Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2 issued the following announcement on Jan. 6.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a special inspection at the Cooper nuclear
power plant to review the circumstances that contributed to a recent problem with one of the plant’s
two service water systems. The plant, operated by the Nebraska Public Power District, is located in
Brownville, Neb.
The Cooper nuclear power plant was operating at full power on Dec. 6, when the licensee
was unable to establish water flow through a large pipe that discharges water used to cool some of
the plant’s safety-related equipment. A second service water system remained operable.
The licensee subsequently determined that a large buildup of silt from Missouri River
flooding had blocked the outlet of the pipe. Upon discovery, the licensee removed the silt.
On Dec. 18, NRC Region IV sent an inspector to the site to gather information in
preparation for the inspection that will begin on Jan. 13. Three NRC inspectors will spend
approximately one week at the site developing a chronology of the event and evaluating the
licensee’s cause analysis and adequacy of corrective actions. An inspection report documenting the
team’s findings will be publicly available within 45 days of the end of the inspection.
Original source can be found here.