Notification of Unusual Event Declared and Terminated At Sequoyah

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Feb 12, 2012, 06:18 ET

SODDY-DAISY, Tenn., Feb. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An electrical malfunction in the switchyard at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant damaged some localized electrical distribution equipment but did not affect the operation of the two units.

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TVA officials declared a "Notification of Unusual Event" Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at 8:34 a.m. EST and notified federal, state and local officials. A "Notification of Unusual Event" is the lowest of four NRC classifications.

The event occurred in the non-nuclear portion of the plant's electrical switchyard which is similar in operation to all electrical power plants. Nuclear safety related equipment was not required or impacted. There were no injuries as a result of the malfunction. Both units continue to operate at full power.

Sequoyah plant officials terminated the notice at 10:19 a.m. EST after the electrical fault was isolated from the remainder of the electrical switchyard. Approximately 10 gallons of oil was discharged from a power circuit breaker during the event. The oil, used to cool the internal electrical equipment in the circuit breaker, was contained in the plant's switchyard and is being cleaned up.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for business customers and distribution utilities that serve 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

www.tva.com/news

SOURCE Tennessee Valley Authority