Press Release-I-14-039, NRC Issues 'White' Inspection Finding for Millstone 3 Nuclear Plant; Level of Oversight to Be Increased

Press Release-I-14-039: NRC Issues 'White' Inspection Finding for Millstone 3 Nuclear Plant; Level of Oversight to Be Increased

ML16141B174
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	10/21/2014
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-14-039
Download: ML16141B174 (2)

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No: I-14-039 October 21, 2014 CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC Issues White Inspection Finding for Millstone 3 Nuclear Plant; Level of Oversight to be Increased The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will increase its level of oversight at the Millstone Unit 3 nuclear power plant following the finalization of a white (low to moderate safety significance) inspection finding for the Waterford, Conn., facility. The finding, which involves a violation of NRC requirements, is based on the plant owners failure to promptly identify and correct repetitive problems involving a pump that is part of a reactor safety system.

Specifically, NRC inspectors determined that from May 2013 through February 2014, Millstone Unit 3s turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump was operated improperly due to the installation of an incorrect bearing. This manifested itself in two cases of oscillations, or unexpected fluctuations, in reactor coolant flow from the pump and three trips, or shutdowns, of the pump because of overspeeding.

The auxiliary, or back-up, feedwater system is one of several that can be used to help cool down the reactor following a shutdown by pumping water into the secondary side of the plants steam generators. The steam generators are essentially large heat exchangers that convert heat produced by the reactor into steam, which in turn is used to spin the plants turbine and generate electricity.

Although Dominion Nuclear Connecticut Inc., the plants owner and operator, has taken action to repair the pump and has completed a root-cause evaluation, the NRC is taking enforcement action because of the length of time it took for the issue to be addressed.

Our inspectors have carefully documented multiple problems involving this pump that occurred over the course of many months, Acting NRC Region I Administrator David Lew said. What concerns the NRC is that despite repeated efforts to repair this important component, the problems persisted and called into the question the pumps past reliability.

Under the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, inspection findings are classified by color based on their safety significance. The colors range from green, for a very low safety issue, to white, yellow or red, which connotes high safety significance. Because this finding has been finalized as white, Millstone Unit 3 will move from the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix to the Regulatory Response Column and be subject to additional inspections by the agency.

The NRC conducted a Special Inspection at Millstone Unit 3 in February and May in response to the problems involving the auxiliary feedwater pump. Among the areas that were reviewed during the inspection were Dominions responses to the issues, including the adequacy and completeness of testing on the pump and a root-cause evaluation of the problems.

On Sept. 15, 2014, the NRC initiated an additional Special Inspection at Millstone Unit 3 in response to further unrelated problems with the pump. This action occurred after the pump failed quarterly surveillance tests in July and September. That Special Inspection is still in progress, and the results will be detailed in an inspection report to be issued within 45 days of its completion.

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No: I-14-039 October 21, 2014 CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC Issues White Inspection Finding for Millstone 3 Nuclear Plant; Level of Oversight to be Increased The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will increase its level of oversight at the Millstone Unit 3 nuclear power plant following the finalization of a white (low to moderate safety significance) inspection finding for the Waterford, Conn., facility. The finding, which involves a violation of NRC requirements, is based on the plant owners failure to promptly identify and correct repetitive problems involving a pump that is part of a reactor safety system.

Specifically, NRC inspectors determined that from May 2013 through February 2014, Millstone Unit 3s turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump was operated improperly due to the installation of an incorrect bearing. This manifested itself in two cases of oscillations, or unexpected fluctuations, in reactor coolant flow from the pump and three trips, or shutdowns, of the pump because of overspeeding.

The auxiliary, or back-up, feedwater system is one of several that can be used to help cool down the reactor following a shutdown by pumping water into the secondary side of the plants steam generators. The steam generators are essentially large heat exchangers that convert heat produced by the reactor into steam, which in turn is used to spin the plants turbine and generate electricity.

Although Dominion Nuclear Connecticut Inc., the plants owner and operator, has taken action to repair the pump and has completed a root-cause evaluation, the NRC is taking enforcement action because of the length of time it took for the issue to be addressed.

Our inspectors have carefully documented multiple problems involving this pump that occurred over the course of many months, Acting NRC Region I Administrator David Lew said. What concerns the NRC is that despite repeated efforts to repair this important component, the problems persisted and called into the question the pumps past reliability.

Under the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, inspection findings are classified by color based on their safety significance. The colors range from green, for a very low safety issue, to white, yellow or red, which connotes high safety significance. Because this finding has been finalized as white, Millstone Unit 3 will move from the Licensee Response Column of the NRCs Action Matrix to the Regulatory Response Column and be subject to additional inspections by the agency.

The NRC conducted a Special Inspection at Millstone Unit 3 in February and May in response to the problems involving the auxiliary feedwater pump. Among the areas that were reviewed during the inspection were Dominions responses to the issues, including the adequacy and completeness of testing on the pump and a root-cause evaluation of the problems.

On Sept. 15, 2014, the NRC initiated an additional Special Inspection at Millstone Unit 3 in response to further unrelated problems with the pump. This action occurred after the pump failed quarterly surveillance tests in July and September. That Special Inspection is still in progress, and the results will be detailed in an inspection report to be issued within 45 days of its completion.

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