connection. all happened during this Storm/Cold Front Right? ?????????????????????????????? Low-level violation found at PPL nuclear power plant? How Low did you go? ELIZABETH SKRAPITS Published: November 15, 2014 A recent inspection by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission turned up a low-level violation at the PPL Susquehanna Steam nuclear plant in Salem Township. The violation, which had to do with power generation and was not a significant safety risk, has been corrected, PPL spokesman Joe Scopelliti. “That’s our standard. If they find a violation, we’re going to address it, find out what caused it and then do the fix,” he said. An inspection on Sept. 30 disclosed the improper calibration of a temperature switch on a reactor recirculation pump motor at the Unit 1 reactor. The alarm and shutdown setpoints on the switch were reversed, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said in an email. “This resulted in the reactor’s recirculation pump tripping on May 7, causing rapid unplanned reduction in reactor power,” he said. “We determined that a ‘Green’ (very low safety significance) finding was appropriate in this case because the issue did not cause a reactor shutdown or the loss of any reactor safety systems.” Sheehan said the pump is used to recirculate water through the reactor and does not have a cooling function. “That said, it does have an impact on nuclear safety as its shutdown resulted in an unplanned reactor downpower,” he said. “A reactor downpower presents an unnecessary challenge for control room operators.” PPL took action by correcting the calibration error, starting the pump, and restoring normal flow to the reactor vessel, according to the NRC report. The NRC will follow up on the company’s actions during upcoming inspections to ensure the issue has been appropriately addressed, Sheehan said. The NRC is also gathering more information on a situation that arose from an emergency exercise that took place at the plant on July 24. “The issue involves multiple instances during which plant emergency response organization members reached different conclusions about the status of a radioactive release when presented with the same set of plant conditions and indications,” Sheehan said. NRC has not yet decided whether the issue warrants enforcement action, he said. eskrapits@citizensvoice, 570-821-2072 4 workers die after chemical leak at Texas plant. By Associated Press 3:51 P.M.NOV. 15, 2014 LA PORTE, Texas (AP) — Four workers were killed and one was injured Saturday during a hazardous chemical leak at a DuPont industrial plant in suburban Houston, company officials said. The chemical, methyl mercaptan, began leaking from a valve around 4 a.m. in a unit at the plant in La Porte, about 20 miles east of Houston. Plant officials said the release was contained by 6 a.m. Methyl mercaptan was used at the plant to create crop-protection products such as insecticides and fungicides, according to DuPont. The cause of the leak was not immediately known. Five employees were in the unit at the time of the incident and were exposed to the chemical, the company said. Four died at the plant, and one was hospitalized. There are no words to fully express the loss we feel or the concern and sympathy we extend to the families of the employees and their co-workers, plant manager Randall Clements said in a statement. We are in close touch with them and providing them every measure of support and assistance at this time. The company said the fifth worker who was hospitalized was being held for observation but didnt provide further details. DuPont would only say the employee is currently receiving treatment. None of the victims was immediately identified. DuPont will cooperate with local, state and federal officials investigating the leak, Clements said. As part of that investigation, we are conducting our own top-to-bottom review of this incident and we will share what we learn with the relevant authorities, he said. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, a federal agency that investigates chemical accidents, announced late Saturday that it was sending a seven-person team to investigate the incident. Jeff Suggs, emergency management coordinator for La Porte, said the chemical release was not toxic for those living nearby, but that it caused a smell thats similar to rotten eggs. Its a nuisance smell in the area. Its a smell thats traveled quite far, Suggs said. The odor from the leak lingered in the area for the better part of the day and reached areas about 40 miles away, The Houston Chronicle reported. Methyl mercaptan is also commonly used to odorize natural gas — which has no odor — for safety purposes. The La Porte plant has 320 DuPont employees. Four other companies are also tenants at the complex.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:19:11 +0000
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