Cook Plant: Interesting Plant Trip???

Think of how widespread this kind of engineering incompetence is at this two unit site. This would be my example of mind boggling engineering stupidity ultimately driven by financial pressures. This is only going to get worst. I just don't think the NRC has the capability to fix this management.      

SUBJECT: D. C. COOK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 NRCINTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 05000315/2015003; 05000316/2015003; AND07200072/2015001

November 12, 2015

Introduction: A finding of very low safety significance (Green) was self-revealed on April 23, 2015 when the Unit 2 reactor was manually tripped shortly after startup from a refueling outage due to two condenser steam dump valves failing open. Contrary to the requirements of Modification Procedure PMP–5040–MOD–007, the design of the new valves that were installed was not compatible with the steam dump system.

In 2013, the licensee decided to replace the existing steam dump valves with a new design due to an increasing number of valve failures and other issues. However, design work and planning to perform the modifications failed to meet timeliness milestones prior to the outage. Contrary to the modification procedure for these circumstances, the change was not considered ‘fast-track,’ therefore, additional risk assessments and management oversight were not provided. Additionally, prior to the start of the modification package, components were procured ‘at-risk’ given the shortened timeline available to get the modification ready. Guidance in the modification procedure required personnel to confirm that a design had progressed sufficiently before allowing ‘at-risk’ procurement. In this case, procurement occurred prior to the start of the modification package. Further, stakeholder meetings to assess the modification only occurred after parts had been procured (i.e., the design had already been selected). Attendance at the meetings was also noted to be poor. As a result of the issues in adhering to the modification process, key attributes regarding the operation of the steam dump system were not incorporated into the design of the new valves; namely, the fact that the steam dump lines can be subject to significant amounts of condensate under normal operations. The design of the new valves allowed some of this condensate to be trapped in the valve body, unlike the original design. The potential for this condition was not considered when selecting the design nor conveyed as a possibility to the valve manufacturer. When steam was admitted to the valves, a two-phase flow dynamic was established due to the trapped water. This, combined with a different plug design in the new valves, created a significant backpressure within the valves, causing them to fail open. This conclusion was determined by an outside engineering firm the licensee consulted as part of the root cause process, and was accepted by the licensee.

Just think how expensive this screw-up was. Issues

1)      You catch the enormous magnitude of the normalization of devience going on here. They are severely addicted to NOD.

2)      The DG maintenance crew was negligently incompetent.

Annual Followup of Selected Issues: Failure of 1AB Emergency Diesel Generator

Inspection Scope  

On May 21, 2015, the 1AB EDG suffered a failure of the #4 main bearing during a post-maintenance test run. As a result of the failure, the EDG automatically shutdown on high bearing temperature. At the time of the failure, Unit 1 was in day three of a 14 day TS action statement allowed for major EDG maintenance outages. Because repairs would exceed the allowed outage time, on June 1 the licensee shutdown Unit 1 in accordance with TSs. During the forced outage, the license repaired the EDG, which included replacement of the crankshaft and several bearings. Following repairs, the licensee tested the 1AB EDG.

These issues had an impact on the volume of air remaining in the system upon this particular EDG start. Regarding the other factors necessary for arcing to occur, during repairs it was identified that the #6 rear connecting rod bearing had been damaged during a maintenance period in 2008. The degradation helped complete a current path for the arcing to occur

Updated and Reposted from 4/28
April 28:

Yea, 25% this morning... 

April 27:

(Tiny nuke company)

(AEP CEO) This strategy of investing in the regulated companies, particularly Wires and Transmission, focus on continuous improvement initiatives, such as lean practices, the crescendo in savings over time. And a culture of continued disciplined execution of our employees around operational excellence continues to produce positive results.

The Cook Plant is still at 0% power today? Nothing in the news? Man, they got a great cloaking device on site.  

 "manually tripped due to an uncontrolled cooldown"  

Honestly, you have a cooldown of a reactor still fully up a power by two failed steam dump valves slamming open. How many times have we seen this?

Outage began March  25? Must have just started up? Must have scammed on 20 to 30%. NRC says % last night and scammed at 5 am.  So it was relatively low power...transitioning onto the turb. Maybe not even at the point of adding heat. We are talking about a big cooldown.

Not even in the media?

They had a severe cooldown while at power, then they had to manually scam? I wonder what the max d/p was across the steam generator.

This guy is going to a special inspection...

MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO A SECONDARY PLANT TRANSIENT
"On April 23, 2015 DC Cook Unit 2 Reactor was manually tripped due to an uncontrolled cooldown due to two (2) failed open steam dump valves. The cause of the failure is still under investigation. 

