updating North Annas Final Safety Analysis Report to incorporate information from the quake and subsequent analysis;

Additional characterization of the fault responsible for the Aug. 23 quake, as well as any special ground motion effects at North Anna; Re-evaluating plant equipment (including an assessment of potential improvements) identified in earlier seismic reviews; Developing any needed inspections or evaluations for components within the North Anna reactor vessels; and Permanently updating seismic monitoring equipment for the North Anna reactors and dry-cask spent fuel storage facility.

The staffs letters to Dominion, as well as its technical evaluation, will be available on the NRCs Virginia quake Web page.

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