NRC: Current Event Notification Report for October 1, 2014 - North Anna

NRC: Current Event Notification Report for October 1, 2014

 

Power Reactor	Event Number: 50457
Facility: NORTH ANNA Region: 2 State: VA Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP,[3] M-4-LP NRC Notified By: PAGE KEMP HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER	Notification Date: 09/15/2014 Notification Time: 14:54 [ET] Event Date: 09/15/2014 Event Time: 09:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/30/2014
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) - DEGRADED CONDITION 74.11(a) - LOST/STOLEN SNM 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X	Person (Organization): SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
2	N	N	0	Refueling	0	Refueling

Event Text
FAILED FUEL ASSEMBLY IDENTIFIED DURING CORE OFF-LOAD

"With North Anna Unit 2 in Mode 6 during a scheduled refueling outage, discharged assembly 4Z9 was identified as a failed fuel assembly by In-Mast Sipping. The fuel assembly was located in core location B11. Initial inspection of the fuel assembly identified two (2) visibly split fuel pins of eight (8) to ten (10) inches long with visible damage to the top of the pins. The internals of the affected pins are visible and the springs from the top of each pellet stack are touching the top nozzle. The fuel assembly has been placed into its designated location in the Spent Fuel Pool. No abnormal increase was noted on any radiation monitor either after or during fuel assembly movement. This fuel assembly had been used during three (3) previous operating cycles and is not scheduled for reuse.

"On September 15, 2014, at 0900 [EDT], subsequent video inspection of the fuel assembly identified that the top springs of the two (2) fuel pins were dislodged. Video inspection of the reactor vessel identified debris that has the potential to be fragments of fuel pellets resting on the core plate. Additional investigations are in progress.

"Due to the fact that the failure exceeded expected conditions, this event is being reported per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A), as any event or condition that results in the condition of the nuclear plant, including its principle safety barriers, being seriously degraded."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will notify local county authorities.