PNO-I-08-009

PNO-I-08-009A: Vermont Yankee, Update - Water Leak in a Cooling Tower

ML081980107
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	07/16/2008
From:	Norris B NRC/RGN-I/DRP/PB5
To:
NORRIS, B
References
PNO-I-08-009A
Download: ML081980107 (2)

DCS No.: 0500027107162008 Date: 07/16/2008 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE

- PNO-1-08-009A This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public

interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.

Facility Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1

Brattleboro, VT

Docket No.: 50-271

License No.: DPR-28 Licensee Emergency Classification Notification of Unusual Event Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

UPDATE - WATER LEAK IN A COOLING TOWER AT VERMONT YANKEE

Entergy returned Vermont Yankee's west cooling tower to service at approximately 4:25 a.m. on

Wednesday, July 16. Entergy had removed the eas t and west towers from service on July 11, 2008, following the discovery of a 60 gpm leak in cell 1-1 in the east tower. The leak was

attributed to a broken horizontal pipe support located directly beneath the pipe. The towers

were removed from service to allow for extent of condition inspections and repairs.

An NRC special inspection team (SIT) was established in response to the July 11, 2008, leak.

The team, which arrived on site on Monday, July 14, has completed its near-term review of the

safety-related cooling tower cell (2-1) and the adjacent, seismically-qualified cell (2-2). The team reviewed the preliminary cause of the July 11 failure in cell 1-1 and ensured, through hands-on inspection, that similar degraded conditions do not exist in cells 2-1 and 2-2. The

team reviewed all deficiencies identified by the licensee in cells 2-1 and 2-2 and confirmed that

appropriate corrective actions were implemented.

For example, the licensee replaced cracked boards, and replaced a horizontal support structure that was not in accordance with the plant

drawings. Additionally, the team performed an independent structural inspection of cells 2-1

and 2-2. The team has determined that there are no conditions challenging the operability of

these cells.

The NRC has communicated these initial SIT results to state representatives from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

The information presented herein has been discussed with Entergy and is current as of July 16, 2008, at 8:00 a.m.

This preliminary notification is being issued for information only.

ADAMS Accession Number: ML081980107

Contacts: B. Norris N. Sieller (610) 337-5111 (610) 337-5380 barry.norris@nrc.gov nicole.sieller@nrc.gov

DISTRIBUTIONS:

BY E-MAIL:

Chairman Klein Comm. Jaczko

Comm. Lyons Comm. Svinicki

OIP OCA OGC EDO OE NRR NMSS OIG RES ACRS FSME NRO NSIR OPA SECY Regional Offices

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

State of Vermont

State of New Hampshire

BY FAX:

DOT:Trans

INPO NSAC RI Resident Office Licensee:

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Vermont Yankee Region I Form 83 (Rev. Nov. 21, 2006)

SUNSI Review Complete:

BN (Reviewer

=s Initials) ML081980107 DOCUMENT NAME: G:\DRP\PNs\PNO-I-08-009A - VY SIT on Cooling Towers bn.doc After declaring this document A An Official Agency Record

@ it will be released to the Public. To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box:

" C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure " E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure " N" = No copy

O FFICE R I/DRP R I/PAO R I/SLO R I/DRP N AME B Norris/BN

D Screnci/DS

N McNamera /NM

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DATE 07/16/08 07/16/08 07/16/08 07/16/08 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY