U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
03/24/2003 - 03/25/2003
** EVENT NUMBERS **
39684 39691 39692 39693 39694 39695 39696
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 39684 |
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| REP ORG: ILLINOIS DEPT OF NUCLEAR SAFETY |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/20/2003|
|LICENSEE: CONAM INSPECTION INC |NOTIFICATION TIME: 17:37[EST]|
| CITY: GLENDALE HEIGHTS REGION: 3 |EVENT DATE: 03/20/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: IL |EVENT TIME: 16:37[CST]|
|LICENSE#: IL-01225-22 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/20/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |JAMES CREED R3 |
| |LARRY CAMPER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+BRUCE MALLETT R2 |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: JOE KLINGER |GARY SHEAR R3 |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ARLON COSTA |JOHN DAVIDSON TAS |
+------------------------------------------------+DOE, EPA, USDA (FAX) |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| MISSING RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA CONTAINING AN IRIDIUM-192 RADIOACTIVE SOURCE |
| |
| "A Department inspector in the W. Chicago Regional Office, took a call ago |
| from the RSO of Conam Inspection Inc. (lL-01225-22) in Glendale Heights, |
| IL. The RSO reported that a radiography camera [Model 660-B, S/N B2872] |
| containing 86 Ci [Curies] of Ir-192 [Iridium-192], as of March 20, 2003, |
| destined for the Sequoyah Power Plant in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee had failed |
| to arrive as of the expected delivery date 3/17/2003. He further stated |
| that the carrier has been contacted daily since 3/18/03 for information as |
| to the package's whereabouts with no success. As of 1515 hrs. on 3/20/03, |
| the carrier indicated to him that the package may have been misrouted and |
| can only confirm the package leaving a sorting facility in Lisle, Illinois |
| with potential stops in South Bend, Indiana and the carrier's hazmat center |
| in Wilmington, Ohio. The RSO was advised that a thorough search was being |
| conducted by the carrier's personnel. |
| |
| "The RSO is sensitive to the current security issues and wanted to ensure |
| the situation was promptly reported and to indicate some extent of |
| frustration with the carrier although he hoped that the carrier would indeed |
| locate the package. The package is in a black AEA Technology [Model 424-9, |
| Sealed Source] overpack box marked with S/N 853 and labeled as a 'Yellow |
| II.' The RSO provided a copy of the shipping paper that included the |
| specific information concerning the radiography camera, the package |
| tracking number, and a contact number at the carrier. The department used |
| this information and made direct contact with the carrier. Carrier |
| confirmed the above information and is continuing their search. In fact, |
| the carrier reported this event to the NRC Operations Center as did NRC |
| Region II." |
| |
| |
| * * * UPDATE ON 3/21/03 AT 1544 EST VIA EMAIL FROM JOE KLINGER TO ARLON |
| COSTA * * * |
| |
| "A Department inspector in the W. Chicago Regional Office, took a call ago |
| from the RSO of Conam Inspection Inc. (IL-01225-22) in Glendale Heights, |
| IL. The RSO reported that a radiography camera containing 86 Ci of Ir-192, |
| as of March 20, 2003, destined for the Sequoya Power Plant in Soddy Daisy, |
| Tennessee, had failed to arrive as of the expected delivery date 3/17/2003. |
| He further stated that the carrier has been contacted daily since 3/18/03 |
| for information as to the package's whereabouts with no success. As of |
| 1515 hrs. on 3/20/03, the carrier indicated to him that the package may |
| have been misrouted and can only confirm the package leaving a sorting |
| facility in Lisle, Illinois with potential stops in South Bend, Indiana and |
| the carrier's hazmat center in Wilmington, Ohio. The RSO was advised that |
| a thorough search was being conducted by the carrier's personnel. |
| |
| "The RSO is sensitive to the current security issues and wanted to ensure |
| the situation was promptly reported and to indicate some extent of |
| frustration with the carrier although he hoped that the carrier would indeed |
| locate the package. The package is in a black AEA Technology overpack box |
| marked with S/N 853 and labeled as a 'Yellow II'. The RSO has been asked for |
| a copy of the shipping paper that includes the specific information of the |
| radiography camera, the package tracking number, and a contact number at the |
| carrier so that the Department may make direct inquiries with the company. |
| |
| "On 21 March departmental inspectors proceeded to the Lisle, Illinois |
| Airborne Express distribution facility to survey the area to try and locate |
| the device. At approximately 0930 on 21 March [DELETED], Conam, notified |
| the department that the camera was located by Airborne Express at one of |
| their facilities in Springdale, South Carolina. The camera will be |
| transported to its original destination at Soddy Daisy, TN. Upon learning |
