VC Summer Plant is Nuts?

Humm, a government owned nuclear power plant in a anti government state.

*SCANA Corporation (66.7%) is a $9 billion energy-based holding company, based in Cayce, South Carolina, a suburb of Columbia. Its businesses include regulated electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy-related businesses. SCANA's subsidiaries serve approximately 661,000 electric customers in South Carolina and more than one million natural gas customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

*The people of South Carolina govern Santee Cooper (33.3%) through a board of directors appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate. A board member represents each congressional district and each of the three counties where Santee Cooper serves retail customers directly; one board member has previous electric cooperative experience; and the chairman is appointed at-large.

 Hmm, overloaded by building out two nuke plants.

On March 27, 2008, South Carolina Electric & Gas applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) to build two 1,100 MW AP1000 pressurized water reactors at the site.^[5] On May 27, 2008, SCE&G and Santee Cooper announced an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract had been reached with Westinghouse.^[6] Costs were estimated to be approximately $9.8 billion for both AP1000 units, plus transmission facility and financing costs. The operators are filing an application to increase customers bills by $1.2 billion (2.5%) during the construction period to partially finance capital costs.^[7]

Two events popping up at the same time is very disconcerting. Can’t tell the difference between a valve leak on the vessel head and a leaking pressurizer safety valve. Bet you they had a elevated tail piece temperature thinking it was the leaks.

It sounds like the the maintenance is dismal on this plant.

  

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE - PNO-II-14-005A

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. Some of the information may not yet be fully verified or evaluated by the

Region II staff (Atlanta, GA)

Facility Licensee Emergency Classification

South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G)

V.C. Summer, Unit 1

U P D AT E - SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS DUE TO LEAKING

PRESSURIZER SAFETY VALVE

On July 13, 2014, staff at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS), Unit 1 suspected that a pressurizer safety valve was leaking and made a conservative decision to shutdown the unit. On July 17, the vendor notified the licensee that pressurizer safety valve test results showed the valve was not leaking. The licensee subsequently identified that the source of the leak was a reactor vessel head vent valve and repaired the valve.

The NRC resident inspectors were promptly notified and were onsite to monitor the shutdown and activities to identify and repair the leak. The resident inspectors are also monitoring the licensee’s additional reviews into the valve failure.

While returning the unit to service on July 22, the plant automatically tripped due to decreasing water level in the steam generators. The reactor trip occurred when the condensate polishing system bypass valve failed to open as required and feedwater flow was reduced. All safety systems responded as designed. The NRC resident inspectors were promptly notified and responded to the site to assess the plant and monitor the licensee’s actions. The licensee has completed repairs to the condensate valve and the plant is currently being returned to service.

This preliminary notification is issued for information. The State of South Carolina has been

notified by the NRC.

Region II received initial notification of this occurrence by the NRC Resident Inspectors who have been monitoring licensee actions. The information presented herein has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 8:00 a.m. on July 24, 2014.