"This event is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(i) Tech Spec Required Shutdown, as a four (4) hour report; 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B), Reactor Protection System (RPS) actuation, as a four (4) hour report; and under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A), specified system actuation of the Reactor Protection System (RPS), as an eight (8) hour report. 

"The electrical grid is stable and Unit 2 continues to be supplied by offsite power. All control rods fully inserted. Decay heat is being removed via steam generator Power Operated Relief Valves due to steam dump valves being manually isolated. Preliminary evaluation indicates all plant systems functioned normally following the Reactor Trip. DC Cook Unit 2 remains stable in Mode 3 while conducting the post Trip Review. No radioactive release is in progress as a result of this event.

"The DC Cook Resident NRC Inspector has been notified." 

There is no indication of primary to secondary leakage and there is no impact on Unit 1.

SAN ONOFRE 

REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/01/2002|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: CA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 00:33[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-3-LP,[2] CE,[3] CE |EVENT DATE: 06/30/2002|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 18:58[PDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: CONOSCENTI |LAST UPDATE DATE: 07/01/2002|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: JOHN MacKINNON +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |WILLIAM JOHNSON R4 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) RPS ACTUATION - CRITICA| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE
|
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 A/R Y 18 Power Operation |0 Hot Standby |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP ON LOW STEAM GENERATOR PRESSURE DUE TO TWO
ADDITIONAL |
| STEAM DUMP VALVES FULLY OPENING DURING STARTUP. |
| |
| System Affected |
| "Primary: Rx Trip, CEA, RCP's stayed on, PLCS" |
| "Secondary: SBCS Open, MSIV's, ADV, MFW, AFW" |
| |
| Actuations and Their Initiating Signals |
| "MSIS A & B @ 741 PSIA. Lowest Seen = MSIS setpoint" |
| |
| Causes |
| "Prelim: 4 SBCS All Fast Open . . . " |
| |
| Effect Of Event Plant |
| "Low S/G Pressure Rx Trip, Turbine Trip, MSIS isolated secondary. CVCS |
| remained in service. MSIS verified and rest, then AFW initiated. (Did not |
| want cooldown from steam-driven AFW Pp. Adequate S/G water level maintained |
| throughout. Approx. 50% NR)." |
| |
| Actions Taken or Planned |
| "EOI's: S023-12-1 (SPTA's), S023-12-2 (RTR), OI: S023-S-1.3.1 S0123-0-14 4 |
| Hour" |
| "E-PLAN Review P S/G" [decreased]) |
| |
| The licensee was going to bring the main turbine on line which was rolling |
| at 1800 rpm. Two steam dump bypass valves were open dumping steam to the | | main condenser to help maintain reactor power at 18%. Unexpectedly two| main condenser to help maintain reactor power at 18%. Unexpectedly two |
| additional steam dump bypass valves opened. When these two additional steam |
| dump bypass valves opened the first two open valves initial started to close |
| then they went full open. Steam generator pressure decreased to the low |
| steam generator pressure setpoint of 741 psia at which point an automatic |
| reactor trip plus a main steam isolation signal (MSIS) was generated, main |

These guys got a automatic scram and no mention of a out of control cool down?  

| steam isolation valves (MSIV's) closed. All rods fully inserted into the |
| core. Atmospheric steam dump valves were used to maintained proper reactor |
| coolant system temperature. The licensee said that they did not have any |
| leaking steam generator tubes. Proper steam generator water inventory was |
| verified at which time the MSIS signal was reset, then one Motor Driven |
| Auxiliary Feedwater Pump was manually initiated to maintain proper steam |
| generator water level. Main feedwater system isolated due to the MSIS |
| signal and the reactor trip. All emergency core cooling systems, emergency |
| diesel generators are fully operable if needed. The electrical grid is |
| stable. The licensee is investigating why the two additional steam dump |
| bypass valves opened. |
|

Hmm?  Cook must be in a media dead spot?

POINT BEACH: REACTOR POWER EXCEEDED FSAR ANALYZED 

On 10/12/12 at 0420 CDT the Unit 2 Steam Generator B Atmospheric Steam Dump Valve (ADV) spuriously opened while in automatic control. This resulted in indicated reactor power exceeding the FSAR analyzed value of 1810.8 MWt. Prompt operator action was taken and reactor power was restored to within limits in approximately four minutes. The operators placed the Atmospheric Steam Dump Controller to manual and closed the ADV successfully. This event is being reported under the criteria in 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)(ii)(B).

NRC Notified By: RUSS PARKER
10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED

Timely Report on a 60,000 gal Condensate Leak at River Bend (not)

Degraded floor seals, does that mean flooding seals?  Did they discover degraded flood seals by another large and preventable flooding incident.  

Is this in a inspection report.

Hmm, occurred on Aug 1st...

