Press Release-I-12-045, NRC Begins Special Inspection at Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant to Review Issues at Site During Hurricane Sandy

Press Release-I-12-045: NRC Begins Special Inspection at Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant to Review Issues at Site During Hurricane Sandy

ML12318A087
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	11/13/2012
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-12-045
Download: ML12318A087 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 2100 Renaissance Blvd., King of Prussia, Pa. 19406-2713 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. I-12-045 Nov. 13, 2012

Contact:

Diane Screnci, (610) 337-5330 Email: opa1.resource@nrc.gov Neil Sheehan, (610) 337-5331 NRC BEGINS SPECIAL INSPECTION AT OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR PLANT TO REVIEW ISSUES AT SITE DURING HURRICANE SANDY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has initiated a Special Inspection at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in response to issues that arose when Hurricane Sandy impacted the facility on Oct. 29 and 30. The inspection began today at the plant, which is located in Lacey Township (Ocean County), N.J., and operated by Exelon.

The team of three NRC inspectors is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the companys event declaration activities related to water level increases at the plants water intake structure during the storm. The Special Inspection will expand on reviews conducted during and after the storm by the NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to Oyster Creek.

There were no actual impacts on the plants, NRCs or states emergency response posture. All three entities were monitoring the storms arrival and potential impacts, with the emergency response facilities already staffed.

Because the reactor was out of service at the time of the storm for a previously scheduled refueling and maintenance outage, plant operators did not have to contend with the possibility of a reactor shutdown as Sandy passed through the area. There were no immediate safety concerns, Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. Nevertheless, there are certain observations involving procedures and on-site activities that surfaced during the event warranting a closer look. This Special Inspection will focus on those areas to gain a better understanding of how the intake water level information was monitored and communicated during the event.

As water rose in the plants water intake structure on Oct. 29, operators declared an Unusual Event - the lowest of four levels of emergency classification used by the NRC - at 6:55 p.m. when the level topped 4.5 feet above mean sea level. Subsequently, at about 8:45 p.m.,

an Alert was declared when the water level was 6 feet above mean sea level at the structure.

An Alert is the second-lowest level of emergency classification. The water level rose due to a combination of a rising tide, wind direction and storm surge.

Early on the morning of Oct. 30, the water level had declined to points at which the emergency declarations were terminated.

The NRC will issue a report on the results of the Special Inspection within 45 days of its completion.

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