NRC TO PROVIDE RESULTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSPECTION

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NRC TO PROVIDE RESULTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSPECTION

CONDUCTED AT GINNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT



Results from a Nuclear Regulatory Commission supplemental team inspection performed at the Ginna nuclear power plant will be presented at a public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 4. The session is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Ontario Town Hall, at 1850 Ridge Road in Ontario, N.Y.



Members of the public are invited to observe the meeting and will have an opportunity to ask questions of NRC staff regarding the inspection and related issues prior to adjournment.



Ginna, which is located in Ontario and operated by Constellation Energy, has been under additional NRC oversight since receiving two “white” (low to moderate safety significance) inspection findings and a “white” performance indicator in 2009. The findings and performance indicator involve problems affecting a turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump, which is used to help cool down the reactor during a sudden shutdown.



Specifically, one of the inspection findings was identified in the first quarter of 2009 and related to inadequate implementation of a preventive maintenance program for, and subsequent failure of, a speed-control device on the pump. The second finding was identified in the fourth quarter of last year. It pertained to inadequate corrective actions that led to the same speed-control device becoming stuck, or binding, due to corrosion and consequently the failure of the same pump to operate during testing.



With respect to the performance indicator, the problems with the turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump resulted in Ginna exceeding the “white” threshold for the Mitigating Systems Performance Index/Heat Removal Systems Performance Indicator in the third quarter of 2009 due to reliability and unavailability issues with the pump.



Four NRC inspectors conducted the supplemental inspection from July 5 to 23, 2010. The objectives of the inspection were to ensure Constellation fully understood the root and contributing causes of the problems; to allow the NRC to independently assess the extent of the condition and determine if safety culture problems contributed to the issues; and to provide assurances that sufficient corrective actions have been implemented to prevent a recurrence. Additional NRC oversight would continue unless the NRC determines these steps have taken place.




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