Event Notification Report for April 28, 1999

                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                              Operations Center

                              Event Reports For
                           04/27/1999 - 04/28/1999

                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **

35599  35635  35637  35638  35639  35640  35641  35642  35643  35644  

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Other Nuclear Material                           |Event Number:   35599       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  U.S. ARMY (ACALA)                    |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/16/1999|
|LICENSEE:  U.S. ARMY (ACALA)                    |NOTIFICATION TIME: 10:44[EDT]|
|    CITY:  GERMANY                  REGION:     |EVENT DATE:        01/15/1999|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:     |EVENT TIME:        12:00[EST]|
|LICENSE#:  12-00722-06           AGREEMENT:  N  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |JOHN JACOBSON        R3      |
|                                                |DON COOL             NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  JEFF HAVENNER                |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  BOB STRANSKY                 |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|BAB1 20.2201(a)(1)(i)    LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| THREE M43A1 CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTORS MISPLACED IN GERMANY                    |
|                                                                              |
| The U.S. Army reported that three M43A1 chemical agent detectors, each       |
| containing 250 �Ci of Am-241, had been misplaced between mid-December 1998   |
| and mid-January 1999.  The detectors were issued to the 324th Signal         |
| Company, and they were being deployed to an unspecified location.  The       |
| paperwork regarding these detectors was not completed properly, and the Army |
| believes that they are still in possession of the detectors.  The U.S. Army  |
| plans to contact the German government regarding this event.                 |
|                                                                              |
| ******************** UPDATE AT 1653 ON 04/27/99 FROM JEFF HAVENER TO TROCINE |
| ********************                                                         |
|                                                                              |
| The missing M43A1 chemical agent detectors were located.  Apparently, the    |
| items had been deployed, but the paperwork did not show that the items had   |
| been shipped out and still indicated that the items were located in the      |
| unit.                                                                        |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC operations officer notified the R3DO (Madera) and NMSS EO (Combs).   |
|                                                                              |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for a licensee contact telephone number.)   |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   35635       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: CALVERT CLIFFS           REGION:  1  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/26/1999|
|    UNIT:  [1] [2] []                STATE:  MD |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:08[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] CE,[2] CE                        |EVENT DATE:        03/28/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:             [EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  L. SMIALEK/D. BAUDER         |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |CLIFFORD ANDERSON    R1      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |FREDERICK COMBS      NMSS    |
|BAB2 20.2201(a)(1)(ii)   LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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        |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| LOSS OF FOUR CESIUM-137 SOURCES (288 MICROCURIES TOTAL) (30-day report)      |
|                                                                              |
| Four Cs-137 sources were discovered to be missing during the performance of  |
| a quarterly inventory of licensed material on 03/28/99.  The sources were    |
| located in a source lockup area that was under the control of radiation      |
| safety, and they were present during the previous quarterly inventory.       |
| There was a long-term (several-year) cleanup project ongoing at the time,    |
| and numerous sources were scheduled for disposition into waste burial.  The  |
| licensee identified 76 sources in the newest bag but could not account for 4 |
| sources (according to the inventory).                                        |
|                                                                              |
| At this time, the licensee believes that the sources may have exited the     |
| radiation controlled area as dry active waste as a result of nuclear         |
| housekeeping.    The current dose rate for each source was calculated to be  |
| less than 0.3 mR/hour at a distance of 1' (unshielded).                      |
|                                                                              |
| The sources were manufactured by Victoreen and were labeled as capsules.     |
| Each capsule had dimensions of approximately 1/4" by 1/2" in diameter with a |
| small activity chamber at the bottom of the shaft.  This was imbedded into a |
| 1/2" to 1" plastic wafer with a diameter of 3".  The sources were described  |
| as being too small to have a number on them; so they were labeled with magic |
| marker across the side of the plastic disc.                                  |
|                                                                              |
| The missing sources were used as keep-alive sources for the radiation        |
| monitoring system (RMS).  In that configuration, sources were designed to    |
| develop a signal of 20 mR/hour for radiation monitors so that it is known    |
| that the RMS is constantly working.  The sources in question were installed  |
| in the Unit 1 main steam RMS in 1985.  (At that time, the sources were       |
| reported to be 100 �Ci each, and it was reported that each of the missing    |
| sources has since decayed to 72 �Ci.)  The main steam RMS was replaced in    |
| 1997.  Two of the missing sources were removed on 03/21/97, and two were     |
| removed on 04/25/97.  The sources were then labeled for disposition.         |
|                                                                              |
| Considered individually, the activity of each source is less than the        |
| reportable limits specified in 10 CFR Part 20, Appendix C.  However,         |
| considered in the aggregate, the activity for the total loss of material     |
| (288 �Ci) exceeds the reportable quantity of 100 �Ci for Cesium-137, which   |
| is 10 times the value listed in Appendix C (10 �Ci) per source.  The missing |
| sources were reportedly located in one bag, so the licensee is considering   |
| the missing sources as a single entity.                                      |
|                                                                              |
| After identification of the missing sources on 03/28/99, the licensee        |
| notified the NRC resident inspector and NRC Region 1 (Ronald Nimitz).  The   |
| licensee also notified the NRC resident inspector of this event notification |
| to the NRC Operations Center.  In addition, the licensee plans to submit a   |
| licensee event report within 30 days.                                        |
|                                                                              |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for licensee contact telephone numbers.)    |
|                                                                              |
| ********** HOO NOTE ON 04/27/99 BY TROCINE:  This event has been re-issued   |