Power Reactor	Event Number: 51599
Facility: RIVER BEND Region: 4 State: LA Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-6 NRC Notified By: JACK MCCOY HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK	Notification Date: 12/11/2015 Notification Time: 02:30 [ET] Event Date: 08/03/2015 Event Time: 15:30 [CST] Last Update Date: 12/11/2015
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): BOB HAGAR (R4DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	Y	100	Power Operation	100	Power Operation

Event Text

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION FOR CONDENSATE SPILL IN TURBINE BUILDING "On August 1, 2015, during tagging activities to support planned maintenance on a condensate demineralizer, operators incorrectly positioned certain air-operated components which, combined with apparent leakage past a solenoid valve, resulted in a drain opening on a demineralizer that was in service. Flow through the drain line caused a turbine building sump to overflow to the floor of the 67 foot elevation of the Turbine Building. Immediate actions were taken to stop the leak. "The spill volume was approximately 60,000 gallons of condensate. The tritium activity of the water is estimated at 1.32E-2 microCi/ml. Gamma activity was from noble gases only in a concentration of approximately 2.30E-6 microCi/ml. The spill was confined to the Turbine Building. The affected area contains degraded floor seals which might allow the spill to reach groundwater. "The reason for this notification is that industry and governmental officials were notified of this event on August 3, 2015. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector was notified and informal notification was made to the NRC Region IV office, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and West Feliciana Parish government authorities. The Nuclear Energy Institute was informed as specified in their ground water protection initiative. "Plant cleanup activities arising from the spill are complete."

An Era In Nuclear Power History Nobody Ever Seen Before?

I have to disabuse you of the idea that our times are similar to any other era in nuclear power history.

I can make the case in all our nuclear industry accidents and tribulations, all of these events were initiated from financial, budget limitations or inappropriate priorities. The withdrawal of resources from a nuclear plant or just simply not having enough resources to keep up with the normal degradations mechanism of an operating nuclear reactor. The nuclear power industry is particularly bad at doing budget cuts professionally.

The unprecedented processes ongoing:

1)   Runaway electric price deflation-The miraculous nature gas and petroleum fracting technology. Basically we are finding bigger and more easily obtainable gas reservoirs than we ever imagined before. They are stacking up on top of each other. The majority of nuclear plant are no longer making enough money to stay viable and we are in a severe intensification of this phase.

• “The Brooks Brother Suits Wants Budget's Slashed 30% at Nuclear Plants”

2)   The nuclear Industry (NEI) is instituting the largest experiment in the history of the industry. They are massively and almost instantaneously cutting 30% from the budgets of all nuclear plants.

3)   The NRC is massively reforming themselves towards the ends reducing their agency budgets in the same timeframe

4)   Another unprecedented grand experiment: The aging fleet of nuclear power plants.

Get ready for a blizzard of mindboggling stupid mistakes occurring at nuclear plants for no explainable reason? Or it becoming excepted practice.        

A River Bend situation at Wolf Creek

I called in a NRC special inspection this winter (2015)to River Bend over bad reactor level control after a scram and apparent problems with their feed regulating valve control.

If the NRC did my style of thorough special inspection at Wolf Creek in early 2015 on emerging operator training and simulator fidelity deficiencies...Wolf Creek's violations this inspection cycle wouldn't have occurred.

I'd seen the scale of Wolf Creeks problems in Fed 2015 and wanted the NRC to hammer them. Wanted the agency to reset the facility to at least a average facility. The agency in Jan 2015 needed to make Wolf Creek knees tremble with fear.   

Feb 13, 20154: Why is Wolf Creek In Trouble II?

“You are seeing the worst of the NRC here. So the simulator was inaccurate and the safety knowledge of the licensed operators was really poor. They bifurcated the depth of the problem or diluted the magnitude the problems by separating these problems between two independent inspection reports. I am certain the NRC seen the inadequacies of the licensed operators training and the inadequacies of accurate simulator modeling at the same time. They strategized to separate the issues to minimize the violations for their buddies.

If they would have hit these guys with these two problems at the same time, jacked up the violation level...threw it into the special inspection...these guys would have gotten the message to clean up their act really hard. Everyone else would have seen this saying, we can't let this happen to us.

Better yet, failed training and shut them down for a month or so for retraining...this wouldn't be seen in the nuclear industry for a decade or more.”

River Bend blindly had:

massive leaking FRVs. 

They never set up their feed water system right post construction.

With large scale simulator problem modeling the feed system.  

Check out how closely related Wolf Creeks problems are to River Bend? 

