NRC: News Release - 2003-103 - NRC Continues to Monitor Nuclear Power Plants In Shut-Down in Preparation for Restart

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 03-103

August 15, 2003

NRC CONTINUES TO MONITOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
IN SHUT-DOWN IN PREPARATION FOR RESTART
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission continues to monitor nine nuclear power plants shut down yesterday afternoon due to grid instabilities. All the plants are in a stable, safe condition.

Rumors late last night that there was a fire at one of the Pennsylvania nuclear plants are not correct.

The NRC is monitoring plant recovery efforts and status from its Headquarters and Regional offices. Inspectors are at the affected sites providing around-the-clock coverage. Acting Chairman Jeffrey Merrifield is directing NRC actions and is in contact with other federal officials, including the Department of Homeland Security.

The nine affected plants are FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point Units 2 and 3 and Nine Mile Point Units 1 and 2 in New York; Oyster Creek in New Jersey; Perry in Ohio; and Fermi in Michigan. The Davis Besse plant in Ohio lost offsite power as a result of the grid problems, but was already shut down for other reasons.

All the plants declared "unusual events" except Oyster Creek, which did not lose offsite power but automatically shut down due to the grid instabilities. An unusual event is the lowest of four classes of emergency, and means an incident is in process or has occurred indicating a potential degradation of plant safety. No releases of radioactive material requiring off-site response or monitoring have occurred or are expected.

Safety systems at all the shut-down plants operated successfully, and plants stabilized in a safe shut-down condition. Adequate safety was maintained at all times.

As of 9:00 a.m., offsite power was restored to FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point 2 and 3, and Nine Mile Point 1 and 2, and they exited the unusual event. The remaining plants continue to have onsite backup power.

Similar to non-nuclear facilities, when the grid is lost or significantly degraded, the protective circuits of the nuclear reactor and the turbine generator automatically shut down the plant to protect equipment. Nuclear facilities are designed with backup power sources, typically emergency diesel generators, to provide for onsite needs. These diesels provide power to essential safety systems. These systems ensure that the reactor remains in a safe condition.

The plants have backup power systems to keep the security barriers, monitors and equipment operable. If there are any impacts, the licensees have procedures in place to take manual compensatory measures.

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