skip navigation links 
 
 Search Options 
Index | Site Map | FAQ | Facility Info | Reading Rm | New | Help | Glossary | Contact Us blue spacer  
secondary page banner Return to NRC Home Page

Event Notification Report for March 12, 2003




                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                              Operations Center

                              Event Reports For
                           03/11/2003 - 03/12/2003

                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **

39640  39641  39642  39659  39661  39662  

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39640       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  LOUISIANA DEPT ENV QUALITY           |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/06/2003|
|LICENSEE:  COMPUTALOG WIRELINE SERVICES         |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:29[EST]|
|    CITY:                           REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        03/05/2003|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  LA |EVENT TIME:             [CST]|
|LICENSE#:  LA-4413-L01           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  03/06/2003|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |DALE POWERS          R4      |
|                                                |DOUG BROADDUS        NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  SCOTT BALCKWELL              |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  YAMIR DIAZ                   |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| IRRETRIEVABLE SEALED SOURCE                                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "Computalog was performing analysis of the amount of petroleum in the        |
| Strategic Petroleum Reserve salt dome in Hackberry, LA.   The tool hung up   |
| on the casing near the top and fell to the bottom.   The source was a 172    |
| mCi [millicurie]  source of Cs- 137 and it fell to a depth of 4000 ft.       |
| Attempts were not made to retrieve the tool because the dome is so wide at   |
| the bottom. DEQ is waiting on the written report for additional              |
| information."                                                                |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39641       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  LOUISIANA DEPT ENV QUALITY           |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/06/2003|
|LICENSEE:  HARTFIELD TECHNICAL SERVICES         |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:30[EST]|
|    CITY:                           REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        02/17/2003|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  LA |EVENT TIME:             [CST]|
|LICENSE#:  LA-4543-L01           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  03/06/2003|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |DALE POWERS          R4      |
|                                                |DOUG BROADDUS        NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  SCOTT BLACKWELL              |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  YAMIR DIAZ                   |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| IRRETRIEVABLE SEALED SOURCE                                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "A 3 Ci [Curie] sealed source of AmBe 241 was lost down [a] hole on February |
| 17, 2003 at a depth of 6600 ft.   Attempts were made to retrieve the source  |
| but they were unsuccessful.   A vented bridge plug was set at 5335 ft and    |
| low permeability cement was dumped until 5300 ft. Additional information     |
| will be sent at a later date."                                               |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39642       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  LOUISIANA DEPT ENV QUALITY           |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/06/2003|
|LICENSEE:  HALIBURTON                           |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:31[EST]|
|    CITY:                           REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        02/14/2003|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  LA |EVENT TIME:             [CST]|
|LICENSE#:  LA-2353-L01           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  03/06/2003|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |DALE POWERS          R4      |
|                                                |DOUG BROADDUS        NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  SCOTT BLACKWELL              |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  YAMIR DIAZ                   |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| IRRETRIEVABLE SEALED SOURCE                                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "An NWA tool with a 2 Ci [Curie] source of Cs-137 and a 4 Ci source of       |
| Am241Be were lost down [a] hole at 11540 feet on February 14, 2003.          |
| Attempts were made until February 20, 2003 to retrieve the tool, but they    |
| were unsuccessful. The well was back filled with 500 ft of cement to a depth |
| of 10881 ft.   DEQ is currently waiting for the written report for           |
| additional information."                                                     |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   39659       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: COOPER                   REGION:  4  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/11/2003|
|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  NE |NOTIFICATION TIME: 05:23[EST]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] GE-4                             |EVENT DATE:        03/10/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        22:38[CST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  ANDREW OHRABLO               |LAST UPDATE DATE:  03/11/2003|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  STEVE SANDIN                 +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |MARK SHAFFER         R4      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|AIND 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D)   ACCIDENT MITIGATION    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1     N          N       0        Refueling        |0        Refueling        |
