No. III-07-026 

Contact: Viktoria Mitlyng 

Phone: 630-829-9663 

 November 29, 2007 

 E-Mail: opa3@nrc.gov 

Web site: www.nrc.gov

NRC BEGINS SPECIAL INSPECTION AT PERRY PLANT 

DUE TO A SCRAM AND FEEDWATER PROBLEMS 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a special inspection at the Perry 

Nuclear Power Station to review the causes of a reactor scram (automatic shutdown) and 

problems with systems designed to supply and maintain appropriate water level in the reactor. 

 

On Nov. 28, 2007, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company notified the NRC that the Perry 

Nuclear Power Station shut down automatically at 6:32 AM CST. 

 

The plant shut down safely and is currently in a stable shutdown condition. 

“Although public health and safety were not at risk as a result of the event,” said Regional 

Administrator James Caldwell, “it is important for us to understand what caused the scram and multiple 

equipment problems that took place. Our special inspection team is also tasked with reviewing the 

utility’s response including how the plant proposes to fix problems they find and prevent their 

recurrence.” 

The cause of the scram has not yet been determined. Coincident with the scram, the plant 

experienced a loss of two turbine-driven feedwater pumps. The utility has not yet determined what 

caused the failure of the feedwater pumps. Reactor feedwater pumps are used to supply water to the 

reactor when the plant is in operation. 

Following the scram, the plant experienced problems with some of the equipment used to 

maintain proper water level in the reactor when the reactor feedwater pumps are not available. 

However, other back-up systems were available to maintain safe water levels in the reactor. 

Public health and safety were not at risk due to the equipment problems. 

The utility is looking into the causes of the scram and the equipment issues. 

The NRC Region III office responded to the situation at the plant by manning its Incident 

Response Center to evaluate plant conditions. NRC resident inspectors were also evaluating the situation 

on-site. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III 

2443 Warrenville Road 

Lisle IL 60532 
Region III dispatched a four-person special inspection team to the plant on the day of the event. 

The inspection is focusing on the cause of the scram; the failure of the turbine-driven feedwater pumps; 

and problems with some of the other equipment used to maintain proper water level in the reactor when 

the feedwater pumps are not available; as well as the utility’s performance. 

 The duration of a special inspection cannot be determined in advance. The average duration of a 

special inspection is 7 days. The inspection report will be issued about 45 days after the inspection is 

complete. It will be available through the NRC RIII Office of Public Affairs and at the NRC web site: 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html. 

 

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