December 8, 2015

EA-15-139 

SUBJECT:WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION – NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000482/2015009

Green. The inspectors reviewed a self-revealing Green non-cited violation of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion V, “Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings,” because the licensee did not assure the procedures for reactor startup were appropriate to the circumstances. Specifically, prior to May 3, 2015, the licensee failed to include adequate instructions for transferring feedwater flow from the main feedwater regulating valve bypass valves to the main feedwater regulating valves in Procedure GEN 00 003, “Hot Standby to Minimum Load.” As a result, operations personnel did not properly control feedwater flow during a reactor startup, which led to a plant trip on May 3, 2015. The licensee entered this condition into their corrective action program as Condition Reports 96064 and 100583. The corrective action taken to restore compliance was to revise Procedure GEN 00-003 to update the process for transferring main feedwater control from the main feedwater regulating valve bypass valves to the main feedwater regulating valves, including the monitoring of necessary parameters steam flow and feedwater flow.

Green. The inspectors reviewed a self-revealing Green non-cited violation of 10 CFR 55.46(c)(1), “Plant referenced Simulators,” due to the licensee’s failure to maintain a plant-referenced simulator used for the administration of the operating test such that it would demonstrate expected plant response to operator input and to normal, transient, and accident conditions to which the simulator has been designed to respond. Specifically, until June 13, 2015, the licensee failed to maintain the simulator consistent with actual plant response when using the main feed regulating valves in manual control. The licensee entered this condition into their corrective action program as Condition Report 96252. The corrective action taken to restore compliance was to change the simulator modeling of the main feedwater regulating valve controller to match the installed plant controllers. 

Pilgrim’s Security Violations Resemble All Other Problems Seen Throughout the Plant

Updated 12/14

Entergy : Opinion Turco: ‘We want a future, not a Fukushima’ NRC inaction on Pilgrim has failed region

12/11/2015 | 02:45pm US/Eastern

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Recent concerns raised alarm regarding safety at the Pilgrim nuclear reactor and the lack of serious federal oversight. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported five security safety violations, promulgated a new ruling to allow an increase of safety infractions before additional oversight and initiated a rule-making proposal on decommissioning, which would allow the funds to be used for spent fuel storage, end off-site emergency planning and reduce security and insurance costs. Federal regulators with benefits for the nuclear industry prevail. 

First, the NRC identifies five security safety violations concluding, "Entergy failed to take effective corrective actions in a timely manner commensurate with safety significance.” Sound familiar? This conclusion is repeated in multiple NRC assessments regarding Entergy. Even after increased NRC oversight for the past two years, Entergy and the Pilgrim reactor continue to fail. The consequences for such poor operation are not a deterrent. When asked what timeline is given for Entergy to respond to the failing September report, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan replied, “There is no required timeline for Entergy to notify us of its readiness for the review. The company is supposed to present its improvement plan before the Commission within six months.” Six months? This timeline reinforces sluggish action by the NRC. Being downgraded due to repetitive degraded assessments, the pattern is clear. The industry is not held accountable for public safety and neither is the NRC. 

The second concern is a ruling allowing an additional infraction before increasing oversight. If the expense to an operating reactor is cost prohibitive, the industry will pressure the NRC to change the rules. An exemption to the rule is generally the avenue corporations have chosen to avoid additional costs or loss of revenue. The NRC made it easier by allowing an additional safety infraction before increased oversight. 

Finally, the NRC proposal for rule making for decommissioning is a vehicle for the industry to meet minimal standards and continue to evade serious public health and safety concerns. The current regulations prohibit use of decommissioning funds for costs other than cleaning up the site and returning it to public use. Also, multiple studies confirm the serious dangers from the densely packed and tightly racked spent fuel. The NRC, however, has determined the current crowded configuration is safe. Their practice to exempt the industry from responsibility of all off-site emergency planning and deny the documented dangers from the spent fuel pool is both irresponsible and immoral. The new rules will codify that practice. 

In their book “Fukushima, The Story of a Nuclear Disaster,” Union of Concerned Scientists authors David Lochbaum, Edwin Lyman and Susan Stranahan warn us, “Absent significant upgrades in nuclear operation and regulation, it will only be a matter of time until the world watches another Fukushima unfold.” 

Pilgrim is assessed as one of the worst operating reactors in the country, with ongoing failing reports. The NRC has proven it is incapable of regulating. The mission to prop up the failing nuclear industry at the expense of public safety is a failure of government. If a day care center or restaurant had comparative federal safety violations, would the owners be given months to respond while they continued to rack up failing assessments? I doubt it. But here is a nuclear reactor where a catastrophic event would challenge the entire region, including Boston and Providence. 

What more evidence do we need to expose the NRC as set on weakening safety rules and oversight? This demands immediate public outcry. 

Assurances of public safety through the regulatory process are revealed as a fatal farce. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) admonished the NRC commissioners for lack of attention to serious public safety issues in her home state. She said, “This is not hyperbole but life and death for my people.” The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is not just failing the people in Massachusetts but the entire nation. 

