U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
04/08/2003 - 04/09/2003
** EVENT NUMBERS **
39226 39723 39729 39741 39742 39743
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39226 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PALO VERDE REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/27/2002|
| UNIT: [1] [2] [3] STATE: AZ |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:52[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] CE,[2] CE,[3] CE |EVENT DATE: 09/27/2002|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 15:00[MST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: STROUD |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/08/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |JOHN PELLET R4 |
|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 99 Power Operation |99 Power Operation |
|2 N Y 99 Power Operation |99 Power Operation |
|3 N Y 99 Power Operation |99 Power Operation |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| OFF-SITE NOTIFICATION |
| |
| On September 27, 2002 at approximately 15:00 Mountain Standard Time, Palo |
| Verde Nuclear Generating Station |
| (PVNGS) notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that a INITIAL |
| NOTIFICATION OF CONTINUOUS RELEASE was being reported. |
| |
| The following information was provided to the National Response Center and |
| State of Arizona: |
| |
| "Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station is calling to make an initial |
| notification of a continuous release in accordance |
| with CERCLA Section 103(f)(2). 40CFR 302.8 (d). This is not an accidental |
| or episodic release. |
| |
| Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station will be performing a scheduled steam |
| generator cleaning activity as part of its routine refueling outage for Unit |
| 1. The steam generator cleaning activity will begin on Saturday, September |
| 28 at approximately 18:00. During this activity, Palo Verde Nuclear |
| Generating Station will exceed the Reportable Quantities for the release of |
| ammonia and hydrazine. The same activity is scheduled to occur during the |
| Unit 3 refueling outage, spring of 2003. The activity occurs approximately |
| once per every five to seven years on each unit. The hazardous substances |
| released are ammonia (CAS #7684-41-7) and hydrazine (CAS #302-01-2). PVNGS |
| expects no adverse effects to health and welfare of the general public, nor |
| to the environment. |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector was notified along with the State. |
| |
| * * * UPDATE ON 4/8/03 FROM DAN MARKS TO HOWIE CROUCH * * * |
| |
| The following information was received from the Licensee via facsimile: |
| |
| "The following event description is a follow-up notification to ENS 39226, |
| placed at 15:12 Mountain Standard Time (MST) (18:52 ET) on 09/27/2002. |
| |
| "ENS 39226 informed the NRC of a government notification to the National |
| Response Center (EPA), the State of Arizona and Maricopa County related to a |
| continuous release in accordance with CERCLA [Comprehensive Environmental |
| Response, Compensation, and Liability Act] Section 103(f)(2), 40 CFR |
| 302.8(d). This was not an accidental or episodic release. The planned |
| release was the result of steam generator cleaning activities and would |
| result in exceeding the Reportable Quantities for the release of ammonia |
| (CAS #7664-41-7) and hydrazine (CAS #302-01-2). |
| |
| "Included in the notification was the schedule to occur in Palo Verde Unit 3 |
| during its refueling outage in the spring of 2003. |
| |
| "Since that original notification, Palo Verde has implemented a condensation |
| unit that captures a large amount of the effluent prior to release. |
| Although the Reportable Quantities will still be exceeded, the notification |
| to the National Response Center (EPA), [Maricopa County] and the State of |
| Arizona will identify the lower levels. |
| |
| "The contact name for information concerning this notification is [DELETED], |
| Environmental Section Leader, at telephone number [DELTED]. |
| |
| "As during the previous notification, PVNGS [Palo Verde Nuclear Generating |
| Station] expects no adverse effects to the health and safety of the public, |
| nor to the environment." |
| |
| The Licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other |Event Number: 39723 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/03/2003|
|LICENSEE: TEXAS DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:21[EST]|
| CITY: ABILENE REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 03/31/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: TX |EVENT TIME: 22:00[CST]|
|LICENSE#: L00197 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/03/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |ANTHONY GODY R4 |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: JAMES H. OGDEN, JR | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ATTEMPTED THEFT OF A TROXLER GAUGE |
| |
| The Texas Department of Health reported the attempted theft of a Troxler |
| Model 3430, (serial # unknown), on the night of 3/31/03 from a secure |
| storage trailer at a Texas Department of Transportation construction site in |
| Abilene, TX. Site personnel discovered the gauge in an open case on the |
| floor of a construction trailer with its lock cut. The trailer and its |
| storage closet had been broken into. The sealed source contains 8 |
| millicuries of Cs-137 and 40 millicuries of Am-241/Be. Gauge is currently |
| secured in a different area awaiting results of leak and serviceability |
| tests. An investigation is in process to determine whether other items were |
| stolen, or whether this gauge was the only target of the attempted theft. |
| |
| This event is technically not reportable, but was entered as an attempted |
| theft due to three other similar incidents that did result in stolen gauges |
| in the Dallas-Fort Worth area under similar circumstances. The Texas |
| Department of Transportation notified all other licensee's possessing |
| portable nuclear gauges in the Abiline and Dallas-Fort Worth regions, along |
| with local police and the Dallas FBI office. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39729 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: GINNA REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/04/2003|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: NY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:43[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-2-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/04/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 07:16[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: MCLAUGHLIN |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/08/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |RONALD BELLAMY R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|ACOM 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| LOSS OF MORE THAN 50% OF THE EMERGENCY SIRENS |
| |
| The plant has 59 of the 96 offsite notification system sirens out of service |
| due to loss of power caused by ice storms damage to the electrical power |
| supplies. They do not know how soon the sirens will be returned to |
