Press Release-I-06-012, NRC Tracking 'Alert' at Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-06-012: NRC Tracking 'Alert' at Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant

ML060610005
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	03/02/2006
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-06-012
Download: ML060610005 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa.

www.nrc.gov No. I-06-012 March 2, 2006

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331 Note: The Alert was terminated at 4:33 a.m. on Thursday, March 2nd. The NRC Region I Office is following up on the companys actions during the event.

NRC TRACKING ALERT AT SUSQUEHANNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is closely tracking an event at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant that led to the declaration of an Alert on Wednesday night. An Alert is the second lowest of four levels of emergency classification.

PPL declared the Alert at 9:27 p.m. Wednesday, after a fire-protection system discharged a fire-suppression gas in a security-related building at the site, resulting in its evacuation. Despite the localized evacuation, security at the plant, located in Berwick, Pa., and operated by PPL, was at no point reduced or compromised.

Early this morning, an assessment was still under way to determine whether the activation of the fire-protection system was spurious or caused by any actual smoke or fire.

Both reactors at the twin-unit nuclear plant have remained in operation throughout the event and have not been impacted.

In response to the event, an NRC Resident Inspector stationed at the plant has reported to the site to observe and evaluate the companys response. In addition, the NRC is tracking developments from the Incident Response Center at the agencys Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa.; has maintained continuous contact with the company; and has communicated with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding the situation.

We will continue to keep a close watch on the companys response to the event, both immediately and longer term, NRC Region I Administrator Samuel J. Collins said. However, its important to note that the plant has remained safe and secure throughout this event.