Event Notification Report for May 12, 2013
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
05/11/2013 - 05/12/2013
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor
Event Number: 49025
Facility: GRAND GULF
Region: 4 State: MS
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: TJ REYNOLDS
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Region: 4 State: MS
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: TJ REYNOLDS
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Notification Date: 05/12/2013
Notification Time: 19:15 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2013
Event Time: 17:43 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/29/2013
Notification Time: 19:15 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2013
Event Time: 17:43 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/29/2013
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
ART HOWELL (RA)
JANE MARSHALL (IRD)
DAN DORMAN (NRR)
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
ART HOWELL (RA)
JANE MARSHALL (IRD)
DAN DORMAN (NRR)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO FIRE ON AUXILIARY TRANSFORMER INSIDE PROTECTED THE AREA
At 1743 CDT on 05/12/13, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station declared an Unusual Event due to a fire lasting greater than 15 minutes in an auxiliary transformer inside the Protected Area (PA). The transformer was isolated. The plant continues to operate at 100% power. The license remains in a Unusual Event pending further investigation.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and State and Local Authorities.
Notified DHS SWO, FEMA, and DHS NICC.
* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT BRINKMAN TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 2112 EDT ON 5/12/13 * * *
The Licensee terminated the Unusual Event at 1921 CDT on 5/12/13 based on electrically isolating the auxiliary transformer and termination of smoke coming from the transformer. At no time were flames seen during this event. The transformer is located outside of the turbine building and is used to supply various loads and office space during outages. There was no other impact on the plant.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and State and Local Authorities.
Notified R4DO (Drake), NRR EO (Bahadur), IRD (Marshall), DHS SWO, FEMA, and DHS NICC.
* * * RETRACTION FROM CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1057 EDT ON 5/29/13 * * *
"EN #49025 documents an emergency declaration of Notification of Unusual Event due to a fire lasting greater than 15 minutes within the protected area. The basis for retraction is that this event did not meet the definition of FIRE in NEI 99-01 Rev 5, 'Methodology for the Development of Emergency Action Levels'. This document was endorsed by the NRC on February 22, 2008 (see ADAMS ascension # ML080450149) and is part of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station's current licensing basis. Per the guidance, a FIRE is defined as:
"Combustion characterized by heat and light. Sources of smoke such as slipping drive belts or overheated electrical equipment do not constitute FIRES. Observation of flame is preferred but is NOT required if large quantities of smoke and heat are observed.
"Grand Gulf performed interviews of operators and personnel responding to the event and subsequently examined photos of the affected auxiliary transformer. According to eyewitness reports from personnel, flames were not observed at any time nor was there any light emanating from the source of smoke. Personnel also reported that at the immediate vicinity of the smoke source, heat was not at a level which would be indicative of a fire. Photos of the affected transformer did not show signs of charring, burns, warping, or deformation as would be expected during a FIRE. Additionally, the definition of a FIRE specifically excludes overheated electrical equipment."
Notified R4DO (Azua), NRR EO (Chernoff), and IRD (Morris).
At 1743 CDT on 05/12/13, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station declared an Unusual Event due to a fire lasting greater than 15 minutes in an auxiliary transformer inside the Protected Area (PA). The transformer was isolated. The plant continues to operate at 100% power. The license remains in a Unusual Event pending further investigation.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and State and Local Authorities.
Notified DHS SWO, FEMA, and DHS NICC.
* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT BRINKMAN TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 2112 EDT ON 5/12/13 * * *
The Licensee terminated the Unusual Event at 1921 CDT on 5/12/13 based on electrically isolating the auxiliary transformer and termination of smoke coming from the transformer. At no time were flames seen during this event. The transformer is located outside of the turbine building and is used to supply various loads and office space during outages. There was no other impact on the plant.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and State and Local Authorities.
Notified R4DO (Drake), NRR EO (Bahadur), IRD (Marshall), DHS SWO, FEMA, and DHS NICC.
* * * RETRACTION FROM CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1057 EDT ON 5/29/13 * * *
"EN #49025 documents an emergency declaration of Notification of Unusual Event due to a fire lasting greater than 15 minutes within the protected area. The basis for retraction is that this event did not meet the definition of FIRE in NEI 99-01 Rev 5, 'Methodology for the Development of Emergency Action Levels'. This document was endorsed by the NRC on February 22, 2008 (see ADAMS ascension # ML080450149) and is part of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station's current licensing basis. Per the guidance, a FIRE is defined as:
"Combustion characterized by heat and light. Sources of smoke such as slipping drive belts or overheated electrical equipment do not constitute FIRES. Observation of flame is preferred but is NOT required if large quantities of smoke and heat are observed.
"Grand Gulf performed interviews of operators and personnel responding to the event and subsequently examined photos of the affected auxiliary transformer. According to eyewitness reports from personnel, flames were not observed at any time nor was there any light emanating from the source of smoke. Personnel also reported that at the immediate vicinity of the smoke source, heat was not at a level which would be indicative of a fire. Photos of the affected transformer did not show signs of charring, burns, warping, or deformation as would be expected during a FIRE. Additionally, the definition of a FIRE specifically excludes overheated electrical equipment."
Notified R4DO (Azua), NRR EO (Chernoff), and IRD (Morris).
Power Reactor
Event Number: 49026
Facility: KEWAUNEE
Region: 3 State: WI
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: LOGAN MILLER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Region: 3 State: WI
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: LOGAN MILLER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Notification Date: 05/12/2013
Notification Time: 21:58 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2013
Event Time: 17:55 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/12/2013
Notification Time: 21:58 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2013
Event Time: 17:55 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/12/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling |
SERVICE WATER EFFLUENT LINES NON FUNCTIONAL
"At 1755 [CDT] on 05/12/13, R-16, Service Water System Effluent Line (Containment Fan Cooling) and R-20, Service Water System Effluent Line (Auxiliary Building Service Water Header) were declared NON-FUNCTIONAL due to low SW [Service Water] sampling flow. R-16 and R-20 are used for Emergency Action Level (EAL) classifications of an unplanned release of liquid radioactivity to the environment that exceeds the requirements of the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual for an Unusual Event and an Alert, and is therefore being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) as a loss of emergency assessment capability."
The Licensee is investigating to determine an appropriate recovery plan.
The Licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
"At 1755 [CDT] on 05/12/13, R-16, Service Water System Effluent Line (Containment Fan Cooling) and R-20, Service Water System Effluent Line (Auxiliary Building Service Water Header) were declared NON-FUNCTIONAL due to low SW [Service Water] sampling flow. R-16 and R-20 are used for Emergency Action Level (EAL) classifications of an unplanned release of liquid radioactivity to the environment that exceeds the requirements of the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual for an Unusual Event and an Alert, and is therefore being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) as a loss of emergency assessment capability."
The Licensee is investigating to determine an appropriate recovery plan.
The Licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.