ML18206A590

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Nrc/Region I Response to Mary Lampert Email Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant Downpower
ML18206A590
Person / Time
Site: Pilgrim
Issue date: 07/24/2018
From: Neil Sheehan
Region 1 Administrator
To: Lampert M
Entergy Nuclear Generation Co
Hardgrove M
References
Download: ML18206A590 (3)


Text

1 Hardgrove, Matthew From: Sheehan, Neil Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2018 10:03 AM To: Hardgrove, Matthew

Subject:

FW: NRC response re: Pilgrim nuclear power plant downpower From:Sheehan,NeilSent:Thursday,July19,20182:41PMTo:'MaryLampert'<mary.lampert@comcast.net>

Subject:

NRCresponsere:PilgrimnuclearpowerplantdownpowerMary, This email responds to your two June 29, 2018, ema ils to NRC Acting Region I Administrator David Lew requesting additional information related to a downpower at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant on June 28. As reported by Entergy, power was reduced by 30 percent due to rising temperatures in the condenser hotwell. By reducing power operators ensured that condenser temperatures remained within design parameters. A thermal backwash of the condenser was completed and power was restored to 100 percent. These actions were not mandated by the NRC. NRC regulations place stringent quality requirements on structures, systems and co mponents that are most important to safety (i.e., safety-related). The Pilgrim condenser hotwell is important to power production, but it is not safety-related and not subject to the NRC's most stringent requirements. Nevertheless, the NRC does monitor the plant owner's maintenance of this equipment to ensure it is sufficiently reliable, so as to minimize the number of times operators have to adjust plant configuration and/or power levels in an unplanned manner.

A s part of their normal review of daily operations at t he plant, the NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to Pilgrim reviewed the circumstances associated with the downpower on June 28. They determined the plant was operated safely and in accordance with site procedures, and they identified no safety concerns. No additional follow-up is planned. Thank you for your concern regarding the safe operation of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant.

Neil Sheehan NRC Public Affairs (610)337-5331 HelloDavid:RE:INCREAS ECONDENSERHOTWELLWATERTEMPERATURE(JUNE28,2018)Anothersetofquestionscameup. WhatisPilgrim'smaintenancescheduleforthefeedwaterheaterhighleveldrainvalesthatgotothehotwell. Howoftendotheycheckthem? Areanyshow ingsignsofleakage?

2 Howaboutthedrainvalvesoffthesteamlinemoistureseparators,whataboutmaintenanceonthem?Thosehavebeenknowntoleakinthepast. Ifanyofthevalvesmentionedareleakingthenthatmeanstheywouldbedumpingsteamintothehotwellandwouldcausethehotwelltemperaturetorise.Whichmaybepartoftheproblem. Areanyofthefeedwaterheaterdrainvalveindicatorlightsinthecontrolroomshowingopen? Aretheymeasuringthetemperaturedownstreamofallthosevalves?Howoften?

Hopethatyoualsoarefindingthesequestionshelpful;andwelookforwardtotheanswers.Thanksagain, MaryFrom:MaryLampert<mary.lampert@comcast.net

>Sent:Friday,June29,201811:15AMTo:Lew,David<David.Lew@nrc.gov

>Cc:Jackman,Michael<Michael.Jackman@mail.house.gov

>;LindseyGriffith(Markey)(Lindsey_Griffith@markey.senate.gov

)<Lindsey_Griffith@markey.senate.gov

>;RoryClark(Markey)(Rory_Clark@markey.senate.gov

)<Rory_Clark@markey.senate.gov

>;Vogel,Hannah(Markey)<Hannah_Vogel@markey.senate.gov

>

Subject:

INCREASECONDENSERHOTWELLWATERTEMPERATURE(JUNE28,2018)DavidLewDirector,NRCRegionIJune29,2019ViaEmailRE:INCREASECONDENSERHOTWELLWATERTEMPERATURE(JUNE28,2018)HelloDavid:Pilgrim'spowerstatusdroppedto30%onJune28andnaturallywewonderwhy.PNPS'pressreleasedidnotaddressthe"suspectedcause."PowerStatusJune2690%June2790%June2830%June2930%PNPSPRESSRELEASEOnJun28,2018,at15:50,MaryLampert<mary.lampert@comcast.net

>wrote:AsanupdatetoPilgrim'sPlantStatus,PatrickO'Brien,theStation'sSeniorCommunicationsSpecialist,hasissuedthefollowingpressstatementtoday:

"Pilgrimhasbeenoperatingatreducedpower,sinceSaturday,afterroutinemonitoringnoticedanincreaseincondenserhotwellwatertemperatures

.Powerwasreducedtoensurethatwatertemperatureinthehotwellremainswithinspecifiedoperatingparameters.Thehotwellisaplaceonthesteamsideofthecondenserwherewatercollects 3 toprovideawatersourceforthesuctionofthecondensatepumps.AplannedcondenserthermalbackwashwasalreadyscheduledforthisThursdayandmaintenancewillbeperformedtoaddressthesuspectedcauseoftheincreasedtemperatures."QUESTIONSWHATISTHECAUSEOFTHEPROBLEM?Herearesomequestionsthathavecrossedourmindsthatwehopeyouwilladdress.1. WhydoPilgrim'sStaffwaitforthetemperaturetogohighbeforetheyscheduleabackwash?Iftheplantengineersarereallymonitoringthereactorthentheywouldhavenoticedthetemperaturegoinghigh.Isthisamanagement issueagain?2. Couldthisbeacondenservacuumleak.Afewyearsago(2013)Pilgrimreplacedthe"dogbone"thebigsealbetweenthecondenserandturbinecasing.Ifso,isthisamanufacturersorfaultyinstallationissue?3. Couldthisbeanotherfeedwaterheatersteamleak?4. Last,wewonderifthereisanysteamleakingintothehotwell.Thedrainvalvesoffthefeedwaterheatersusedtoleakyearsago.Theywerereplacedabout19yearsago.Thankyouandwelookforwardtoyourresponse.Enjoythe4 th!Mary NeilSheehanNRCPublicAffairsOfficerRegionI(610)3375331cell:(484)471 9233