Press Release-IV-09-032, NRC Conducting Special Inspection at Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant
| ML092640406 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 09/21/2009 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region IV |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-IV-09-032 | |
| Download: ML092640406 (2) | |
Text
No. IV-09-032
Contact:
Victor Dricks (817) 860-8128 September 21, 2009 E-Mail: OPA4.Resource@nrc.gov NRC CONDUCTING SPECIAL INSPECTION AT WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR PLANT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a special inspection at the Wolf Creek nuclear plant in response to lightning strikes on Aug. 19, that knocked out all three offsite power lines to the plant. Located near Burlington, Kan., the plant is operated by Wolf Creek Operating Corp.
The reactor shut down automatically and plant systems responded as expected after offsite power was momentarily disrupted when lightning struck a 345kv power line outside the plant. The plants emergency diesel generators started as designed to provide power for safe shutdown.
We will evaluate whether the licensees corrective actions are sufficient to prevent another incident like this, said NRC Region IV Administrator Elmo E. Collins. Well also be evaluating the sequence of events following the shutdown. Although this incident resulted in no danger to public health or safety, its important that we understand why this happened and how a similar event can be avoided in the future.
A four-person team of NRC inspectors will develop a chronology of the event, review the licensees root cause determination, and evaluate the licensees maintenance and testing program and the effectiveness of operators response to the event.
The inspection will begin today and is expected to take several days. The team will write a report about 30-45 days after completion of the inspection. The report will be available in the agencys online document library at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html.
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 Telephone: (817) 860-8128
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