Morning Report for March 1, 1999
Headquarters Daily Report
MARCH 01, 1999
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REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT
ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED
HEADQUARTERS X
REGION I X
REGION II X
REGION III X
REGION IV X
PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION I MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. MR Number: 1-99-0005
Salem 1 2 Date: 03/01/99
Hancocks Bridge,New Jersey
Dockets: 50-272,50-311
PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP
Subject: PLANT MANAGEMENT CHANGE
Discussion:
On February 26, PSE&G informed Region I that Chris Bakken, Salem Plant
Manager, will be leaving effective March 11 to become the Site Vice
President - Operations at D.C. Cook. Pending permanent management
changes, Dave Garchow will be the Acting Salem Plant Manager. Mr. Garchow
had been the Salem Plant Manager prior to Mr. Bakken.
Regional Action:
This Is For Informational Purposes Only.
Contact: Glenn Meyer (610)337-5211
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REGION I MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
New York Power Authority MR Number: 1-99-0006
Fitz Patrick 1 Date: 03/01/99
Lycoming,New York SRI PC
Dockets: 50-333
BWR/GE-4
Subject: ONSITE FIRE LASTING LESS THAN 10 MINUTES
Reportable Event Number: 35419
Discussion:
On February 27, 1999, at 9:56 p.m., the 'A' circulating water pump, one
of three at the plant, tripped and the control room dispatched a nuclear
plant operator (NPO) to the determine the cause of the pump trip. The
NPO observed flames emanating from the pump motor electrical lead box
cover; the onsite fire brigade responded and extinguished the fire with a
CO2 extinguisher within eight minutes of the start of the event. Plant
power was reduced to 65% while the pump was out of service.
Subsequent inspection of the electrical lead box for the motor revealed
that the pump tripped as a result of a failed connection on the Y winding
motor connection, which is the center connection where all three phases
are joined. The aluminum lugging used on the copper cable appears to
have failed, causing an insulation breakdown and resulting in electrical
arcing to the electrical lead box cover which burned a hole in the cover.
NYPA repaired the damaged electrical connection and returned the pump to
service early on the morning of March 1. NYPA used thermographic
techniques to verify a similar condition was not developing on the other
two circulating water pumps.
Regional Action:
The resident inspector responded over the weekend and will continue to
follow NYPA's root cause evaluation and extent of condition review in
this matter.
Contact: John Rogge (610)337-5146
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REGION I MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
Rochester Gas & Electric Corp. MR Number: 1-99-0007
Ginna 1 Date: 03/01/99
Ontario,New York SRI PC
Dockets: 50-244
PWR/W-2-LP
Subject: ERRORS IN MAIN STEAM LINE BREAK ANALYSIS
Discussion:
On February 22, 1999, with the reactor at approximately 75 percent power,
the Ginna Station was notified by its NSSS vendor (Westinghouse) of two
modeling errors in the analysis for a main steam line break (MSLB) inside
containment with an assumed single failure of a feedwater regulating
valve (FRV). These errors had a nonconservative impact on calculated
peak containment pressure. The first error involved the omission of a
previously unaccounted for volume of high temperature feedwater between
the main feedwater pump discharge valve and the main FRV. The added
energy released to the containment by the flashing of feedwater
downstream of the main feedwater pump discharge valve raised calculated
containment pressure. The second error was incorrectly assuming a
15-second closure time for the main feedwater pump discharge valve
isolation valves after an automatic safety injection occurs, when the
actual closure time is 85 seconds. This meant that actual feedwater flow
would continue for 70 seconds longer then what was assumed in the
analysis.
After addressing these errors, the current Westinghouse analysis shows
that the peak containment pressure limit of 60 psig would not be exceeded
during a MSLB with a failed open FRV at power levels up to 70 percent
power, and that sufficient shutdown margin existed to prevent a restart
accident. These results were achieved by assuming a maximum heat sink
temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. For reactor power levels between
70 percent and 100 percent power, peak containment pressure will not
exceed 60 psig, if service water temperature (recirculation temperature)
is limited to less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, recirculation
temperature near the service water bay is 39 degrees Fahrenheit, while
lake temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, plant operation remains
within its design basis for these conditions.