We want a future, not a Fukushima. 

Tell that to NRC Chair Stephen Burns at chairman@nrc.gov
— Diane Turco is the executive director of Cape Downwinders
© Copyright 2015 The Barnstable Patriot. All Rights Reserved., source Newspapers

 ***You get it, these types of violations and problems are seen throughout the plant in other issues and is systemic. It not just relegated to security issues.***

It sounds like broad budget problems and disillusionment of the staff?

It is like a neighborhood speeder. The cops stops him all the time for speeding and just give him a warning. The driver is oblivious to the fear of the cops, so he keeps speeding without a care in the world. And the cops in the neighborhood see a pick up in speeding violation across the board. The disease seems to be catchy. It is just a matter of time before a kid gets hit.    

See we all make light of this because we don't the nature of the violation. 

Avoid Complacency, because Entergy failed to recognize and plan for the possibility of mistakes, latent issues, and inherent risk, even while expecting successful outcomes [H.12

I sounds like they got a demoralized security force basically because it isn't funded appropriately.

Resources, because Entergy failed to maintain adequate procedures to support nuclear safety [H.1], 

I think in our greater interest we should know the nature of the violations.  The community and politicians would have a better take on the professionalism of Pilgrim. They could provide feedback to the Pilgrim to quickly fix their security problems. 

Work Management, because Entergy failed to implement a process of planning, controlling, and executing work activities such that nuclear safety was the overriding priority [H.5]. 

Basically it is a insignificant risk if terrorest knew the nature of these violations. How come security violation disclosures aren't risk based. Yes it is a tiny risk, but it is insignificant. How come the common good of security disclosures doesn't offset the possibility of giving information to terrorist risk. Why don't we look a holistic risk.

One cross-cutting aspect was assigned to a finding in the area of Problem Identification and Resolution, Resolution, because Entergy failed to take effective corrective actions in a timely manner commensurate with safety significance [P.3].

Cause the public knowing the true security violations would degrade the credibility of the NRC and licencee. All this is, they are protecting inappropriately the credibility of the industry. 

Remember if you game Homeland security in the name of a private of corporate interests, we are undermining our faith in government. "Faith in government" is our most precious national security issue...it is our highest and greatest priority.     

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

2100 RENAISSANCE BLVD., SUITE 100

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406-2713

December 1, 2015

Mr. John Dent, Jr.

Site Vice President

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

600 Rocky Hill Road

Plymouth, MA 02360-5508

SUBJECT: PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION – NRC SECURITY INSPECTION REPORT 05000293/2015404

Dear Mr. Dent:

On October 23, 2015, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed a security inspection at your Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The NRC inspectors discussed the results of this inspection with you and other members of your staff. Inspectors documented the results of this inspection in the enclosed inspection report.

NRC inspectors documented five findings of very low security significance (Green) in this report. These findings involved violations of NRC requirements. The NRC is treating these violations as non-cited violations (NCVs) consistent with Section 2.3.2.a of the Enforcement Policy. If you contest these violations or their significance, you should provide a response within 30 days of the date of this inspection report, with the basis for your denial, to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington DC 20555 0001; with copies to the Regional Administrator, Region I; the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555 0001; and the NRC resident inspector at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

Three cross-cutting aspects were assigned to the findings in the area of Human Performance, Avoid Complacency, because Entergy failed to recognize and plan for the possibility of mistakes, latent issues, and inherent risk, even while expecting successful outcomes [H.12], Resources, because Entergy failed to maintain adequate procedures to support nuclear safety [H.1], and Work Management, because Entergy failed to implement a process of planning, controlling, and executing work activities such that nuclear safety was the overriding priority [H.5]. One cross-cutting aspect was assigned to a finding in the area of Problem Identification and Resolution, Resolution, because Entergy failed to take effective corrective actions in a timely manner commensurate with safety significance [P.3]. If you disagree with a cross-cutting aspect assignment in this report, you should provide a response within 30 days of the date of this inspection report, with the basis for your disagreement, to the Regional Administrator, Region I; and the NRC resident inspector at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

More Junk MSIV: Nine Mile Point

It looks like they are having trouble buying quality MSIV parts. They have parts inspector and quality inspector on site, how did it get past them? Did they get the pilot valve in the Chinese black market? 

How long was the pilot valve in the plant?  

They have many millions of parts and components in a plant...if enough go bad, then they will be scraming and shutting down all the time. 

NMP1 Licensee Event Report 201 5-004, Automatic Reactor Scram Due to Main Steam Isolation Valve Closure

The root cause of the event was an inadequate application of the designed pilot test valve for MSIV control. Design tolerances between the spool and cage assemblies of this component are very small which is susceptible to binding. The binding was caused by inadequate provisions in the design of the pilot valve to ensure that proper alignment is obtained during assembly.

