ML20249B839

PNO-76-167:Region I Was Informed That Primary Exit Pipe Leakage at State Univ of New York at Buffalo Pulstar Reactor Has Step Increase to Approx 700 Gallons Per Day on 761006. Facility Was Shut Down.Plug Was Placed in Core to Stop Leak

ML20249B839
Person / Time
Site:	University of Buffalo
Issue date:	10/08/1976
From:	Dreher F, Roy G, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
PNO-76-167, NUDOCS 9806240302
Download: ML20249B839 (1)

Text

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_ PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION October 8, 19E6 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-76-167 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of l POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information Presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.

Facility: Nuclear Science and Technology Facility 3 State University of New York at Buffalo (PULSTAR)(DN 50-57)

Subj ect: PRIMARY SYSTEM PIPING LEAK Region I, Philadelphia, was informed that primary exit pipe leakage at the State University of New York at Buffalo PULSTAR reactor ~had a step increase to approximately 700 gallons per day on October 6, 1976. The facility was shutdown ano a plug placed in the core exit plenum to stop further leakage.

Leakage from the aluminum core exit pipe, which is covered by concrete, was first identified in September, 1975. Repairs using an elastomeric grout applied from the inside were made in January, 1976 with temporary success. Recurrence of the leak in July, 1976 was experienced and a repair using cementation grout on the outside, following removal of the sand bed under the pipe, was accomplished.

The licensee plans to replace the complete pipe during refueling in the summer of 1977. In the interim, temporary plans are to seal the leak using a metal sleeve with inflatable end-seals. The licensee is pro-posing a technical specificatioit change to implement this design change.

Media interest is not expected. A, press release is not planned. The State of New York has been informed.

Region I, NRC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the facility director at 4:00 p.m. on October 7, 1976.

Contact:

FADreher, IE x27261 GWRoy, IE x27261 DThompson, IE x27541 Distribution:

Chairman Rowden Commissioner Mason S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Gilinsky C. C. Kammerer, CA G. F. Murphy, JCAE Commissioner Kennedy L. V. Gossick, EDO E. Volgenau, OIE J. A. Harris, PA B. C. Rusche, NRR H. K. Shapar, ELD T. J. McTiernan, AIA K. R. Chapman, NMSS R. G. Ryan, OSP Transmitted: PBldg /d/rog; H St  ; MNBB  ; Luge  ;

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION

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PNS-76-167 PDR

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