| this information, the departmental inspectors immediately terminated their |
| survey of the Lisle Airborne Express facility. The problem appeared to be a |
| failure to follow the appropriate procedure by Airborne Express for their |
| hazmat packages. The Airborne Express procedures are adequate and are |
| routinely used effectively but for this package they made an error that |
| resulted in the hazmat package being sent to their standard package |
| processing facility in Atlanta and subsequently inadvertently sent to |
| Springdale, SC. Airborne Express is reviewing possible actions to prevent |
| recurrence. NRC was notified by phone and email that the camera had been |
| located. The event was assigned event number 39684." |
| |
| Notified NMSS EO (Camper), R3DO (Creed), R2DO (Julian) and via fax DOE, EPA, |
| USDA, HHS, FEMA and DHS. |
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 39691 |
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2003|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:53[EST]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 03/23/2003|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 10:44[CST]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2003|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |MICHAEL PARKER R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 |DON COOL NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: SKAGGS | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|OSAF 76.120(c)(2) SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILUR| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| POWER SUPPLY FAILURE RESULTED IN THE UF6 RELEASE DETECTION SYSTEM BEING |
| INOPERABLE |
| |
| At 1044 CST, on 3-23-03 the Plant shift Superintendent (PSS) was notified |
| that the control power for C-337A Autoclaves 1 East and 1 West was |
| interrupted due to a fuse smoking in the distribution panel. The power |
| supply for the local autoclave area audible and visual alarms for the UPS |
| Release Detection System are fed from the #1 Autoclave control power. Due |
| to the loss of control power to the #1 Autoclaves, the UF6 Release Detection |
| System was rendered inoperable. At the time of this incident, the C-337A |
| facility was in an operational mode in which the UPS Release Detection |
| System was required to be operable. The system was declared inoperable and |
| Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO) required actions were put in place |
| until power could be restored. Power was restored and the UF6 Release |
| Detection System was declared operable at 1206 on 3-23-03. |
| |
| The event is reportable as a 24 hour event, as required by 10 CFR |
| 76.120(c)(2)(1): "An event in which equipment is disabled or fails to |
| function as designed when the equipment is required by TSR to prevent |
| releases, prevent exposures to radiation and radioactive materials exceeding |
| specified limits, mitigate the consequences of an accident, or restore this |
| facility to a preestablished safe condition after an accident." The |
| equipment was required by TSR to be available and operable and no redundant |
| equipment was available to perform the required safety function. |
| |
| The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event. |
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|Other Nuclear Material |Event Number: 39692 |
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| REP ORG: FRAMATOME ANP |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2003|
|LICENSEE: |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:55[EST]|
| CITY: LYNCHBURG REGION: 2 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: VA |EVENT TIME: 07:30[EST]|
|LICENSE#: SNM-1168 AGREEMENT: N |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |CAUDLE JULIAN R2 |
| |DON COOL NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: BILL SHARKEY | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|BEXT 20.1906(d)(2) EXTERNAL RAD LEVELS > L| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| RAD SHIPMENT EXTERNAL LEVELS > LIMITS |
| |
| While receiving a rad shipment of CRDMs (control rod drive mechanisms) from |
| Arkansas Nuclear One, the receipt survey of the bottom of the package was |
| 380 mrem/hr (millirem/hour) on contact. The remaining five sides of the |
| package each measured less than 200 mrem/hr on contact. Smear surveys of |
| the package were within limits for surface contamination. 2 meter surveys |
| along the outer surface of the vehicle all indicated less than 5 mrem/hr. |
| Surveys behind the cab of the truck were 1 mrem/hr. |
| |
| The package was placed in a secure, isolated location at the facility. |
| |
| The licensee has contacted Arkansas Nuclear and TAG Transport, Inc, to |
| discuss how to proceed with this issue. |
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|Hospital |Event Number: 39693 |
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| REP ORG: MONCRIF ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2003|
|LICENSEE: MONCRIF ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:30[EST]|
| CITY: FT JACKSON REGION: 2 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: SC |EVENT TIME: 11:20[EST]|
