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Event Notification Report for June 7, 2005

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
06/06/2005 - 06/07/2005

** EVENT NUMBERS **

!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor	Event Number: 41725
Facility: HATCH Region: 2 State: GA Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4 NRC Notified By: DOUG SIMKINS HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE	Notification Date: 05/23/2005 Notification Time: 20:07 [ET] Event Date: 05/23/2005 Event Time: 17:47 [EDT] Last Update Date: 06/06/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION	Person (Organization): CHARLES R. OGLE (R2)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
2	M/R	Y	57	Power Operation	0	Hot Shutdown

Event Text

MANUAL SCRAM DUE TO CONDENSER HOTWELL CHEMISTRY

"Based on increasing conductivity in the reactor vessel and condenser hotwell, a power reduction was initiated from 100 percent power. A manual scram was inserted at 57 percent RTP and 49 percent Core Flow based on Chemistry recommendations due to sulfates and chlorides in the hotwell. Following the scram a reduction in reactor water level to -28 inches resulted in a Primary Containment Group 2 Isolation (ESF) occurring. All isolations and systems responded as expected.

"Current plant status is Hot Shutdown with plans to proceed to cold shutdown."

All control rods fully inserted and decay heat is being removed with the bypass valves into the condenser.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION FROM SHIFT SUPERVISOR (TONY SPRING) TO ABRAMOVITZ AT 16:33 ON 6/6/2005 * * *

"After further review and evaluation it has been determined that the four hour call made May 23, 2005 per the guidance of 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) should be retracted.

"A review of the event with respect to NUREG 1022 Revision 2 determined that:

"The manual scram was part of a pre-planned sequence to shut the plant down due to an equipment problem. The manual scram was part of a pre-planned sequence. The guidance to scram the reactor was established by the plant's Abnormal Operating Procedure addressing a condenser tube leak and was part of a preplanned sequence to prevent future equipment and component failures. The Manual Scram was not inserted to protect the plant against an event that presented a challenge to an FSAR analyzed event. In other words, this was not an Anticipated Operational Occurrence, an Accident, or a Special Event as defined in section 15.1.3 of the Unit 2 FSAR. Rather it was part of a plan to shutdown the reactor to protect against future potential equipment problems due to out of limits chemistry parameters. Further justification is provided by the fact that the manual scram was not initiated in anticipation of an automatic scram.

"Per NUREG 1022 Rev. 2: 'The staff also considers intentional manual actions, in which one or more system components are actuated in response to actual plant conditions resulting from equipment failure or human error, to be reportable because such actions would usually mitigate the consequences of a significant event. This position is consistent with the statement that the commission is interested in events where a system was needed to mitigate the consequences of the event.'

"However, the reporting requirement itself indicates that actuations that result from pre-planned sequences are not reportable. An example is provided in the NUREG of an equipment problem involving the loss of recirc pumps. In this example it is stated that: 'Even though the reactor scram was in response to an existing written procedure, this event does not involve a preplanned sequence because the loss of the recirc pumps and the resultant off-normal procedure entry were event driven, not pre-planned.'

"This is similar to our event, however, in the NUREG example, the reactor is scrammed to protect against the possibility of a stability event and stability is an FSAR analyzed event. In our case we were shutting down for chemistry reasons, not an FSAR type event.

"It is concluded that when the RPS is used to shutdown the reactor as part of a plan for the resolution of equipment problems, and the RPS is not needed to mitigate the consequences of an FSAR analyzed event, i.e., one which threatens a fission product boundary (i.e., fuel cladding, RCPB, primary and secondary containments), the RPS actuation is not reportable under 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B)."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R2DO (Haag).

Other Nuclear Material	Event Number: 41735
Rep Org: GLOBAL X-RAY AND TESTING CORPORATIO Licensee: GLOBAL X-RAY AND TESTING CORPORATIO Region: 4 City: State: LA County: License #: LA-0577-L01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: WILLIAM JOHNSTON HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 05/29/2005 Notification Time: 12:11 [ET] Event Date: 05/29/2005 Event Time: 06:20 [CDT] Last Update Date: 06/06/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X	Person (Organization): GARY SANBORN (R4) M. WAYNE HODGES (NMSS)

Event Text

RADIOGRAPHY EXPOSURE DEVICE AND SOURCE FELL OVERBOARD

"While transferring from the [offshore] platform to a boat, the device and source fell overboard. The source is in it's shielded position; front and back covers are in place. The device and source pose no immediate threat."

"BP [the owner] is coordinating a dive team and plan to be on location in 4-5 days. Tentatively on June 3, 2005 weather permitting.

"Location: Grand Isle 47 AQ
Water Depth: 80 to 100 feet
Latitude: 28 56 .7
Longitude: 90 01 .9
[Approximately 15 mi. SE of Fort Fourchon, LA]
Time of Incident: 06:20 AM
Date: 05/29/05
Exposure Device Mfg/Serial # :Spec 150 # 825
Source Mfg/ Serial #: Spec G-60 Ser# MA-1702
Activity: 44 curies IR-192"

* * * UPDATE 1035EDT ON 6/6/05 FROM CHRIS MOREAU TO S. SANDIN * * *

After an extensive search involving four (4) divers, the licensee was unable to locate the missing device. The licensee considers the device lost and has abandoned their efforts at recovery. Notified R4DO (Chuck Cain) and NMSS (Richard Correia).