The licensee has placed a temporary administrative restriction of 40
degrees Fahrenheit maximum on recirculation temperature to ensure
adequate margin existed. As part of a regularly scheduled refueling
outage, the licensee initiated a plant shutdown on March 1. During the
shutdown, RG&E will continue to work with Westinghouse to resolve this
issue prior to restart.
Regional Action:
Resident inspectors are monitoring licensee activities.
Contact: Scott Barber (610)337-5232
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REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
Indiana MR Number: 3-99-0012
Michigan Electric Co. Date: 03/01/99
Cook 1 2 sri via telecon
Bridgman,Michigan
Dockets: 50-315,50-316
PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP
Subject: American Electric Power Names New D.C. Cook Vice President
Discussion:
On March 1, 1999, Mr. Robert Powers, Senior Vice President - Nuclear
Generation for American Electric Power announced that Mr. A. Christopher
Bakken will become the new DC Cook Site Vice President. Mr. Bakken
succeeds Mr. John Sampson, who was named American Electric Power
Indiana/Michigan State President. Mr. Bakken was previously employed at
Public Service Electric & Gas Company's Salem Generating Station as the
General Manager Salem Operations.
Regional Action:
Information Only
Contact: A. Vegel (630)829-9620
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REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 5 MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
Commonwealth Edison Co. MR Number: 3-99-0013
Dresden 3 Date: 03/01/99
Morris,Illinois E-Mail from RIO
Dockets: 50-249
BWR/GE-3
Subject: Completion of Refueling Outage on Unit 3
Discussion:
On February 25, 1999, Dresden operators synchronized the Unit 3 main
generator to the electrical grid at 9:43 p.m. ending the Dresden Unit 3
refueling outage (D3R15). The outage officially commenced on January 30,
1999, when operators tripped the turbine main generator off-line. The
outage, completed in 26 days, was the shortest duration refueling outage
in ComEd history. Major activities completed during the outage included:
refueling of the reactor; general maintenance on the 3C low pressure
turbine; bellows assembly replacements in the main condenser; hydrolazing
of the condenser tubes; and plant material condition improvements. As of
March 1, 1999, plant power was at approximately 80 percent power and
startup testing was in progress.
Regional Action:
The resident inspection staff monitored the outage activities and plant
startup and startup testing activities..
Contact: M.Ring (630)829-9703
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REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 6 MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
Northern States Power Co. MR Number: 3-99-0014
Prairie Island 1 2 Date: 03/01/99
Welch,Minnesota Phone call from Res.Inspector off.
Dockets: 50-282,50-306
PWR/W-2-LP,PWR/W-2-LP
Subject: Management Changes Announced
Discussion:
Northern States Power Company (NSP) has named Joel Sorensen to the newly
created position of Site General Manager at Prairie Island. The
appointment is effective today. Mr. Sorensen had previously been plant
manager. In his new position, he will have the plant manager and the
managers of security, training, nuclear generation services, and other,
non-technical areas reporting to him. Northern States Power Company has
also named Mr. Don Schuelke to the plant manager position. Mr. Schuelke
had previously been the general superintendent of radiation protection
and chemistry. In his new position, he will have responsibility for
operations, maintenance, engineering, radiation protection, and
chemistry. Mr. Albert Johnson of the Prairie Island radiation protection
staff has been named to replace Mr. Schuelke.
Contact: Roger Lanksbury (630)829-9631
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REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 7 MARCH 1, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
Northern States Power Co. MR Number: 3-99-0015
Monticello 1 Date: 03/01/99
Monticello,Minnesota Phone call from Res. Inspector off.
Dockets: 50-263
BWR/GE-3
Subject: Management Changes announced
Discussion:
Northern States Power Company (NSP) has named Mr. Mike Hammer to the
newly created position of Site General Manager at Monticello. The
assignment is effective today. Mr. Hammer had previously been plant
manager. In his new position, he will have the plant manager and the
managers of security, training, nuclear generation services, and other,
non-technical areas reporting to him.
Northern States Power Company has also named Mr. Byron Day to the plant
manager position. Mr. Day had previously been the general superintendent
of plant operations. In his new position, he will have responsibility for
operations, maintenance, engineering, radiation protection, and
chemistry.
Contact: Roger Lanksbury (630)829-9631
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