Event Notification Report for October 21, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
10/20/2023 - 10/21/2023
EVENT NUMBERS
56809
56809
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor
Event Number: 56809
Facility: Watts Bar
Region: 2 State: TN
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Tyson Jones
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Region: 2 State: TN
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Tyson Jones
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 10/21/2023
Notification Time: 09:25 [ET]
Event Date: 10/21/2023
Event Time: 09:07 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/22/2023
Notification Time: 09:25 [ET]
Event Date: 10/21/2023
Event Time: 09:07 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/22/2023
Emergency Class: Unusual Event
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - Emergency Declared
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - Emergency Declared
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Crouch, Howard (IR)
Russ Felts (NRR EO)
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Crouch, Howard (IR)
Russ Felts (NRR EO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
| 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
NOTIFICATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED
The following information was provided by the licensee via fax and email:
"Fire potentially degrading the level of safety of the plant."
The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
At 0907 EST, the licensee declared a notification of unusual event, under emergency action level HU.4, due to multiple fire alarms and CO2 discharge in the emergency diesel building. When the plant fire brigade entered the building, there was no indication of fire or damage to any plant equipment. The cause of the multiple alarms is under investigation.
State and local authorities were notified and no offsite assistance was requested. Both units remain at 100 percent power.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, CISA Central, FEMA NWC (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), DHS NRCC THD Desk (email), and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * UPDATE FROM TYSON JONES TO KAREN COTTON AT 1007 EDT ON 10/21/23 * * *
At 1007 EDT, Watts Bar terminated the notification of unusual event. The basis for termination was that no fire or damaged plant equipment was found. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Notified R2DO (Miller), IR-MOC (Crouch), NRR-EO (Felts), DHS-SWO, FEMA Ops Center, CISA Central, FEMA NWC (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), DHS NRCC THD Desk (email), and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * RETRACTION ON 10/22/23 AT 0925 EDT FROM TYSON JONES TO KAREN COTTON * * *
"Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) is retracting Event Notice 56809, Notice of Unusual Event, based on the following additional information, not available at the time of the initial notification.
"Specifically, in accordance with the emergency preparedness implementing procedures, WBN reported a condition that was determined to meet emergency action level (EAL) HU4, Initiating criteria number 1, receipt of multiple (more than 1) fire alarms or indicators and the fire was within any Table H2 plant area, which includes the diesel generator building. It was further determined that multiple fire detection zones actuated (spurious and invalid) enabling the discharge of installed fire suppression (CO2) into the space. Upon entry by the site fire brigade, it was determined that no smoke or fire existed and reported to the Shift Manager at 0930 EDT. All fire alarms were reset. Troubleshooting activities are in progress to determine the cause. A fire watch has been established and CO2 has been isolated. The required compensatory measures for the affected areas will remain in place until completion of the investigation, and CO2 suppression is restored to functional."
Notified R2DO (Miller), IR-MOC (Crouch), NRR-EO (Felts), DHS-SWO (email), FEMA Ops Center (email), CISA Central (email), FEMA NWC (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), DHS NRCC THD Desk (email), and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).
The following information was provided by the licensee via fax and email:
"Fire potentially degrading the level of safety of the plant."
The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
At 0907 EST, the licensee declared a notification of unusual event, under emergency action level HU.4, due to multiple fire alarms and CO2 discharge in the emergency diesel building. When the plant fire brigade entered the building, there was no indication of fire or damage to any plant equipment. The cause of the multiple alarms is under investigation.
State and local authorities were notified and no offsite assistance was requested. Both units remain at 100 percent power.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, CISA Central, FEMA NWC (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), DHS NRCC THD Desk (email), and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * UPDATE FROM TYSON JONES TO KAREN COTTON AT 1007 EDT ON 10/21/23 * * *
At 1007 EDT, Watts Bar terminated the notification of unusual event. The basis for termination was that no fire or damaged plant equipment was found. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Notified R2DO (Miller), IR-MOC (Crouch), NRR-EO (Felts), DHS-SWO, FEMA Ops Center, CISA Central, FEMA NWC (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), DHS NRCC THD Desk (email), and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * RETRACTION ON 10/22/23 AT 0925 EDT FROM TYSON JONES TO KAREN COTTON * * *
"Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) is retracting Event Notice 56809, Notice of Unusual Event, based on the following additional information, not available at the time of the initial notification.
"Specifically, in accordance with the emergency preparedness implementing procedures, WBN reported a condition that was determined to meet emergency action level (EAL) HU4, Initiating criteria number 1, receipt of multiple (more than 1) fire alarms or indicators and the fire was within any Table H2 plant area, which includes the diesel generator building. It was further determined that multiple fire detection zones actuated (spurious and invalid) enabling the discharge of installed fire suppression (CO2) into the space. Upon entry by the site fire brigade, it was determined that no smoke or fire existed and reported to the Shift Manager at 0930 EDT. All fire alarms were reset. Troubleshooting activities are in progress to determine the cause. A fire watch has been established and CO2 has been isolated. The required compensatory measures for the affected areas will remain in place until completion of the investigation, and CO2 suppression is restored to functional."
Notified R2DO (Miller), IR-MOC (Crouch), NRR-EO (Felts), DHS-SWO (email), FEMA Ops Center (email), CISA Central (email), FEMA NWC (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), DHS NRCC THD Desk (email), and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).