General Information or Other	Event Number: 41738
Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION Licensee: GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANTS, INC. Region: 3 City: WESTERVILLE State: OH County: License #: 31210250023 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: STEPHEN JAMES HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 06/01/2005 Notification Time: 12:23 [ET] Event Date: 06/01/2005 Event Time: 11:45 [EDT] Last Update Date: 06/01/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): SONIA BURGESS (R3) LANCE ENGLISH e-mail (TAS) TOM ESSIG (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The State provided the following information via e-mail:

"Licensee reported that employee's truck, containing moisture density gauge, was stolen from employee's apartment complex parking lot in Hamilton, Ohio sometime between 1:30 AM and 7:00 AM on June 1, 2005. The gauge was chained inside the bed of the pick-up. Employee went home after late work assignment at remote location with the gauge still in the vehicle. The employee failed to follow licensee procedures requiring that the gauge remain in secure location at the remote job site or be returned to licensee's offices. The gauge is a CPN Model MC1DR, containing a 10 mCi Cs-137 source and a 50 mCi Am-241 source (maximum activities). The serial number is MD50407830. A police report (# 29319) has been filed with the Hamilton, Ohio police department. There is no indication at this time that the gauge itself was stolen for malicious purposes. This information is current as of 11:45 PM on 6/1/05."

Ohio Reference Number: OH 2005-068

* * * UPDATE FROM STATE (JAMES) TO NRC (HUFFMAN) AT 1430 EDT ON 6/1/05 * * *

The licensee provided the following information via e-mail:

"Licensee called Ohio Department of Health (ODH) at 2:00 PM on 6/1/05 to report that truck and gauge had been recovered and that gauge was fully intact in shipping container. Licensee further stated that gauge was never technically stolen. Licensee's employee parked in the wrong space at the apartment complex and apartment management had the vehicle towed early this morning. The vehicle, with the gauge, had been at the Hamilton, Ohio police department vehicle impound lot until employee was notified that vehicle had been towed. Once notified, licensee recovered the gauge and is taking it to their Dayton office for storage."

ODH representative (Owen) noted in a followup e-mail that [albeit the gauge was] not stolen, there remains an issue of adequate control in accordance with licensing requirements.

R3DO (Burgess) and NMSS (Correia) notified. TAS (English) informed via e-mail.

Power Reactor	Event Number: 41746
Facility: SUSQUEHANNA Region: 1 State: PA Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4 NRC Notified By: GRANT FERNSLER HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 06/06/2005 Notification Time: 15:44 [ET] Event Date: 06/06/2005 Event Time: 12:33 [EDT] Last Update Date: 06/06/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION	Person (Organization): TODD JACKSON (R1)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
2	A/R	Y	100	Power Operation	0	Hot Shutdown

Event Text

AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO APPARENT GENERATOR LOAD REJECTION

"At approximately 1233 hours, the Susquehanna Unit Two reactor automatically scrammed due to an apparent generator load reject. All rods inserted, and both reactor recirculation pumps tripped. Reactor water level lowered to -6" causing level 3 (setpoint +13") isolations, and was restored to normal level (+35") by the feedwater system. All isolations at this level occurred as expected. Two steam relief valves opened, then reclosed. Pressure was subsequently controlled via turbine bypass valve operation. All safety systems operated as expected. Some balance of plant loads shutdown apparently due to a voltage perturbation.

"A reactor recirculation pump was restarted to re-establish forced core circulation. The reactor is currently stable in condition 3. An investigation into the cause of the shutdown is underway. Unit One continued power operation.

"The NRC resident inspectors were notified. A press release will occur."

The licensee will be notifying the State of Pennsylvania.

Hospital	Event Number: 41747
Rep Org: NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER Licensee: NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER Region: 1 City: BETHESDA State: MD County: MONTGOMERY License #: 19-08330-03 Agreement: Y Docket: 030-0693 NRC Notified By: STEVE MILLER HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 06/06/2005 Notification Time: 15:50 [ET] Event Date: 06/06/2005 Event Time: 10:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 06/06/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 36.83(a)(1) - UNSHIELD STUCK SOURCE	Person (Organization): TODD JACKSON (R1) TOM ESSIG (NMSS) TIM MCGINTY (IRD)

Event Text

IRRADIATOR SOURCE STUCK OUTSIDE OF WATER SHIELD

Testing was being performed on the panoramic pool irradiator (wet-source storage, cat IV). Two sources were pulled from the water for scram time testing. One of the sources fell back to its storage position however, the second source failed to return to storage. The source is a Co-60 source of approximately 180,000 Curies. The licensee expects to troubleshoot the problem and return the source to its storage location within the next four days (end of the week). The source is stuck eight feet below the water line and the irradiator room is locked.