SAFETY CONCERNS PROMPT FACE LIFT FOR NUCLEAR PLANT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 2, 1992                   TAG: 9201020115
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SPOTSYLVANIA                                LENGTH: Medium
SAFETY CONCERNS PROMPT FACE LIFT FOR NUCLEAR PLANT
The North Anna nuclear power station will get a face lift two years early because of safety concerns, the utility that manages the plant said.
Virginia Power will replace the three steam generators in one of the plant's nuclear units in early 1993 - two years ahead of the original schedule.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is concerned about deterioration in tubes carrying superheated water from the reactor core through the unit's secondary cooling system. The process generates steam to power the plant's electric turbines.
The Richmond-based utility will begin the $180 million project next January. The generators were scheduled for replacement in 1995, but the company decided early last year to move up the schedule to April 1993.
The latest decision came after Virginia Power shut down North Anna Unit 1 abruptly on Dec. 23 for a two-month inspection and maintenance program. The shutdown was voluntary but happened several weeks ahead of schedule because of pressure from the NRC.
The 3,400 metal tubes within each generator sometimes crack from stress and corrosion. Virginia Power inspects the tubes during each refueling and maintenance shutdown, and plugs those that are leaking or appear to be prone to cracking.
A tube leak can cause contamination of the secondary cooling system and result in the release of radioactive gas to the atmosphere.
The plant houses two 915-megawatt nuclear units. Each unit contains three steam generators.
Unit 1 has long been a source of concern because of its aged design and the long-term effects of a chemical contaminant in the cooling water soon after the unit began operating in 1978.
Last spring, the NRC allowed the utility to restart the unit after a refueling shutdown, but required another inspection and maintenance outage in early January. Normally, the company would run the unit twice that long before refueling it.
Late last year, Virginia Power asked the NRC to reconsider and allow the unit to run until April, when the company planned to refuel it. Instead, the NRC decided the unit should be shut down for inspection even sooner.
Virginia Power officials are scheduled to meet with NRC staff on Monday to discuss how the 60-day inspection will be conducted.
The utility said it plans to restart the unit in mid-February and operate until next January, when the replacement of the steam generators will begin.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB