Morning Report for December 7, 2004

Headquarters Daily Report

• REGION II

REGION II

ONE-INCH NON-RADIOACTIVE STEAM LINE BREAK AT V. C. SUMMER STATION

Licensee/Facility: SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO. Summer JENKINSVILLE,, South Carolina Dockets: 05000395 [1] W-3-LP License No:

Notification: MR Number: 2-2004-0018 Date: 12/06/2004 Call from Licensee

Discussion:

At 12:30 a.m. on December 6, 2004, operators at the V. C. Summer Nuclear Station initiated a power reduction from 100% to approximately 2% power to isolate and allow repair of a steam leak in the turbine building. The non-radioactive steam leak resulted from the failure of a one-inch drain line associated with the high pressure turbine. The licensee had previously identified that the line was susceptible to flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) and had replaced the majority of the line with chrome-moly piping in the early 1990's. However, the practice at the time was not to replace the nozzle and a short stub of the original piping. In May 2004, a pin hole steam leak had developed in the remaining carbon steel piping and had been leak seal repaired. On December 6, as a result of FAC, the carbon steel piping failed at the junction with the chrome-moly piping. The licensee plans to replace approximately 10 feet of the one-inch drain line.

The unit will be maintained in Mode 2 (less than 5 percent power) in preparation for restart following the repair. A complete failure analysis, extent of condition review, and root cause analysis are being performed by the licensee.

The resident inspector responded to the site and observed power reduction activities and continues to monitor the licensee's activities. No radioactive release resulted from this event and public health and safety was not impacted by this event. The location of the steam leak was approximately 50 feet in the air and presented no personnel safety hazard.

Regional Action:

Routine followup.

Contacts:

Name	Office Abbrev	Phone No	E-Mail
LANDIS, KERRY D	R2	(404) 562-4510	KDL@nrc.gov