 |
NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION IV
1450 Maria Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 |
| CONTACT: |
Mark Hammond (510) 975-0254/E-mail: mfh2@nrc.gov |
CONTACT: Mark Hammond June 27, 1996
Office: (510) 975-0254 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Home: (415) 674-1024 RIV-4296
Pager: (800) 916-4952
NRC, PG&E OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS
APPARENT VIOLATIONS AT DIABLO CANYON PLANT
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a predecisional
enforcement conference next week with officials of the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to discuss two apparent violations concerning main steam
safety valves at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
The conference will be at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 1, at the NRC
Region IV office in Arlington, Texas. PG&E operates the twin-reactor
Diablo Canyon plant at Avila Beach, Calif. The meeting will be open to
the public for observation; NRC officials will be available afterwards
for questions.
An NRC inspection conducted in May found an apparent violation in
PG&E's failure to promptly identify and correct improper setpoints on
some main steam safety valves in Unit 1. The inspection also found a
second apparent violation in PG&E's failure to follow required procedures
in promptly documenting an evaluation of the results of tests it
conducted on the safety valves.
Main steam safety valves are among several features in the non-nuclear secondary system designed to relieve pressure that could build up
in the steam generator system under certain conditions. Steam generators
are large heat exchangers in which hot, high-pressure water from the
nuclear reactor creates non-radioactive steam that spins turbines
connected to electrical generators.
Each reactor has four steam generators. Each steam generator system has
five safety valves, for a total of 20 per power plant.
PG&E's testing of the safety valves showed that some of the 20
failed to open as designed at specified pressures, and instead initially
opened at pressures slightly higher than specified. The deviation from
limits was slight and other systems could be used if needed to relieve
steam pressure on the non-nuclear secondary side of the plant.
The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does
not mean that NRC has made a final determination that violations did
occur or that enforcement action, such as a monetary fine, will be taken.
The purpose is to discuss the apparent violations, their causes and
safety significance; to provide PG&E an opportunity to challenge or
correct portions of the inspection report; and for the licensee to
outline its corrective actions.
No decision on the apparent violations or any enforcement action
will be made at the conference. Those decisions will be made later by
senior NRC officials.
####
|