|LICENSE#: 39-14873-01 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |CAUDLE JULIAN R2 |
| |DOUG BROADDUS NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: HARRY STEWART | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ARLON COSTA | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|ICON 30.50(b)(1) UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| EXTERIOR SURVEY OF PACKAGE CONTAINING TECHNETIUM 99M RESULTED IN A COUNT |
| LEVEL OF 21000 DPM |
| |
| A package containing technetium - 99m delivered by Syncore (Cardinal Health) |
| of Columbia SC, to Moncrif Army Community Hospital was found to have surface |
| contamination levels of 21,000 dpm on its exterior. The package was opened |
| and it was verified that the metal container was not internally |
| contaminated. The ammo box was placed in a store room to decay. The five |
| (5) capsules containing technetium - 99m were used by the Hospital. The RSO |
| called the vendor and informed them of the surface contamination found on |
| the outside of the package. The RSO will survey the path traveled through |
| the Hospital by the vendor carrying the package to ensure the absence of |
| loose contamination. The RSO will contact the vendor to verify if they had |
| contamination issues with other shipments. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39694 |
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| FACILITY: SUSQUEHANNA REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2003|
| UNIT: [1] [2] [] STATE: PA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:55[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 14:55[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: GRANT FERNSLER |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ARLON COSTA +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |PAMELA HENDERSON R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: |STUART RICHARDS NRR |
|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 N 0 Refueling |0 Refueling |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO BRUSH FIRE ON COMPANY PROPERTY |
| |
| "On 3/24/03 at 1455 [EST] the Main Control Room was notified of a brush fire |
| on company property, outside the protected area. County Emergency |
| communications were notified to dispatch a local fire company to extinguish |
| the fire. The fire was not endangering the protected area surrounding the |
| plant and therefore the onsite fire brigade was not activated. No other |
| equipment or company structures were threatened. It was reported that the |
| fire was extinguished at 1526 hours. |
| |
| "According to station guidelines, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management |
| Agency (PEMA) was notified of the incident at 1512 hours. Due to |
| notification to a government agency and possible public interest, this event |
| was determined to be reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi)." |
| |
| The Licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39695 |
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| FACILITY: SUSQUEHANNA REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2003|
| UNIT: [1] [2] [] STATE: PA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 17:26[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 16:52[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: JEFFREY MILLER |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ARLON COSTA +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: UNUSUAL EVENT |PAMELA HENDERSON R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: |STUART RICHARDS NRR |
|AAEC 50.72(a) (1) (i) EMERGENCY DECLARED |NADER MAMISH IRO |
|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(xi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION |DAVID BARDEN FEMA |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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 N 0 Refueling |0 Refueling |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO CONTAMINATED INDIVIDUAL BEING TRANSPORTED OFFSITE |
| |
| "At 4:52 PM EST PPL Susquehanna, LLC, declared an Unusual Event for a |
| contaminated individual transported offsite. The EAL entered was 5.1. The |
| individual had fallen while working in the Unit 2 Drywell of the Primary |
| Containment. Unit 2 is presently in a refuel outage. First Aid personnel |
| were dispatched and treated her injuries. The individual's injuries |
| prevented the removal of all of the protective clothing. Based on the |
| inability to remove the clothing and completely frisk the individual, the |
| individual is being considered contaminated. At 16:57 a local ambulance |
| transported the person offsite en route to a local hospital. |
| |
| "This Emergency Plan entry is reportable under 10CFR50.72(a)1. |
| |
| "According to station guidelines, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management |
| Agency (PEMA) was also notified of the incident. Due to notification to a |
| government agency and possible public interest, this event is also |
| [reportable under ] 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi)." |
| |
