U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
04/16/2003 - 04/17/2003
** EVENT NUMBERS **
39755 39756 39762 39764 39765
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 39755 |
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| REP ORG: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/14/2003|
|LICENSEE: ALBEMARELE CORPORATION |NOTIFICATION TIME: 11:34[EDT]|
| CITY: PASADENA REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 04/11/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: TX |EVENT TIME: 14:00[CDT]|
|LICENSE#: L04072-000 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/14/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |CLAUDE JOHNSON R4 |
| |JANET SCHLUETER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: JAMES OGDEN | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: RICH LAURA | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
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| | |
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| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| TEXAS AGREEMENT STATE REPORT FOR FIRE DAMAGED THREE SOURCE HOLDERS |
| |
| "Fire detectors activated in the multi-Product Unit 1 on Friday afternoon, |
| insulation and sheeting on the unit were damaged by the fire. Three Ohmart |
| SH-F1 source holders were installed on the unit. Each source holder contains |
| a Cesium-137 source with an estimated activity of 120 millicuries each. The |
| on-site fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. It was |
| suspect that the gauges had been engulfed in the fire. However, after |
| notification to Techstar, an on-site visit for inspection and verification |
| determined that none of the gauges were burned in the fire but had been |
| affected by the heat of the fire. It has been explained that the detectors |
| were damaged. The Techstar firm confirms that all labels are intact and |
| legible. A leak test was performed on each unit for gross contamination and |
| a radiation survey and occupancy evaluation was performed. No contamination |
| was detected. The ion chamber detectors will have to be replaced, as the |
| greater part of the fire was on the detector side of the vessels. Techstar |
| placed the three units shutters in the closed position until repairs to the |
| facility can be made. Estimated time to repair the facility is approximately |
| 10 working days. After repair the ion detectors will be replaced and the |
| gauges will be tested by Techstar." |
| |
| Notified NMSS EO (F. Brown) |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 39756 |
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| REP ORG: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/14/2003|
|LICENSEE: ACCLAIM MATERIAL TESTING AND INSPECTI|NOTIFICATION TIME: 13:05[EDT]|
| CITY: Las Vegas REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 04/10/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: NV |EVENT TIME: 17:30[PDT]|
|LICENSE#: 00-11-0470-01 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/15/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |CLAUDE JOHNSON R4 |
| |JANET SCHLUETER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: STAN MARSHALL | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS | |
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|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
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| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| LOST MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE |
| |
| A Campbell Pacific Nuclear Model MC-DR1P s/n MD20200680 moisture/density |
| gauge was lost out of a transport vehicle on 4/10/03. The gauge contains 10 |
| millicuries of Cs-137 and 50 millicuries of Am-241:Be. The gauge was not |
| properly secured in the transport vehicle prior to transportation. |
| Licensee's corrective actions included a meeting with all gauge users on |
| 4/14/03, and issuing an orange cone to be put in the back of each transport |
| vehicle to remind users to secure gauges before transport. Local law |
| enforcement was notified of this event. The licensee may issue a violation |
| letter for failure to follow procedures. |
| |
| Notified R4 DO (C. Johnson) and NMSS EO (F. Brown) |
| |
| *****UPDATE ON 4/15/03 AT 10:40 FROM MARSHALL TO LAURA***** |
| |
| The licensee called at 6:15 pm PDT to advise the gauge had been found on |
| April 14 in the middle of the street in vicinity of where it had been lost. |
| It had taken the finder some time to track down the owner of the gauge. The |
| gauge case was missing but the gauge was reported to be undamaged. |
| |
| Notified the R4DO (Johnson) and NMSS (ESSIG). |
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 39762 |
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/16/2003|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 06:32[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 04/15/2003|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 09:45[CDT]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/16/2003|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |THOMAS KOZAK R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 |TOM ESSIG NMSS |
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| NRC NOTIFIED BY: TOM WHITE | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: MIKE RIPLEY | |
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|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 0945 on 4/15/03, the Plant Shift Superintendent (PSS) was notified that |
| SX/WA (Seal Exhaust/Wet Air) pump components were discovered outside the |
| C-337 SX/WA FCA (Fissile Control Area) not properly tagged and spaced, as |
| required by NCSA CAS-007. Tagging of items removed from the SX/WA FCA |
| ensure proper identification of potential fissile components requiring |
| spacing controls. Components include used oil solenoid valve, 3 inch elbow, |
| oil mist filter crushing tool, 3 gas ballast pipes and valves, oil level |
| sight glass, oil or water flow sight glass and copper tubing. The NRC |
| Resident Inspector has been notified of this event." |
| |
| SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS: While an approved analysis does exist for |
| subcriticality of this upset condition, a control relied upon for double |
| contingency was violated. |
| |
| POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED: In order for a criticality to be |
| possible, a second independent and unlikely event would need to occur |
| concurrently with the loss of spacing accident. |
| |
| CONTROLLED PARAMETERS (MASS, MODERATION, GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION, ETC): |
| Double contingency is maintained by implementing controls on interaction and |
| an independent failure. |
| |
| ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL: Less than the safe |
| mass of uranium at plant maximum assay of 5.5 wt. % U235. |
