At 1055 EDT on September 16, 2012 with the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (JAF) at 0% power while performing a planned reactor shutdown for a refueling outage, multiple
control rods were conservatively declared inoperable due to the potential for
control rod channel interference in the event of a seismic event. In response to [the]
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (
GEH) recommendations regarding the
10CFR Part 21 issue for
control rod blade interference, JAF has implemented compensatory measures that require
control rods with a Cell Friction Metric (
CFM) greater than or equal to 100 be declared inoperable upon
RPV pressure decreasing below 800 psig if a full stroke insertion test has not performed within the past 14 Effective Full Power Days (
EFPD). During a planned shutdown, reactor pressure decreased below 800 psig before all
control rods could be fully inserted using normal
control rod insertion methods. With nine or more
control rods inoperable in Mode 1 or 2, JAF Technical Specifications (
LCO 3.1.3 Condition E) require the unit be placed in Mode 3 within
12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />. This condition was entered at 1055 EDT and the unit was placed in Mode 3 at 1226 EDT. This event is reportable under
10CFR50.72(b)(2)(i), 'The initiation of any nuclear plant shutdown required by the plant's Technical Specifications.'
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
