NRC begins special inspections

Monday, 14 June 2010

US nuclear safety regulators are taking a closer look at recent incidents at the Surry and Brunswick nuclear power plants.

   

Surry (Image: NRC)

When unusual incidents take place at a US nuclear power plant which could have safety implications or shed light on generic issues for other plants, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will often dispatch a 'special inspection' team. Two such missions were launched in the last week to the Brunswick and Surry nuclear power plants respectively.

 

At Surry on June 8 an electrical bus failed during maintenance resulting in the loss of power to some main feedwater valves and triggering an automatic shutdown of the plant's first reactor by design. "There were several complications associated with that shutdown," said the NRC, "including loss of power to some components, loss of some instrumentation and control room indications, and a small fire in a cabinet in the control room." The body is keen to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the event, licensee Dominion Virginia Electric Power actions, and its past post-maintenance testing.

 

Meanwhile at Brunswick on 6 June, an 'alert' was issued after the discharge of the toxic fire suppressant gas halon in the basement of the emergency diesel generator building. Operator Carolina Power & Light reported there was no fire and the plant's two reactors continued to operate normally at full power. However, regulators said "the activation of the plants emergency response organization was significantly delayed, as was the initiation of the plant's emergency response data system."

 

The inspections are the seventh and eights sent by the NRC this year to nuclear facilities around the USA. The missions are run by senior inspectors and report within 45 days.
 
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News