Event Notification Report for March 23, 2002
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
03/22/2002 - 03/23/2002
EVENT NUMBERS
38796
Power Reactor
Event Number: 38796
Facility: WATERFORD
Region: 4 State: LA
Unit: [3] [] []
RX Type: [3] CE
NRC Notified By: MIKE MASON
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE NORRIS
Region: 4 State: LA
Unit: [3] [] []
RX Type: [3] CE
NRC Notified By: MIKE MASON
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE NORRIS
Notification Date: 03/23/2002
Notification Time: 11:40 [ET]
Event Date: 03/23/2002
Event Time: 10:20 [CST]
Last Update Date: 03/23/2002
Notification Time: 11:40 [ET]
Event Date: 03/23/2002
Event Time: 10:20 [CST]
Last Update Date: 03/23/2002
Emergency Class: ALERT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4)
ELLIS MERSCHOFF (R4)
JOE HOLONICH (IRO)
ELMO COLLINS (R4)
TOM ANDREWS (R4)
DALE POWERS (R4)
ELLIS MERSCHOFF (R4)
JOE HOLONICH (IRO)
ELMO COLLINS (R4)
TOM ANDREWS (R4)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | N | N | 0 | Hot Shutdown | 0 | Hot Shutdown |
ALERT DECLARED FOR INABILITY MAINTAIN COLD SHUTDOWN CONDITION
While placing Shutdown Cooling into service, it was found that the Licensee was not able to open Safety Injection valves (SI-405 A&B, Reactor Coolant Loop Suction Isolation Valves). Due to the inability to open these valves, the Licensee declared an Alert per their Emergency Action Level's for the inability to maintain cold shutdown condition. All other Emergency Core Cooling Systems are fully operational and the Emergency Diesels are available. Licensee is maintaining Hot Shutdown conditions by using natural circulation and dumping steam to atmosphere with the Steam Generator Atmospheric Dump Valves. There is no indicated primary to secondary leakage. US NRC entered Monitoring Mode at 1149 EST. Normal offsite power is available and weather conditions are favorable.
NRC Resident has been notified. Notified EPA (Edwards), DOE (Bartlett), USDA (Conley) and HHS (Burger).
At 1250 EST, the Licensee terminated the Alert due to the SI-405 A&B valves opening.
At 1400, a Commissioner's Assistant brief was conducted by R4RA Ellis Merschoff. R1DO (Conte), R2DO (Henson), R3D0 (Hiland), R4DO (Powers), R4 (L. Howell), NRR (Collins), IRO (Wessman), CAO (Keeling), PAO (Hayden), NRR PM (Kalyanam), NRR (Richards), DEDMRS (Dr. Paperiello), SECY (Vietti-Cook), EDO (Morris), IPO (Doroshuk), SPO (Piccone), Chair Assist (Tschiltz), COMM Dicus Assit (Hiltz), COMM McGaffigan Assist (Sharkey), COMM Merrifield Assist (McCabe), COMM Diaz Assist ( ), Sr Resident Insp (Farnholtz), FEMA (Earp), LA State Police and LA Department of Environmental Quality (Wascom).
At 1435 EST, US NRC exited Monitoring mode as per R4RA (Merschoff), NRR (Collins) and IRO (Wessman). Notified FEMA (Zapata), EPA (Edwards), DOE (Bartlett), USDA (Conley) and HHS (Burger).
***UPDATE TO EVENT 3/23/02 1813 EST PIPKINS TO NORRIS***
"This notification supplements the Alert Declaration made by Entergy at Waterford 3 at approximately 10:20 CST this morning (Saturday, March 23, 2002) and subsequently reported to the NRC via the ENS. The Purpose of this supplement is to notify the NRC that this condition is also reportable pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) as a condition that could have prevented the fulfillment a safety function. Specifically the safety function of removing decay heat via the Shutdown Cooling mode of the Low Pressure Safety Injection System was temporarily prevented by the inability to open valves SI-405A and SI-405B (Reactor Coolant Loop Suction Isolation Valves). As previously reported, the Alert condition was exited at approximately 11:50 CST. Shutdown cooling is currently in operation and a safe and orderly cooldown is in progress. The root cause of the condition is currently being investigated."
Licensee notifed NRC Resident. Notifed R4DO (Powers).
While placing Shutdown Cooling into service, it was found that the Licensee was not able to open Safety Injection valves (SI-405 A&B, Reactor Coolant Loop Suction Isolation Valves). Due to the inability to open these valves, the Licensee declared an Alert per their Emergency Action Level's for the inability to maintain cold shutdown condition. All other Emergency Core Cooling Systems are fully operational and the Emergency Diesels are available. Licensee is maintaining Hot Shutdown conditions by using natural circulation and dumping steam to atmosphere with the Steam Generator Atmospheric Dump Valves. There is no indicated primary to secondary leakage. US NRC entered Monitoring Mode at 1149 EST. Normal offsite power is available and weather conditions are favorable.
NRC Resident has been notified. Notified EPA (Edwards), DOE (Bartlett), USDA (Conley) and HHS (Burger).
At 1250 EST, the Licensee terminated the Alert due to the SI-405 A&B valves opening.
At 1400, a Commissioner's Assistant brief was conducted by R4RA Ellis Merschoff. R1DO (Conte), R2DO (Henson), R3D0 (Hiland), R4DO (Powers), R4 (L. Howell), NRR (Collins), IRO (Wessman), CAO (Keeling), PAO (Hayden), NRR PM (Kalyanam), NRR (Richards), DEDMRS (Dr. Paperiello), SECY (Vietti-Cook), EDO (Morris), IPO (Doroshuk), SPO (Piccone), Chair Assist (Tschiltz), COMM Dicus Assit (Hiltz), COMM McGaffigan Assist (Sharkey), COMM Merrifield Assist (McCabe), COMM Diaz Assist ( ), Sr Resident Insp (Farnholtz), FEMA (Earp), LA State Police and LA Department of Environmental Quality (Wascom).
At 1435 EST, US NRC exited Monitoring mode as per R4RA (Merschoff), NRR (Collins) and IRO (Wessman). Notified FEMA (Zapata), EPA (Edwards), DOE (Bartlett), USDA (Conley) and HHS (Burger).
***UPDATE TO EVENT 3/23/02 1813 EST PIPKINS TO NORRIS***
"This notification supplements the Alert Declaration made by Entergy at Waterford 3 at approximately 10:20 CST this morning (Saturday, March 23, 2002) and subsequently reported to the NRC via the ENS. The Purpose of this supplement is to notify the NRC that this condition is also reportable pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) as a condition that could have prevented the fulfillment a safety function. Specifically the safety function of removing decay heat via the Shutdown Cooling mode of the Low Pressure Safety Injection System was temporarily prevented by the inability to open valves SI-405A and SI-405B (Reactor Coolant Loop Suction Isolation Valves). As previously reported, the Alert condition was exited at approximately 11:50 CST. Shutdown cooling is currently in operation and a safe and orderly cooldown is in progress. The root cause of the condition is currently being investigated."
Licensee notifed NRC Resident. Notifed R4DO (Powers).