PNO-I-89-027, on 890412,RCIC Injection Valves Unexpectedly Opened During Testing of Sys Logic.Discharge Check Valve Failure Also Allowed Feedwater Backleakage,Contaminating Five Workers Slightly.Augmented Insp Team Dispatched

PNO-I-89-027:on 890412,RCIC Injection Valves Unexpectedly Opened During Testing of Sys Logic.Discharge Check Valve Failure Also Allowed Feedwater Backleakage,Contaminating Five Workers Slightly.Augmented Insp Team Dispatched

ML20244C056
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	04/13/1989
From:	Blough A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-89-027, PNO-I-89-27, NUDOCS 8904200019
Download: ML20244C056 (2)

_____-

~ r' DCS No: 50293890412

• i Date: April 13, 1989

'PRELI.MINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-89-027.

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.

1 Facility: Licensee Emergency Classification:

Notification of Unusual Event Boston Edison Company Alert

-Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Site Area Emergency .

D:cket No. 50-293 General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

AUGMENTED INSPECTION TEAM DISPATCHED About 9:15 a.m., April-12, 1989, the. Reactor Core Isolation Cooling (RCIC) injection valves' opened unexpectedly during a test of the system logic. The RCIC discharge check valve also failed to properly seat, allowing backleakage of feedwater to the low pressure RCIC suction piping. The suction piping relief valve lifted, its discharge overflowed the RCIC room sump, and about three inches of water quickly accumulated on the room floor before operators shut the injection valves to terminate the event. Five workers were slightly contaminated and were promptly decontaminated.

Th::re was no offsite release of-radioactivity. A licensee evaluation of the event is underway. One proximate cause of the event appears to be failure to properly disable tha isolation valves prior to start of the test. The RCIC system has been isolated and declared inoperable pending evaluation. Technical-Specifications allow continued op: ration of the plant (which is operating just below the 25% NRC approval point) for seven days with RCIC inoperable.

An Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) led by a Region I Section Chief, will begin an onsite inspection this morning to determine the sequences, causes, and significance

'of.the events.

A member of the NRC Restart Staff was in.the control room shortly after the event.

The licensee issued a press release regarding the event at about 3:00 p.m. An ENS call was made at 5:25 p.m. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been informed. NRC Region I will respond to press iaquiries and will issue a press release to announce the AIT.

CONTACT: A. Randy Blough (FTS) 346-5146

. DISTRIBUTION:

OWFN MNBB H-St. NL Mail: ADM:DMB Chairman Zech AE00 ACRS RES DOT:Trans only Comm. Roberts ARM PDR Comm. Carr OGC NRC Ops Ctr Comm. Rogers Comm. Curtiss INP0----

SECY NMSS NSAC----

CA NRR j OGC OIA Regional Offices I l

GPA 01 RI Resident Office PA SLITP EDO DE Licensee:

8904200019 890413

• D ls PDR I&E j

{ - 2([

PDC

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _PN0 _I-

_ 89-027 ___ _)7 !

Regi6n'I Form.83-

. ,(, Rey. April' 1988) ,.

. DISTRIBUTION:-

1NRC1718' Chairman Zech Comm Roberts Comm Carr.

Comm Rogers Comm Curtiss ACRS SECY CA' PDR . . _

OGC-H GPA iOIA LINRC02/0RDAZ (Please make PA internal distribution)

INRC1718/ DAY (Pleae make internal Distribution)

INRC1112/NRRPN (Please make NRR internal distribution)

INRC0304, HILL (SLITP, please deliver to C. Kammerer)~

INRC0708, SUMMERS (0E, please deliver to J. Lieberman)

NRCRES,RESPN (Please make internal distribution)

NRCIE, LEAD 0P (Please make internal distribution)

NRCRII,RIIPN (Please make Internal RII distribution) ..

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Region I WPS Resident Office (Site PC) (If secretary is off FAX)

RI Office Services Section (Mail to ADM:0MB & 00T (transportation only)  :

FAX to INP0 NSAC

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