| service. |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector and local government were notified and the state |
| will be informed. |
| |
| * * * UPDATE AT 1436 EDT ON 4/8/03 FROM DOUG PETERSON TO ERIC THOMAS * * * |
| |
| 82 of the 96 offsite notification system sirens are back in service. 13.5% |
| of the sirens remain inoperable. |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39741 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: CALVERT CLIFFS REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/07/2003|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: MD |NOTIFICATION TIME: 22:36[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] CE,[2] CE |EVENT DATE: 04/07/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 22:19[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DAVE LYNCH |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/08/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: UNUSUAL EVENT |JAMES TRAPP R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: |BRUCE BOGER NRR |
|AAEC 50.72(a) (1) (i) EMERGENCY DECLARED |RICHARD WESSMAN IRO |
| |WILLIAM KANE ET |
| |HUBERT MILLER RA |
| |FEMA |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 N N 0 Refueling |0 Refueling |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| UNUSUAL EVENT |
| |
| At 2201, a fire started in the pressurizer doghouse. Welding operations |
| were ongoing in the upper part of the space, and a slag catchment device |
| lower in the space caught fire. The fire brigade responded to the scene. |
| At 2219, the licensee declared an Unusual Event because of an ongoing fire |
| in the vital area for greater than 15 minutes. At 2234, the fire was put |
| out by pouring water down onto the fire from above, and a reflash watch was |
| set. There was no damage noted to plant equipment, and no injuries to |
| personnel. |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the surrounding |
| counties. |
| |
| * * * UPDATE AT 2309 ON 4/7/03 FROM DAVE SEPANICH TO ERIC THOMAS * * * |
| |
| At 2300, the licensee secured from the Unusual Event. There was no damage |
| noted to plant components, and scaffolding will be erected to conduct |
| further inspections. |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the surrounding |
| counties. |
| |
| * * * UPDATE AT 0008 ON 4/8/03 FROM MIKE KORSNICK TO ERIC THOMAS * * * |
| |
| The cause of the fire was slag from welding operations that fell through |
| some fire blankets and ignited the herculite underneath. A fire brigade |
| member will be sent back into the space this morning to conduct further |
| damage assessment. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39742 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: CALLAWAY REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/08/2003|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: MO |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:10[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/07/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 14:10[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: JAMES CUNNINGHAM |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/08/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |DAVE LOVELESS R4 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NINF INFORMATION ONLY | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| INFORMATION CALL |
| |
| "Unfounded Suspicious Call concerning demonstrations at the Callaway Nuclear |
| Plant. |
| |
| "On 04/07/03 at approximately 1400 hours, the Assistant Superintendent of |
| Security at the Callaway Plant received a call from Callaway County Sheriff. |
| The sheriff stated that on 04/04/03 at 2036 hours the county dispatcher |
| received an anonymous call stating that a demonstration would take place at |
| the Callaway Plant on Wednesday April 9, 2003. The caller did not offer any |
| additional information even when questioned other than he would get hurt if |
| he stated anything else. |
| |
| "[Neither] Ameren Corporate Security, Callaway Plant Security, Callaway |
| County Sheriff's Department nor [DELETED] with the FBI office in Jefferson |
| City have received or come in contact with any information concerning any |
| type of possible demonstration. |
| |
| "The Callaway Plant EDO, Protective Services Superintendent and Vice |
| President were notified of this call. The Sheriff's Department plans on |
| conducting extra patrols of the area on 04/09/03 as well as an increased |
| awareness by Security." |
| |
| Notified IAT (J. Davidson) |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39743 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: DIABLO CANYON REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/08/2003|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: CA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 19:36[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/08/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 14:53[PDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: TONY CHITWOOD |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/08/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: HOWIE CROUCH +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |DAVE LOVELESS R4 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|AESF 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUAT| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 N N 0 Cold Shutdown |0 Cold Shutdown |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| AUXILIARY FEEDWATER ACTUATION DUE TO LOW STEAM GENERATOR WATER LEVEL |
| |
| The following information was received from the Licensee via facsimile: |
| |
| "On April 8, 2003 with Unit 2 in Mode 5 (Cold Shutdown), the auxiliary |
| feedwater (AFW) system automatically actuated on a valid signal when the |
| solid state protection system (SSPS) was placed in service while the steam |
| generator level was below the AFW actuation set point. The actuation was |
| unplanned. |
| |
| "S/G [Steam Generator] 2-1 level had been lowered to below the feed ring for |
| work on an AFW system check valve. Operations was performing testing on the |
| AFW system using AFW Pump 2-2, and was going to restore S/G level to normal |
| (approximately 33% narrow range level) during the test. In conjunction with |
| the AFW system testing, SSPS was being placed in service in preparation for |
| an expected Mode 4 transition later in the watch after the AFW system |
| testing was complete. When SSPS was placed in service, the low level in S/G |
| 2-1 made up the coincidence for starting the motor driven AFW pumps. AFW |
| Pump 2-2 was in operation, but AFW Pump 2-3 started in response to the low |
| S/G level. AFW Pump 2-3 was aligned for recirculation flow, and did not feed |
| forward on the automatic start. Operations then restored S/G 2-1 level above |
| the low level trip point and secured AFW Pump 2-3. |
| |
| "The start of AFW Pump 2-3 on a valid low level signal from S/G 2-1 is |
| reportable as an 8 [hr.] non-emergency |
| report." |
| |
| In addition to the AFW actuation, the Licensees did receive a S/G blowdown |
| isolation signal but S/G blowdown was not in service at the time. |
| |
| The Licensee has informed the NRC Resident Inspector. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