|                                                   |                          |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| POTENTIAL RAD GROUND RELEASE PATH DISCOVERED DUE TO LOSS OF SECONDARY        |
| CONTAINMENT                                                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "This notification is being made pursuant to NRC regulation                  |
| 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(D), any event or condition that at the time of discovery |
| could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of structures or |
| systems that are needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident.         |
|                                                                              |
| "On March 10, 2003 at 22:38, it was determined that the secondary            |
| containment was inoperable due to a leak in the Z sump manway gasket. The    |
| plant was in Mode 5, shutdown, performing fuel shuffle when secondary        |
| containment was declared inoperable. LCO 3.6.4.1 was entered. The fuel       |
| shuffle was secured at 22:40 after the completion of the fuel move that was  |
| in progress. No additional Core Alterations or OPDRVs [Operations            |
| Potentially Draining the Reactor Vessel] were in progress. Upon              |
| investigation into the secondary containment operability, it was determined  |
| that a non-Tech Spec surveillance performed on dayshift also rendered        |
| secondary containment inoperable due to additional leakage pathway via the Z |
| sump.  A principal safety function of Secondary Containment is to limit the  |
| ground level release to the environs of airborne radioactive materials       |
| resulting from a fuel handling accident.                                     |
|                                                                              |
| "As a result of the alignment of the Z sump the potential existed that if a  |
| radioactive release were to occur due to a fuel handling accident, part of   |
| the filtered release via Standby Gas Treatment System could be a ground      |
| level release vice a release through the Elevated Release Point. The         |
| surveillance has been completed and the additional leakage paths that were   |
| opened due to the surveillance have been sealed. The leaking manway gasket   |
| was determined to be due to not adequately torquing the gasket bolts. The    |
| bolts have been retorqued. Secondary containment was reestablished, and was  |
| declared OPERABLE at 02:55, 3-11-03.                                         |
|                                                                              |
| "The NRC Senior Resident has been notified."                                 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   39661       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: TURKEY POINT             REGION:  2  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/11/2003|
|    UNIT:  [3] [4] []                STATE:  FL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 21:48[EST]|
|   RXTYPE: [3] W-3-LP,[4] W-3-LP                |EVENT DATE:        03/11/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        21:15[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  ANDRE DALLAU                 |LAST UPDATE DATE:  03/11/2003|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  MIKE RIPLEY                  +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |DAVID AYRES          R2      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|DDDD 73.71(b)(1)         SAFEGUARDS REPORTS     |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|3     N          N       0        Refueling        |0        Refueling        |
|4     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CONTRACT EMPLOYEE INAPPROPRIATELY GRANTED UNESCORTED PLANT ACCESS            |
|                                                                              |
| Unescorted access was inappropriately granted to a contract employee.        |
| Immediate compensatory measures were taken upon discovery.  The licensee     |
| will be notifying the NRC Resident Inspector.                                |
|                                                                              |
| Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for details.                     |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   39662       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: FARLEY                   REGION:  2  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/12/2003|
|    UNIT:  [1] [2] []                STATE:  AL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 02:13[EST]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP                |EVENT DATE:        03/12/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:             [CST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  WAYNE VAN LANDINGHAM         |LAST UPDATE DATE:  03/12/2003|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  ERIC THOMAS                  +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |DAVID AYRES          R2      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(xi)     OFFSITE NOTIFICATION   |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |
|2     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FUEL OIL SPILL                                                               |
|                                                                              |
| "At 0025 [on] 3/12/03, notification was made to offsite government agencies, |
| the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center and the Alabama Department of  |
| Environment Management.  The notification was required because approximately |
| 50 gallons of fuel oil were spilled on site reaching on site waters.         |
| Control measures were implemented to prevent oil from reaching navigable     |
| waters.  Plant operations were unaffected."                                  |
|                                                                              |
| The source of the spill was the fuel oil storage tank for 2 "C" Emergency    |
| Diesel Generator.  While in the process of filling the tank, the worker      |
| became distracted and did not secure at 96 percent full per procedure.  This |
| was not a 'reportable quantity'.                                             |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.                            |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+