At 1358 [EDT] on July 28, 2015, a 1 inch diameter hole was discovered in the
secondary containment wall, between the Reactor Building and the Auxiliary Building, causing the
Secondary Containment to become inoperable under
Technical Specification 3.6.5.1. Reactor Building pressure was maintained at a negative pressure as required by
Technical Specification 3.6.5.1 with the
Reactor Building ventilation system in service before and after discovery of the hole. In addition, the Filtration, Recirculation and Ventilation system remained fully operable and remained in standby. The hole was sealed at 1600 and
technical specification 3.6.5.1 was exited. Plant operation was not impacted by the event and was operating at 100% power. No personnel injuries resulted from this event.
The hole was discovered by plant personnel that were walking past the wall. Due to the discovery of the hole, the plant is performing an extent of condition inspection.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the Lower Alloways Creek Dispatch.
- * * * RETRACTION FROM MARIAZ DAVIS TO STEVEN VITTO AT 1232 EDT ON 08/ 12/15 * * * *
This event is being retracted.
Hope Creek Generating Station Unit 1, is retracting the 8-hour non-emergency notification (EN# 51274) made on July 28, 2015, at 1855 EDT. The notification on July 28, 2015, reported that secondary containment was declared inoperable when a 1 inch hole was discovered in the secondary containment wall, between the Reactor Building and the Auxiliary Building. Secondary containment was declared inoperable based on the initial interpretation of the definition of secondary containment. The hole did not impact the ability to maintain the Tech Spec required negative pressure. Subsequent evaluation determined that secondary containment was always operable. Based on the engineering evaluation, the condition reported in EN# 51274 did not result in an inoperability of the secondary containment. Therefore, there is no reportable condition and this event report is being retracted.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been briefed on the evaluation results and informed of this retraction.
The licensee also notified the Lower Alloways Creek Dispatch.
Notified R1DO (Powell).
