PNO-IV-97-024A, on 970502,licensee Initiated Recovery of New Fuel Assembly That Had Been Dropped on 970428.Licensee Recommenced Refueling Reactor on 970504.Reconstitution Process Expected to Take 7 to 10 Days

PNO-IV-97-024A:on 970502,licensee Initiated Recovery of New Fuel Assembly That Had Been Dropped on 970428.Licensee Recommenced Refueling Reactor on 970504.Reconstitution Process Expected to Take 7 to 10 Days

ML20138G085
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	05/05/1997
From:	Harrell P, Keller L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-97-024A, PNO-IV-97-24A, NUDOCS 9705060171
Download: ML20138G085 (1)

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May 5,1997 4

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-97-024A i

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 Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.

Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification Entergy Operations, Inc. Notification of Unusual Event Waterford 3 Alert Kilicna, Louisiana Site Area Emergency Dockets: 50-382 General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

UPDATE ON DROPPED NEW FUEL ASSEMBLY On May 2,1997, the licensee initiated recovery of the new fuel assembly that had been

dropped on April 28. The licensee transferred the new fuel assembly, from where it was j leaning against the spent fuel pool liner, to the new fuel elevator. The assembly was moved in accordance with a special procedure approved by the Onsite Safety Review Committee.

4' The licensee recommenced refueling the reactor on May 4. On May 5, the licensee began disassembly of the dropped fuel assembly so it could be decontaminated, reassembled with new grid straps, and shipped to the fuel vendor for inspection. The inspection will verify that

no damage occurred on the inside of the fuel rods. The licensee expects this reconstitution process will take 7 to 10 days.

1 The licensee completed a preliminary root cause analysis of the event and determined that the

cause of the dropped assembly was that it was not properly grappled as a result of human error with several contributing factors

lack of self-checking, lack of peer check / independent verification, lack of training on self-checking techniques for the grappling process, and lack i of detailed instructions for operation of the equipment. The grapple was disassembled and

no mechanical defects were identified. The licensee implemented corrective actions to address each of the identified weaknesses prior to recommencing fuel movement.

The state of Louisiana will be informed.

Region IV received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the Senior Resident Inspector at 7:30 a.m. on May 5,1997. Region IV has informed EDO and NRR.

This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 4 p.m. (CDT) on j May 5,1997.

Contact:

P. Harrell L. A. Keller (817)860-8260 (504)783-6253 l 9705060171 970505 PDR I&E b O\\k PNO-IV-97-024A PDR H