No. I-09-039 

Contact: Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 

 Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331 

September 24, 2009 

E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov

NRC, NEXTERA ENERGY TO DISCUSS INSPECTION FINDING 

 AT SEABROOK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 

 Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff and representatives of NextEra Energy will meet 

on Wednesday, Sept. 30 to discuss an NRC inspection finding preliminarily classified as “white” 

(low to moderate safety significance) at the Seabrook nuclear power plant. The finding involves 

the operability of one of the emergency diesel generators for the plant, which is located in 

Seabrook, N.H., and operated by NextEra. 

 The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the NRC Region I Office at 475 Allendale Road in 

King of Prussia, Pa. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the inspection finding, including 

the causes and safety significance of the issue; to provide NextEra with an opportunity to raise 

any technical concerns it may have with respect to the NRC inspection report; and to enable the 

company to outline its proposed corrective actions. 

There will be an opportunity for members of the public to offer comments or ask 

questions of NRC staff prior to the session’s adjournment. 

 On Feb. 25, the emergency diesel generator in question did not pass a routine operating 

test because of a cooling system leak. Emergency diesel generators provide back-up power for 

the plant’s safety systems in the event of a loss of off-site power. The leak occurred in a cooling 

system gasketed joint secured by bolts. NextEra personnel repaired the joint, successfully 

retested the generator and restored it to service on March 2. Further investigation by NextEra 

personnel determined the gasket in the leaking joint was damaged and the bolts had loosened. 

 In an inspection report issued on Aug. 28, the NRC staff determined that inadequate 

design controls by NextEra resulted in changes to the cooling system joint/gasket design and the 

subsequent cooling leak. Based on that information, the NRC staff made a preliminary 

significance determination that the inspection finding had low to moderate safety significance 

because the emergency diesel generator with the leak may not have operated as long as required. 

However, the overall risk was limited due to the availability of other back-up power sources, 

including another emergency diesel generator. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region I 

475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 

Site: http://www.nrc.gov
As per the NRC process, NextEra was offered an opportunity to take part in a Regulatory 

Conference, and the company opted for such a meeting. No decision on the final significance 

determination or enforcement action will be made at the conclusion of the meeting. NRC 

officials will review information presented by the company and reach a decision on appropriate 

regulatory action at a later date. 

The inspection report is available on NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/readingrm/adams.html. The ML Number is ML092400410. The ML number for the meeting notice is 

ML092600714. 

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