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Location of Spent Fuel Rod SegmentsOn this page: BackgroundOn April 21, 2004, Vermont Yankee formally notified the NRC that two short spent fuel rod segments were not in the spent fuel pool in the location specified in documents. The segments are described as about 7 inches long and 17 inches long. Both are approximately the diameter of a pencil. These segments had been placed in a special container at the bottom of the spent fuel pool in 1980. The discovery came after Entergy conducted a detailed inventory check for these two short spent fuel rod segments on April 20, 2004. Entergy conducted the inventory check after an NRC inspector questioned the thoroughness of Entergy's and its predecessor's annual inventory checks associated with these two spent fuel rod segments. While performing a spent fuel pool accountability inspection, the inspector questioned plant officials regarding aspects of their procedures for the verification of older fuel assemblies. For more information, see our Fact Sheet on Radioactive Waste. On July 13, 2004, Entergy notified the NRC that the fuel rod segments had been located in the spent fuel pool. The pieces had been stored in a unique aluminum cylinder which was previously thought to be part of an existing in-pool structure. HistoryIn 1980, during a fuel assembly reconstitution effort, two fuel rods broke into several pieces. Two of these pieces were short, one about 7 inches and the other about 17 inches long. A fuel assembly consists of many fuel rods. Although the remaining segments of the fuel rods were retained in spent fuel assemblies stored in the spent fuel pool, these two short fuel rod segments could not be stored within a spent fuel assembly. Instead, these two segments were placed into a separate container located on the bottom of the spent fuel pool, below approximately 40 feet of water. The segments were placed into two 3/4" diameter sleeves oriented vertically in the container. In March 2004, the resident inspectors noted that the annual inventory checks did not include an actual "piece count" of these two spent fuel rod segments in the container. The inventory checks had only ensured that the container remained intact and in place at the bottom of the spent fuel pool. To provide additional assurance, following questions by the inspector, Entergy used a boroscope to look inside the 3/4 inch sleeves. This led to discovery on April 20 that the fuel segments were not in the container.
NRC and Licensee Followup ActionsEntergy actively responded to this situation. They developed a detailed plan that included a records review, a thorough inspection of the spent fuel pool to determine the location of the two rod segments, and a review of activities that may have resulted in the inadvertent movement of these fuel rod segments to another location. The NRC initiated a special inspection to look into potentially missing spent fuel segments at the facility. An inspector, who led the inspection following a similar situation at Millstone, was dispatched to the site. The inspection closely monitored and assessed Entergy’s activities regarding these fuel pin segments. The NRC also coordinated with the State of Vermont regarding the state's participation in the inspection. The NRC on-site portion of the inspection concluded August 2004 and the report was issued on December 2, 2005. The NRC discussed the results of the inspection with the public at a meeting on December 16, 2004, at the Brattleboro High School. The NRC will use information learned from this event, along with experience from other facilities to determine if action should be taken generically to improve NRC's oversight of nuclear material accountability.Press Releases and Reports
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