Press Release-I-03-047, NRC Special Inspection Team Begins Work at Indian Point

Press Release-I-03-047: NRC Special Inspection Team Begins Work at Indian Point

ML032240492
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	08/12/2003
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-03-047
Download: ML032240492 (3)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 www.nrc.gov No. I-03-047 August 12, 2003 CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 Email: opa1@nrc.gov Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331 NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION TEAM BEGINS WORK AT INDIAN POINT A team of inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions Region I office has begun a special inspection at the Indian Point nuclear power plant to look into a series of unplanned shutdowns at the facility. The two-unit site, operated by Entergy Nuclear Northeast, is located in Buchanan, N.Y.

Early on August 3, Indian Point 2 shut down due to an electrical fault in the off-site power grid during an electrical storm. Over the past two years, there have been a number of unplanned reactor shutdowns that have occurred at both Indian Point 2 and 3. In all cases, the units have been operated safely, and there has been no impact on public health and safety or the environment.

In accordance with the agencys reactor oversight program, this special inspection, while independently reviewing the August 3 event at Unit 2, will be closely coordinated with a previously planned supplemental inspection at Unit 3. The supplemental inspection was planned because a performance indicator for unplanned reactor shutdowns had crossed a threshold, requiring additional inspection effort. This inspection will review the circumstances and causal factors associated with the recent unplanned shutdown as well as other similar events at the site.

The team will independently evaluate equipment and human performance and assess Entergys root cause evaluation and corrective actions. .

The inspection will be conducted in phases over the next several weeks. The team will document its findings in an inspection report that will be issued within 45 days of the close of the inspection.