Price of oil collapsing, heading to the $20s

 12/11  The low of $35.50 today.  Dec 8

$36.89 down 2.01%

Closing price: $37.68 down 5.73%

Price of oil collapsing heading to the $20s

$38.69 right now.

Oil under $40 barrel on OPEC production, could hit $20s in 2016

Huileng Tan | @huileng_tan

5 Hours Ago CNBC.com

"Where the bottom is will be a combination of factors: There will be geopolitical events, there'll be budgetary events, there'll be supply-demand fundamentals, and there'll be herd mentality…but there's no question that oil is heading down to the low $30s (a barrel). Will they break the $30s to the $20s? That's quite a possibility in 2016," he added…

River Bend start-up power history.

12/14

So River Bend is up to 100% today. Oh please don't scram again, I can't take another boring power history vigil for 12 days?  

12/11

So River Bend has been stuck at about %82 for the last five days. Ae they down one feed pump?

12/9

A little power backsliding in the last few days. It 81%.

Update and reposted  from 12/7/215:

This is a prime example of horrendous waste in the nuclear power industry. It is destroying the industry as electric prices are declining. The kind of wasteful power history has been going on for about a year now. 

Remember, it took me to step it and correct these guys over their extremely poor performance in controlling water level after a scram. It created the opportunity of the special inspection. There is a ton of expensive equipment they got to repair and upgraded over me...let alone training. This is big bucks. They are just stealing money from the future to make their quartly reports to look pretty.  

Getting outsider to act on this plant like me, prod the NRc to do their jobs...Entergy and River Bend is undergoing some really expensive scrutiny. Their credibility goes down and mine shoots to the roof.

I believe if they resourced the plant properly going back many years and maybe even a decade...this is by far the cheapest most profitable means of running a plant. The peaks and valley of resourcing these plants won't be so steep.  

A weakening of credibility is horrendously expensive!!! 

Dec 8 83%: a rod exchange program (power) doesn't go backwards...

11/30: The scram

 River Bend Junk Plant Partial LOOP? 

A plant usually come up to full power from a shutdown in two to three days.

This is way abnormal again  

Dec 7 85%

Dec 6 64%

Dec 5 74%

Dec 4 67%

Dec 3 14%

Dec 2 0% 

Government and Police Haters in Concord NH House and Senate.

I am embarrassed to say I live in New Hampshire?

Lack of funding leads to tough choices at police training council

 

A police recruit at the New Hampshire Police Academy at NHTI shoots at the range under the watchful eye of Captain James Muller, head instructor of the range.

By ALLIE MORRIS

Monitor staff

Sunday, December 6, 2015

(Published in print: Sunday, December 6, 2015)

Peeking over the top of a white cinder block wall, a half-naked man covered in blood started making threats.

“I’m scared man, I don’t want to go back,” he shouts from a jail cell, raising a knife above his head.

A police officer, standing several feet away, urges him to surrender.

“Sir, put down the weapon for me please. We’ll get someone to talk to you,” the officer says sternly, as the man throws his knife to the ground in compliance.

“Good,” an instructor entering the simulation room tells the officer. “You stayed at a distance, actually took a couple steps back.”

The threatening man, actually a video projected at life-size on a screen, is a tool New Hampshire’s Police Standards and Training Council uses to teach future law enforcement officers how to deal with suspects, diffuse tense situations and apply use of force.The Concord-based council trains all law enforcement officers in New Hampshire – including state troopers, Concord police, and Fish and Game officers – at no cost to local departments. But the training council is facing a budget shortfall as its annual revenue continues to decline.

This year, the council eliminated staff positions and closed satellite offices across the state to make ends meet. What remains is a bigger question about the council’s financial future. Without a solution, costs could be downshifted to local police departments and taxpayers.

“The council is going to have to make a decision,” said Police Standards and Training Council Director Donald Vittum. “If the revenue isn’t there, how are we going to have the financial stability to run the institution?”

The council is the only organization in New Hampshire that certifies new law enforcement officers, through a 16-week full-time, basic training academy where recruits live and train at the campus on Institute Drive, Monday through Friday.

The council also offers classes to seasoned officers, on everything from firearms instruction and interrogation techniques to basic drug investigations and “dealing with the emotionally disturbed person.”

And it’s free; departments don’t have to pay tuition to send officers to the council-run training classes.

That has been possible through the council’s funding model. It doesn’t receive money from the state budget and is instead financed almost exclusively by the state’s penalty assessment, a 24 percent surcharge attached on top of some traffic and court fines. The council receives two-thirds of the 24 percent fee, meaning every $100 ticket generates $16 in revenue.

