The following information was obtained from the licensee via facsimile (licensee text in quotes):
While in OPCON 2 with the Main Turbine secured, Hope Creek personnel performed a Primary Containment entry to determine the source of slightly elevated unidentified leakage. This leakage has slowly trended up since plant start-up in February to approximately 0.73 gpm. With the current unidentified leak rate at 0.436 gpm, personnel identified a steam leak from an insulated decontamination port, sealed via a bolted flange, within the isolable boundary of the 'B' Reactor Recirculation pump. This was the only source of reactor coolant system leakage identified although some minor leakage (totaling approximately 250ml/min) from two drywell recirculation fans was also identified. This is a voluntary/courtesy Emergency Notification System (ENS) notification that Hope Creek is proceeding to Cold Shutdown to precisely identify and repair the leakage source. At the time of this notification, Hope Creek Generating Station is in OPCON 3 with plant cooldown in process.
The licensee reported this event under
10 CFR 50.72(b)(2) as a 4-Hour Non-Emergency Voluntary notification. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified and the licensee plans to notify LAC Township.
