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Morning Report for September 17, 2003

Headquarters Daily Report

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REGION III

PLAN HEAT-UP FOR REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE TEST SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF EMERGENT ISSUES

Licensee/Facility:

FIRSTENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING CO.
Davis-Besse
OAK HARBOR, Ohio
Dockets: 05000346
[1] B&W-L-LP
License No:
Notification:

MR Number: 3-2003-0014
Date: 09/17/2003

Inspector at Site

Discussion:

On September 15, while the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant was in Mode 3 and performing Reactor Coolant System (RCS) heat-up in preparation for the Normal Operating Pressure (NOP) test of the RCS, an isolation valve on the emergency core flood tank 1 opened unexpectedly, resulting in a control room alarm and discharge of approximately 1000gallons of water from the core flood tank to the reactor coolant drain tank. Plant operators shut the valve, reduced reactor coolant pressure and stopped further heat-up activities to evaluate the event.

This event has minimal safety significance because the reactor remains shut down during the test. The temperature and pressure required to perform the NOP test are being generated by cooling system pumps.

The licensee is assessing the causes of the event and has taken immediate corrective actions that include revising the reactor coolant heat-up procedure; removing the reactor operating crew that was on duty from the shift rotation and providing remediation; providing other reactor operator crews with simulator training on the event, reviewing the core flood and low pressure injection systems design; and upgrading shift turnover and pre-job briefing.

Members of the NRC’s resident inspector team at the plant were monitoring the licensee’s actions in the control room when the event occurred and will continue to evaluate the licensee’s operational performance during the test. The plant heat-up for the NOP test was suspended while the licensee implemented corrective actions.

On September 16, 2003 during testing of containment spray system #1, the circuit breaker for the pump tripped unexpectedly. The licensee initiated their procedure for problem solving and trouble shooting and suspended the plant heat up until the issue is resolved.

This information is current as of 9:00 am CDT on September 17, 2003.

Regional Action:

Resident Inspectors are monitoring licensee activities.

Accession Numbers:

Accession No Accession Date
ML032600170 09/17/2003

Contacts:

Name Office Abbrev Phone No E-Mail
CHRISTINE LIPA   (630) 829-9619  


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