Lusby, MD – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has begun a special inspection at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant to review issues during the unplanned shutdown of both reactors April 7.

The plant, which is operated by Exelon, is located in Lusby.
Calvert Cliffs, like all nuclear power plants, transmits power to the grid but also receives power back for operational purposes. A grid disturbance due to the failure of a transmission line in Southern Maryland April 7 caused both Calvert Cliffs’ reactors to automatically shut down as designed.

Following the grid disturbance, one of Unit 2’s emergency diesel generators—which provide power to safety systems when off-site power is lost—started, but tripped after 11 seconds. This same diesel generator failed to start in 2010 after a loss of off-site power.

In addition, one of three saltwater pumps on Unit 2 failed to automatically restart when power switched to the emergency diesel generators. Per procedure, operators manually started the pump, which provides cooling water to certain plant equipment.

“While there was no impact on public health and safety, the issues with the emergency diesel generator and the saltwater pump warrant a closer look,” said Dan Dorman, NRC Region I Administrator.

The three-member team that arrived on-site Monday, April 13 is tasked with developing a sequence of events, reviewing and assessing equipment response to the event, reviewing operator performance and assessing the effectiveness of Exelon’s response to this event.

An inspection report documenting the team’s findings will be issued within 45 days of the end of the inspection.

PREVIOUS REPORT ABOUT CALVERT CLIFFS

Lusby, MD – Operators returned Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant to full power Friday, April 10.

Both units automatically shut down April 7 when an offsite grid disturbance caused widespread power disruption in the Washington, D.C./Maryland region.

Once the cause of the event was identified, Calvert operators began a comprehensive series of inspections and tests before synchronizing both units to the regional power grid.

Calvert Cliffs is located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County and is Maryland’s only nuclear energy facility. 

The station is home to two pressurized water reactors capable of generating 1,768 megawatts combined.

Units 1 and 2 began commercial operation in 1975 and 1977, respectively.