But in recent years, that income stream has been on the decline, dipping from $3.8 million in 2006 to just more than $2.8 million this year, according to council figures. And nobody’s quite sure why. Are officers writing fewer tickets? Are judges being more lenient? Or is it something else altogether?

The decline was exacerbated in recent years by the Legislature’s decision to use more than $1 million from the fund to help balance the state’s books.

All together, the hits have taken a toll on the council’s bottom line. This year, the organization cut back on regional video conference classes and closed associated satellite locations in Hampton and Littleton. Officers now have to commute to Concord for training, an added expense for departments in far-flung regions of the state.

The council also stopped paying to bring in outside training companies, so now if a department wants a specialized class not offered by council staff, it has to cover the cost.

During the next two fiscal years, the council still faces a $700,000 shortfall, according to estimates.

At an emergency meeting this fall, police chiefs from across the state advocated against switching to a tuition-based model. It would put new pressure on local departments and taxpayers to fund the training.

“When you start saying, ‘You can only send people to training if you can afford it,’ and you start to put that kind of pressure on small towns, they might take shortcuts or not be able to get the training for their officers,” said Tilton police Chief Robert Cormier, who heads the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police. “Now they are going to start to have problems.”

The chiefs also rejected the idea of converting the 16-week basic training program for new recruits from residential to commuter.

“Someone who lives in the North Country and tries to commute and spend the whole day at the academy and drive back would not only create a hardship, but also overtime costs for the department,” said Dover police Chief and Chairman of the Police Standards and Training Council Anthony Colarusso.

The council can’t legally spend more than it brings in. So now, law enforcement is looking to legislators for solutions.

Republican Rep. John Tholl is proposing this session that the state direct a larger portion of the penalty assessment to the council, away from the judicial branch IT fund. That would raise roughly $700,000 additional dollars for the council, according to a fiscal note on the bill.

Council officials are hopeful.

“Our goal short term is to stay operational the way we are. The long-term goal would be to have the funding sources necessary to restore the cuts that were made,” Colarusso said. “Now, with the scrutiny police are under nationwide, and with the statewide opioid crisis, training is as important as ever.”

Indian Point Unit 2 Scram

Update: This is insanity. A faulty fan or a shorted fan tripped a set of rod.

BUCHANAN - A malfunctioning roof fan caused a power failure for control rods at Indian Point Unit 2, leading to a temporary shutdown of the nuclear reactor, a company spokesman said Monday. 

Unit 2, one of the two reactors at the Indian Point Energy Center, was manually shut down at about 5:20 p.m. Saturday after about 10 control rods "dropped" into the reactor core. The reactor is expected to resume its operation either Tuesday or Wednesday, said Jerry Nappi, spokesman for Entergy Corp., which owns and operates the Buchanan nuclear plant. The plant's other reactor, Unit 3, keeps running.

Control rods, which are held in place by powered magnets, are designed to adjust the power level of the fuel inside the reactor. When a malfunctioning roof fan caused a short circuit, the magnets lost power, and control rods were released into the reactor. Per practice, the reactor was manually shut down by the operators, Nappi said. (Control rods shouldn't be confused with fuel rods, which hold uranium pellets.)
No radioactivity was released from Unit 2 because of Saturday's incident, according to Entergy.
Two inspectors from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission have verified the plant's safety on Saturday and Sunday....

Kind of unprecedented a Governor is so mistrustful of a plant...he sends a special state team to ascertain the true condition of the plant:  

Entergy owned Indian Point power plant forced to shut down after power loss

By Ken Sturtz | ksturtz@syracuse.com The Post-Standard Follow on Twitter
on December 05, 2015 at 11:58 PM, updated December 06, 2015 at 12:00 AM

BUCHANAN, N.Y. -- One of the Indian Point nuclear power plants outside New York City was forced to shut down unexpectedly Saturday after a power loss to several control rods.

Entergy, which operates the Fitzpatrick nuclear plant in Oswego County, said control room operators shut down Indian Point's unit 2 power plant around 5:30 p.m.

In a statement Gov. Andrew Cuomo said said he had directed the state Department of Public Service to "investigate and monitor the situation." A team was heading to the plant Saturday…

It is poor professionalism.

MANUAL REACTOR TRIP INITIATED DUE TO MULTIPLE DROPPED CONTROL RODS

"At 1731 [EST] on December 5, 2015, Indian Point Unit 2 Control Room operators initiated a Manual Reactor Trip due to indications of multiple dropped Control Rods. The initiating event was a smoldering Motor Control Center (MCC) cubicle in the Turbine Building that supplies power to the Rod Control System. The unit is stable in Mode 3 with heat sink provided by Auxiliary Feedwater and decay heat removal is via the steam dumps to the condenser. Offsite Power remains in service.

"The smoldering MCC cubicle had power removed from it when 24 MCC breaker tripped on overcurrent. The affected cubicle has ceased smoldering and is being monitored by on-site Fire Brigade trained personnel. The trip of 24 MCC removed power to 22 Battery Charger, 22 DC Bus remained powered from the 22 Battery without interruption, and 22 Battery Charger was subsequently repowered."

The cause of the smoldering MCC is being investigated and a post reactor trip evaluation is being conducted by the licensee. There was no impact on Unit 3, which continues to operate at 100% power.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and appropriate State and Local authorities.

Entergy owned Indian Point power plant forced to shut down after power loss

The nuclear power plant at Indian Point in Buchanan, N.Y., is visible with the Hudson River in the foreground in this file photo. ( AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

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By Ken Sturtz | ksturtz@syracuse.com The Post-Standard
Follow on Twitter

 
on December 05, 2015 at 11:58 PM, updated December 06, 2015 at 12:00 AM

BUCHANAN, N.Y. -- One of the Indian Point nuclear power plants outside New York City was forced to shut down unexpectedly Saturday after a power loss to several control rods.

Entergy, which operates the Fitzpatrick nuclear plant in Oswego County, said control room operators shut down Indian Point's unit 2 power plant around 5:30 p.m.

The operators observed that several control rods lost power. Entergy said that if power to control rods is lost, they are designed to automatically insert into the nuclear fuel core to safely shut down the reactor and power plant.

Entergy said it was investigating what had caused the loss of power to the control rods, but that everything had operated as designed and the plant safely shut down.
Unit 3 was not affected. Entergy said Unit 2 was online for 627 days before Saturday. The two Indian Point plants are about 25 miles north of New York City and generate about 2,000 megawatts of electricity a year for the city and Westchester County.

In a statement Gov. Andrew Cuomo said said he had directed the state Department of Public Service to "investigate and monitor the situation." A team was heading to the plant Saturday.

Indian Point has featured prominently in Entergy's fight with the state to close the money losing Fitzpatrick plant. The company announced last month that it planned to to lay off half of the 615 employees when the plant shuts down, sometime late next year or early in 2017.

Many observers, including Wall Street analysts, speculated that Entergy sought a compromise to settle the future of its profitable Indian Point nuclear station in Westchester County. Cuomo opposed Entergy's application to extend the operating license, arguing that Indian Point is too close to New York City to be safe.

El Nino: Severe Snow Drought in Buffalo:

It Still Hasn't Snowed in Buffalo This Season; Where's the Snow?

By Quincy Vagell

Published Dec 4 2015 09:02 PM EST

weather.com

Unusual Pattern Gripping U.S.

Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari talks about a widespread warm-up coming across the country. 

·          

Where's the Snow, Buffalo?

·          

Where is the Cold Air?

·         

Unusual Pattern Gripping U.S.

·          

Ski Resorts Waiting on Snow in New England

·          

Sleet vs. Freezing Rain

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Not Something You See Everyday

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It's already December and still no snow has been measured this season at Buffalo, New York, breaking a record that had stood for over 100 years.

Buffalo usually expects to see at least some significant snow by this point in the season. Just last year, an intense lake-effect event dumped over 80 inches of snow in mid-November across parts of the Buffalo area.

The last time Buffalo did not measure any measurable snow in the autumn before Dec. 3 was in 1899. But that record has been broken and may be shattered. With warmer than average temperatures forecast for much of December, it could be quite some time before the area finally sees measurable snowfall. Measurable snowfall is defined as at least 0.1 inch of snow falling on a given day.

What's Causing the Lack of Snow?

Warmer-than-average conditions, driven by one of the strongest El Niños on record, is one glaring reason why snow has struggled to reach Buffalo.

This past month marked the seventh warmest November on record for Buffalo, and temperature records for the area go back to the early 1870s. For daytime warmth, 21 days in the month of November reached or exceeded 50 degrees, tying 2001 and 2011 for the most on record in November.

Red colors indicate warmer than average temperatures, while blues highlight below average temperatures for November 2015.

The numbers tell a similar story at night, with just seven November days reporting a low temperature at or below freezing. Only six of the past 142 Novembers have had fewer freezing daily lows. It is hard to experience accumulating snowfall when it has been as mild as Buffalo has been.

It's not just the warm weather though. This past November was also the third-driest November on record. Precipitation was 67 percent below average for the month at Buffalo.

So, where is the snow?

Moving into December, the jet stream is displaced unusually far north across Canada. That means the active storm track and cold air are largely displaced north and northwest of Buffalo. While it may be snowing in Canada, not much of that snow has reached the Great Lakes region...