NRC Schedules Webinar to Discuss 2021 Safety Performance at Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: I-22-007 May 26, 2022
CONTACT:
Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330
Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331

NRC Schedules Webinar to Discuss 2021 Safety Performance at

Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Nuclear Power Plants

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public webinar on June 8 to discuss the agency’s annual assessment of safety performance at nuclear power plants in Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

The performance of 17 nuclear power reactors will be addressed during the virtual session. They are: Calvert Cliffs 1 and 2, in Lusby, Maryland, operated by Constellation Nuclear; Salem 1 and 2 and Hope Creek, in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey, operated by PSEG; Nine Mile Point 1 and 2 and FitzPatrick, in Scriba, New York, and Ginna, in Ontario Township, New York, operated by Constellation Nuclear; Beaver Valley 1 & 2, in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, operated by Energy Harbor Nuclear; Susquehanna 1 & 2, in Salem Township, Pennsylvania, operated by Talen Energy; Limerick 1 & 2, in Limerick, Pennsylvania, and Peach Bottom 2 & 3, in Delta, Pennsylvania, operated by Constellation Nuclear.

The purpose of the webinar is to provide information regarding the plants’ safety performance in 2021 and the NRC’s oversight activities at the facilities. The online meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time. Participants will be able to access the meeting after completing this registration form. The Microsoft Teams link will then be sent to them. For those without access to the internet, the teleconference number is 301-576-2978, passcode 332395799 #. Attendees will be able to view slides prepared by NRC staff and ask questions either orally or in writing. The slides will be available in the agency’s online documents system known as  .

All of the plants to be discussed operated safely in 2021, with inspection findings and performance indicators for each unit assessed as “green,” or of very low safety significance, at the end of the year. As a result, each of those plants in 2022 will receive the normal level of oversight, which entails thousands of hours of inspection each year.

The Reactor Oversight Process uses color-coded inspection findings and indicators to describe plant performance. The colors start at green and increase to white, yellow or red, commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Inspection findings or performance indicators with more than very low safety significance trigger increased NRC oversight.

Inspections are performed by NRC resident inspectors assigned to each of the plants and specialists from the agency’s Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The annual assessment letters for the plants, as well as the webinar notice, are available on the NRC website. Current plant performance indicators for all of the units are also available on the website and are updated on a quarterly basis.

22-007-i.pdf

Peach Bottom - AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO ELECTRICAL TRANSIENTS

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR

05/17/2022 - 05/18/2022

55899

Power Reactor

Event Number: 55899

Facility: Peach Bottom

Region: 1     State: PA

Unit: [2] [] []

RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4

NRC Notified By: Linell, Bill

HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith Notification Date: 05/16/2022

Notification Time: 19:51 [ET]

Event Date: 05/16/2022

Event Time: 15:52 [EDT]

Last Update Date: 05/16/2022 Emergency Class: Non Emergency

10 CFR Section:

50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical

50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation Person (Organization):

Lilliendahl, Jon (R1DO)

Power Reactor Unit Info

Unit SCRAM Code  RX Crit  Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR  Current RX Mode

2 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO ELECTRICAL TRANSIENTS

The following information was provided by the licensee via fax:

"Unit 2 experienced multiple electrical transients resulting in a Group I Primary Containment Isolation Signal (PCIS) isolation and subsequent unit reactor scram. Low reactor water level during the automatic scram caused PCIS Group II and III isolation signals. Following the PCIS Group I isolation, all main steam lines isolated. All control rods inserted and all systems operated as designed."

The following additional information was obtained from the licensee via phone in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:

Peach Bottom Unit 2 automatically scrammed from 100 percent power due to an electrical transient and subsequent PCIS Group I isolation (Main Steam Isolation Valve closure). Unit 2 lost main feedwater due to the PCIS Group I isolation, however, all other systems responded as expected following the scram. High Pressure Coolant Injection is maintaining pressure control while Condensate Pumps are maintaining inventory. The unit is currently stable and in Mode 3. Peach Bottom Unit 3's Adjustable Speed Drives were impacted by the electrical transients and the unit reduced power to 98 percent power.

The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.

May 10th - Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation

Dear CIS & Decommissioning Working Groups,

Meeting info 05/10/22 9:00AM - 12:00PM ET Commission Meeting: Strategic Programmatic Overview of the Fuel Facilities and the Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation Business Lines [more...] NRC One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville MDKellee Jamerson (301) 415-7408 Participation: Open

ML22124A016
https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML22124A016 

Document Title: M220510: Agenda - Strategic Programmatic Overview of the Fuel Facilities and the Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation Business Lines
Document Type: Commission Meeting Agenda
Document Date: 05/10/2022

ML22124A017

https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML22124A017 

Document Title: M220510: Slides - Strategic Programmatic Overview of the Fuel Facilities and the Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation Business Lines
Document Type: Commission Meeting Slides
Document Date: 05/10/2022

 

NRC Proposes $3,500 Defense Health Agency Fine for Loss of Medical Purpose Radioactive Material

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release

No: I-22-005 May 2, 2022

CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330

                      Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331

 

NRC Proposes $3,500 Defense Health Agency Fine for Loss of Medical Purpose Radioactive Material

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a $3,500 civil penalty for a federal agency for the loss of nuclear material used during radiation therapy procedures.

 

The Falls Church, Virginia, Defense Health Agency oversees medical treatment facilities within the Department of Defense, including the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. On May 17, 2021, DHA reported to the NRC the loss of four brachytherapy seeds containing iodine-125 that were to be implanted for prostate cancer treatments at the center.

 

“In weighing the appropriate enforcement action in this case, we took into consideration the comprehensive steps taken by DHA to prevent a repeat occurrence. During a future inspection, we will verify the effectiveness of these changes,” said NRC Region I Administrator Dave Lew.

 

In a Dec. 9, 202, inspection report, the NRC identified the apparent violation. According to the lost source policy described in the NRC Enforcement Policy, a civil penalty is considered for all violations involving the loss of regulated material.

 

DHA believes the seeds, contained in a shielded box, were inadvertently disposed of as normal waste, which have not been recovered despite search efforts. The NRC believes the seeds are unlikely to cause permanent injury to a member of the public if encountered.

 

On Jan. 18, 2022, DHA responded to the inspection report and did not contest the apparent violation. The agency provided comprehensive information regarding corrective and preventative actions for the loss of the seeds, including the cessation of all brachytherapy procedures pending a root cause analysis and the identification of, and implementation of, actions that include revising procedures and enhancing training.

 

DHA will have 30 days to pay or contest the fine.

22-005-i.pdf