| |
| NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES: The first leg of double contingency relies |
| on interaction. Components removed from a SX/WA FCA shall be spaced a |
| minimum 2 feet, edge-to-edge from other potentially fissile material or |
| components, the SX/WA components were spaced less than the required 2 foot |
| spacing. Therefore, the control on interaction was violated and the |
| parameter was lost. |
| |
| The second leg of double contingency is based on the subcriticality of the |
| loss of spacing. The improperly spaced components are of small size and |
| limited uranium loading which are in a configuration that is bounded by |
| calculations performed for the SX/WA station. Therefore, this leg of double |
| contingency is maintained. |
| |
| Since the interaction parameter was lost; therefore, the double contingency |
| principle was not maintained. |
| |
| CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED: |
| See remediation guide. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39764 |
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| FACILITY: OCONEE REGION: 2 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/16/2003|
| UNIT: [1] [2] [3] STATE: SC |NOTIFICATION TIME: 14:14[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] B&W-L-LP,[3] B&W-L-L|EVENT DATE: 04/16/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 11:45[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: RANDY TODD |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/16/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |THOMAS DECKER R2 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|HFIT 26.73 FITNESS FOR DUTY | |
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| | |
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+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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 |
|3 N Y 82 Power Operation |82 Power Operation |
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EVENT TEXT
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| FITNESS FOR DUTY |
| |
| "Event: At 11:45 on April 16, 2003, the Oconee Medical Review Officer |
| notified the affected individual of a confirmed positive test result |
| following a random Fitness For Duty (FFD) screening test. The confirmed |
| positive was for alcohol. The individual being tested is a Supervisor in |
| the Radiation Protection Section. |
| |
| "Initial Safety Significance: None: There is no reason to believe there |
| has been any adverse consequences from this event. The employee had been in |
| meetings all morning until he reported for the random screening test. This |
| event is not considered to have impacted operation of the plant in any way. |
| |
| "Corrective Action(s): The immediate action was to place the individual's |
| security badge on FFD hold, which will deny access to the protected area. |
| Also, the individual was referred for immediate assessment by the Employee |
| Assistance Program counselor, who will determine the extent of additional |
| actions." |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 39765 |
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| FACILITY: QUAD CITIES REGION: 3 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/16/2003|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: IL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:46[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-3,[2] GE-3 |EVENT DATE: 04/16/2003|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 13:59[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: MIKE WAGNER |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/16/2003|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: ERIC THOMAS +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: ALERT |THOMAS KOZAK R3 |
|10 CFR SECTION: |BOB DENNIG NRR |
|AAEC 50.72(a) (1) (i) EMERGENCY DECLARED |CLAUDE JOHNSON R4 |
| |GILL DHS |
| |GARY BELCHER FEMA |
| |SAL MORRONEN DOE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
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|2 N Y 100 Power Operation |0 Hot Shutdown |
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EVENT TEXT
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| ALERT DECLARED |
| |
| "At 1359 CDT, Quad Cities declared and ALERT condition on Unit 2. This |
| ALERT was declared due to a stuck open [power operated] relief valve (3B |
| PORV). A manual scram was initiated [at 1337 CDT]. Priorities include |
| actions to close the 3B relief valve and to maximize Torus cooling. Note |
| that the ALERT was declared due to condition FA1 (relief valve stuck open |
| and Torus temperature." |
| |
| The reactor was scrammed due to a 95 deg F Torus temperature. All rods |
| fully inserted on the scram. The Torus temperature peaked at 118 degrees F, |
| and then started to decrease due to Torus cooling. The tech spec limit on |
| Torus temperature is 110 deg F. Cooldown rate exceeded 100 deg F per hour, |
| and all MSIVs were closed to limit the cooldown rate. |
| |
| The NRC Region III Incident response center was fully staffed at 1415 CDT. |
| The NRC entered Monitoring mode at 1435 CDT, with Region III in the lead. |
| |
| * * * SUMMARY AT 1600 CDT ON 4/16/03 FROM DAVID WASNIACK (EXELON) TO NRC |
| STAFF * * * |
| |
| Torus temperature now <110 deg F. Expect to be in Mode IV by 1900 CDT. In |
| order to de-inert the Torus, must have Torus temperature <95 deg F, and have |
| shutdown cooling supplied to the core. Anticipate 15-16 hours before the |
| drywell can be accessed to attempt to manually shut the valve. |
| |
| The licensee has attempted to close the PORV from the control room via |
| several means (switch and pulling control power fuses) and been |
| unsuccessful. |
| |
| * * * SUMMARY AT 1715 CDT ON 4/16/03 FROM DAVID WASNIACK TO NRC STAFF * * * |
| |
| The licensee is continuing plant and Torus cooldown, and anticipates |
| terminating the ALERT when the plant is in Mode 4, at approximately 1900 |
| CDT. Suspected cause of the PORV lifting is a failed pilot. |
| |
| * * * SUMMARY AT 2130 CDT ON 4/16/03 FROM DAVID WASNIACK TO NRC STAFF * * * |
| |
| Shutdown cooling was established at 2104 CDT. Current temperature 275 deg |
| F, cooldown rate is 80 degrees per hour. At 2237 CDT, the licensee declared |
| that Unit 2 was in Mode 4. |
| |
| * * * SUMMARY AT 2245 CDT ON 4/16/03 FROM DAVID WASNIACK TO NRC STAFF * * * |
| |
| The NRC exited Monitoring mode at 2255 CDT. |
| |
| * * * SUMMARY AT 2340 CDT ON 4/16/03 FROM RALPH BASSETT TO NRC STAFF * * * |
| |
| The licensee terminated the alert at 2251 CDT. The plant is in Cold |
| Shutdown Mode 4 with the RCS depressurized and less than 212 deg F. |
| Notified DHS (Stucky), FEMA (Saunder), DOE (Rick) , USDA (L. Thomas), HHS |
| (M. Miller), EPA (Flach), NRR EO (S. Black), HQ PAO (W. Beecher), R3 (S. |
| Reynolds). |
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