NRC: News Release - Region II - 2006-017 - Note to Editors: Clarification of April 7th NRC News Release Announcing Special Inspection at Hatch Nuclear Plant

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NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II
61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
www.nrc.gov

No. II-06-017		April 10, 2006
CONTACT:	Ken Clark (404) 562-4416 Roger D. Hannah (404) 562-4417	E-mail: opa2@nrc.gov
NOTE TO EDITORS: CLARIFICATION OF APRIL 7TH NRC NEWS RELEASE ANNOUNCING SPECIAL INSPECTION AT HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT Printable Version
On April 7th, the NRC issued a news release (No. II-06-016) announcing a special inspection at the Hatch nuclear power plant, operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Company near Baxley, Ga., to assess the circumstances surrounding an unplanned reactor shutdown at Hatch Unit 2 on April 5. This news release clarifies some information in that earlier news release. In the April 7th news release, certain information regarding main turbine "testing" and the operation of "some automatic equipment" was discussed, including that "some automatic equipment had not been repaired after the last refueling outage." The NRC currently believes that there was only one piece of equipment involved and that it was repaired during the refueling outage, but failed sometime after that outage. Also, that NRC release stated that the shutdown was initiated by a maintenance error during "testing" on the Unit 2 turbine generator. The maintenance error actually occurred during calibration of a generator recording instrument. The special inspection team will develop a more precise understanding of all the issues involved as a part of its efforts. The two inspectors involved in the special inspection are the NRC Senior Resident Inspector at the Hatch plant and a Senior Resident Inspector from another plant. The two inspectors are expected to complete their on-site review this week and the results of the inspection will be issued within 45 days of its completion.