PNO-I-10-002, Loss of Normal Communications / Storm Impact Offsite at Vermont Yankee

PNO-I-10-002: Loss of Normal Communications / Storm Impact Offsite at Vermont Yankee

ML101480148
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	05/28/2010
From:	Barkley R NRC Region 1
To:
Barkley R S/RGN-I/ORS/610-337-5065
References
PNO-I-10-002
Download: ML101480148 (2)

DCS No.: 0500027105282010 Date: May 28, 2010 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE - PNO-I-10-002 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.

Facility Licensee Emergency Classification Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Notification of Unusual Event Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Alert Unit 1 Site Area Emergency Brattleboro, VT General Emergency Docket No.: 50-271 X Not Applicable License No.: DPR-28

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF NORMAL COMMUNICATIONS / STORM IMPACT OFFSITE AT VERMONT YANKEE A severe storm passed through southern Vermont resulting in a loss of landline telephone communications with the Vermont Yankee site around 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 27, due to damaged lines impacted by falling trees. A microwave phone link with the electrical transmission system operator, as well as cell phone service, remained available to Vermont Yankee during the storm. Most telephone communication was restored by Thursday afternoon.

Several hours before the storm, Vermont Yankee had shut down due to an electrical problem unrelated to this storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed the NRC it was conducting a Disaster Initiated Review (DIR) on Friday, May 28, to confirm that the condition of the offsite emergency response infrastructure, following repairs of storm-related damage, was adequate to ensure that the State of Vermont can perform its emergency response functions. The NRC informed Entergy management at 7:10 p.m. on May 27, 2010, that the plant could not be restarted until FEMA reaffirms its reasonable assurance of the adequacy of offsite emergency preparedness to the NRC. A member of the NRC participated in the FEMA evaluation team.

On May 28, FEMA completed the DIR and informed the NRC that they had reasonable assurance of the adequacy of offsite emergency preparedness regarding the State of Vermont.

FEMA also reconfirmed that there was reasonable assurance of the adequacy of offsite emergency preparedness in the State of New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The NRC informed Entergy management at 2:14 p.m. that the plant could be restarted.

The NRC has followed the licensees activities and has coordinated with FEMA to confirm the adequacy of offsite emergency preparedness. The NRC Region I Public Affairs Office has responded to media inquiries regarding the shutdown and the loss of normal communications.

The information presented herein has been discussed with Entergy and is current as of May 28, at 2:30 p.m. This preliminary notification is issued for information only.

ADAMS Accession Number: ML101480148

Contact:

Richard Barkley, 610-337-5065

DISTRIBUTIONS: (by email: Rl-DL-PN; PN_Distribution)

BY E-MAIL:

Chairman Jaczko Comm. Apostolakis Comm. Magwood Comm. Ostendorff Comm. Svinicki OIP OCA OGC EDO OE NRR NMSS OIG RES ACRS FSME NRO NSIR OPA SECY Regional Offices BY FAX:

DOT:Trans INPO NSAC Licensee: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Vermont Yankee SUNSI Review Complete: RSB (Reviewer=s Initials)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\DRP\PNs\PNO-I-10-002 Vermont Yankee Storm Damage.doc After declaring this document AAn Official Agency Record@ it will be released to the Public.

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy ML101480148 OFFICE RI/DRP RI/ORA RI/PAO RI/SLO RI/ORA NAME GDentel RBarkley DScrenci NMcNamera MDapas DATE 05/28/10 05/28/10 05/28/10 05/28/10 05/28/10 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Region I Form 83 (Rev. July 2, 2003)