| The Licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, local authorities, the |
| state and will issue a press release of this incident. |
| |
| *** UPDATE ON 3/24/03 AT 1948 EST FROM JERRY RINEHART TO ARLON COSTA *** |
| |
| "At 19:15 EST the Unusual Event was terminated. The individual's PCs |
| [protective clothing] were contaminated to 600 ccpm [corrected counts per |
| minute]. The PCs were removed at the hospital and no other contamination was |
| found. The ambulance and the treatment room at the hospital were also |
| frisked and no contamination was found. The contaminated PCs will be |
| secured by the hospital's Radiation Protection staff and returned to the |
| site tomorrow. |
| |
| "The individual suffered a broken wrist [and was treated for other minor |
| injuries]." |
| |
| "All state and local agencies have been advised. A press release will be |
| made." |
| |
| The Licensee notified the UE termination to the NRC Resident Inspector. |
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 39696 |
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/25/2003|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 01:15[EST]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2003|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 00:30[CST]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/25/2003|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |MICHAEL PARKER R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 |LARRY CAMPER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+JOHN JOLICOEUR IRO |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: TOM WHITE | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NBNL RESPONSE-BULLETIN | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| BULLETIN 91-01 24 HOUR REPORT FOR CRITICALITY CONTROL |
| |
| At 0030 on 3-24-03, the Plant Shift Superintendent (PSS) was notified that |
| nine (9) pallets of process equipment containing less than a safe uranium |
| mass and spaced 2 feet edge to edge were discovered in C-335. NCSA GEN-010 |
| requires that the total uranium mass of an equipment group be independently |
| verified and documented to be less than or equal to a safe mass based on the |
| highest assay according to CP2-PO-FO1031. No documentation exists to support |
| that the total uranium mass was verified or independently verified according |
| to CP2-PO-FO1031 in violation of NCSA GEN-010. |
| |
| The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event. |
| |
| PGDP Assessment and Tracking Report No. ATR 03-0876; PGDP Event Report No. |
| PAD-2003-006, NRC Event Worksheet [EN 39696]. |
| |
| Responsible Division: Operations |
| |
| SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS: |
| |
| Although the total mass of the grouped items was not independently verified |
| to be less than a safe mass, no single pallet contains greater than 35 |
| pounds of uranium. The highest enrichment of any item was 2.0 wt. % 235U. |
| The safe mass for uranium at 2.0 wt. % 235U is approximately 250 pounds. |
| |
| POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED (BRIEF SCENARIO(S) OF HOW |
| CRITICALITY COULD OCCUR |
| |
| In order for a criticality to be possible, greater than a safe mass of |
| uranium must be accumulated and then become moderated. |
| |
| CONTROLLED PARAMETERS MASS. MODERATION, GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION, ETC |
| |
| Double contingency is maintained by implementation of two controls |
| (verification and independent verification) of mass. |
| |
| ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS |
| LIMIT AND % WORST CASE CRITICAL MASS); |
| |
| No single pallet has greater than 35 pounds of uranium and the highest assay |
| of any Item is 2.0 wt. % 235U. The safe mass for this assay is 250 pounds. |
| |
| NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES |
| |
| The first leg of double contingency is based on mass. NCSA GEN-010 requires |
| that the total uranium mass of grouped items be verified less than the UH |
| [Uncomplicated Handling] mass limit and documented. No documentation exists |
| that substantiates that this verification was performed; therefore, this |
| control was violated. However, since none of the groups contain greater than |
| a safe mass this parameter was not exceeded. |
| |
| The second leg of double contingency is based on mass. NCSA GEN-010 requires |
| that the total uranium mass of grouped items be independently verified less |
| than the UH mass limit and documented in accordance with CP2-PO-FO1031. No |
| documentation exists that substantiates that this independent verification |
| was performed; therefore, this control was violated. |
| |
| Even though the mass parameter was maintained, double contingency is based |
| on two controls on mass. Since neither control was maintained, double |
| contingency was not maintained. |
| |
| CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED: |
| |
| 1. Properly group and document each pallet according to CP2-CO-CN2030. |
| 2. Upon completion of corrective action 1 for each of the 9 pallets, the |
| exclusion zone and postings may be removed. |
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