The
Auxiliary Feedwater System was inoperable due to elevated hotwell temperatures from 1720 to 1739 EDT on 6/30/13. At no time was there a risk to the health and safety of the public. The elevated hotwell temperatures resulted from the loss of multiple
cooling tower fans due to a lightning strike.
Cooling tower fans and hotwell temperatures have been restored. Power was slightly reduced solely to maintain condenser vacuum until cooling tower fans were restored.
At Catawba, the hotwell is a credited water supply for the auxiliary feedwater system. The unit is currently in a power ascension back to 100%. No other plant equipment was affected by the lightning strike.
The licensee will be notifying the state warning points in both North and South Carolina and local warning points in Gaston, York, and Mecklenburg counties. They have notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
- * * RETRACTION FROM TOM GARRISON TO VINCE KLCO ON 8/4/13 AT 0357 EDT * * *
Catawba Nuclear Station is retracting EN #49161 based on completion of evaluation of auxiliary feedwater system operability. The engineering department performed this evaluation using existing plant conditions during the event to verify existing safety analyses remain bounding and conservative. The evaluation concluded that sufficient volume of secondary condensate was available below the required temperature from the Upper Surge Tanks (USTs), in combination with the hotwell inventory as normally aligned, for the auxiliary feedwater system to remain operable during this event. This condition is not reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(B).
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector, State and Counties.
Notified the R2DO (King).
