Junk Plant Dead Ender Oyster Creek Never Exceeded 85% Power Since Outage

Turbine control and something Else. They tripped once after the outage, then up on startup they never again exceeded 85%.

Oyster Creek nuclear plant taken offline

Amanda Oglesby , @OglesbyAPP 8:14 p.m. EST December 13, 2016

LACEY – Oyster Creek Generating Station, the nation's oldest functioning nuclear power plant, was taken offline Tuesday in order for operators to make repairs to its turbine control system.

The system monitors turbine conditions, speed, temperature and pressure, according to officials at Exelon Generation, which operates the plant.

"The Oyster Creek shutdown will not have an impact on electrical service to Exelon customers," plant officials said in a news release.

This is the second shutdown in less than a month due to a fault in the turbine control system. The plant also underwent a nearly month long shutdown from September to October for scheduled refueling and maintenance.

In July, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) increased oversight of the plant after determining that officials there violated safety rules regarding a faulty emergency back-up generator. NRC staff said the plant operators failed to have instructions for the replacement of a 22-year-old hose on the diesel generator that had degraded because of aging and heat.

Oyster Creek is scheduled to close permanently in December 2019, but environmentalists have called for an earlier decommissioning.

Facility: OYSTER CREEK Region: 1 State: NJ Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-2 NRC Notified By: JOSH MCGUIRE HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON	Notification Date: 11/20/2016 Notification Time: 06:01 [ET] Event Date: 11/20/2016 Event Time: 03:42 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/20/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL	Person (Organization): BRICE BICKETT (R1DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	A/R	Y	90	Power Operation	0	Hot Shutdown

Event Text

AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM DURING MAIN TURBINE TESTING "At 0342 EST, an automatic reactor scram was processed during turbine valve testing. All rods inserted into the core as expected and all systems functioned as expected during the scram. "The event is reportable within 4 hours per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - any event or condition that results in actuation of the Reactor Protection System (RPS) when the reactor is critical except when the actuation results from and is part of a preplanned sequence during testing or reactor operation." The plant response to the reactor scram was uncomplicated. The main feedwater system is maintaining reactor water level and decay heat is being removed by the main turbine bypass valves to the main condenser. The unit is in a normal shutdown electrical lineup. No SRVs lifted during the scram. The licensee was testing the main turbine trip function just prior to the scram. The cause is under investigation. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.