| to facilitate unit corrections.                                              |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   35637       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: CALVERT CLIFFS           REGION:  1  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|    UNIT:  [1] [2] []                STATE:  MD |NOTIFICATION TIME: 14:36[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] CE,[2] CE                        |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        13:50[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  DOUG BAUDER                  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  BOB STRANSKY                 +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |CLIFFORD ANDERSON    R1      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|AESS 50.72(b)(1)(v)      EMERGENCY SIREN INOP   |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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        |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 24 OF 49 EMERGENCY SIRENS INOPERABLE                                         |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee declared 24 of 49 emergency sirens inoperable after they failed |
| silent pulse tests.  The licensee is troubleshooting the problem; however,   |
| the sirens have not yet been returned to service.  The NRC resident          |
| inspector has been informed of this notification.                            |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   35638       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: GINNA                    REGION:  1  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  NY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:04[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] W-2-LP                           |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        12:48[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  KEVIN McLAUGHLIN             |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |CLIFFORD ANDERSON    R1      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(ii)     RPS ACTUATION          |                             |
|AESF 50.72(b)(2)(ii)     ESF ACTUATION          |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1     A/R        Y       90       Power Operation  |0        Hot Standby      |
|                                                   |                          |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP DUE TO A SPURIOUS OVER-TEMPERATURE DELTA TEMPERATURE  |
| (OT DELTA T) SIGNAL ON ONE CHANNEL WHILE ANOTHER CHANNEL WAS IN A TRIPPED    |
| CONDITION FOR TESTING                                                        |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:   |
|                                                                              |
| "At about 1248 [EDT], the reactor tripped [from 90% power] due to a spurious |
| OT Delta T [signal] on channel 3.  Channel 2 was already in the tripped      |
| condition due to [reactor protection channel] testing per [procedure]        |
| CPI-Trip-Test-5.20.  All [automatic] actions occurred as designed.  All      |
| control rods [fully] inserted."                                              |
|                                                                              |
| "[The] cause of the OT Delta T [signal] on channel 3 is under                |
| investigation."                                                              |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee stated that there were no emergency core cooling system         |
| actuations.  Auxiliary feedwater automatically as expected due to steam      |
| generator level shrink, and main feedwater was subsequently secured.  The    |
| licensee also stated that the condenser was not available as the heat sink   |
| due to the cooldown of the reactor coolant system.  The unit recently exited |
| a refueling outage, and there is not much decay heat.  As a result, the main |
| steam isolation valves were manually closed and the atmospheric steam dumps  |
| were used.  (There have been no recent indications of steam generator tube   |
| leakage.)                                                                    |
|                                                                              |
| The reactor is currently stable in Mode 3 (Hot Standby).  The reactor        |
| coolant pumps, pressurizer heaters and sprays, and normal charging and       |
| letdown are currently being utilized for primary system transport, pressure, |
| and inventory control.  All containment parameters appear to be normal.      |
| Auxiliary feedwater is currently supplying water to the steam generators,    |
| and the atmospheric steam dumps are being used to relieve secondary steam.   |
| The emergency diesel generators are operable, and offsite power is also      |
| available.                                                                   |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.                            |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   35639       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT      |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:45[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        11:10[CDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|    CITY:  PADUCAH                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  McCRACKEN                 STATE:  KY |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-1                 AGREEMENT:  Y  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707001                              |FREDERICK COMBS      NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  K. A. BEASLEY                |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|OCBB 76.120(c)(2)(ii)    EQUIP DISABLED/FAILS   |                             |
|NLTR                     LICENSEE 24 HR REPORT  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT ACTIONS WITHIN THE ALLOWED TIME FRAME DUE TO FAILURE TO |
| REALIZE THAT THE SAFETY FUNCTION OF THE PROCESS GAS LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM    |
| HAD BEEN RENDERED INOPERABLE (24-HOUR REPORT)                                |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from Paducah:        |
|                                                                              |
| "On 04/27/99 at 1110 CDT, the Plant Shift Superintendent (PSS) was notified  |
| that the C-333, Unit-5, Cell-1, Process Gas Leak Detection (PGLD) system had |
| been rendered inoperable, and a failure to meet the required Limiting        |
| Condition for Operation (LCO) action had occurred.  At approximately 0922    |
| CDT, a PGLD alarm for detector head YE-45 was received on the control room   |
| panel for Unit 5, Cell 1, which was operating in Cascade Mode 2 (Above       |
| Atmospheric Pressure).  This detector head alarms on the Unit-5 Cell-1       |
| panel; however, it serves the #2 Purge and Evacuation Pump, which was in a   |
| non-applicable Mode.  An operator responded to the local cell panel          |
| according to the alarm response procedure.  At this time, while in contact   |
| with the area control room, the operators assumed that the head had failed   |
| because the head would not reset.  They then determined that the equipment   |
| that this head serves was in a non-applicable mode.  The PGLD system that    |
| head YE-45 is located on also serves Unit 5, Cell 1, which is in an          |
| applicable mode.  Due to the alarm not resetting, this left the alarm in the |
| area control room in an alarm condition, thus preventing subsequent          |
| notification or any future alarms.  Since the operators did not realize that |
| the safety function of the PGLD system had been rendered inoperable, the     |
| appropriate LCO actions were not implemented within the [1-hour] allowed     |
| time frame."                                                                 |
|                                                                              |
| "It has been determined that this event is reportable under                  |
| 10CFR76.120(c)(2) as an event in which equipment is [disabled] or fails to   |
| function as designed."                                                       |
|                                                                              |
| Paducah personnel notified the NRC resident inspector.                       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Other Nuclear Material                           |Event Number:   35640       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  U.S. ARMY (ACALA)                    |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|LICENSEE:  U.S. ARMY (ACALA)                    |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:53[EDT]|
|    CITY:  OVERSEAS                 REGION:     |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:     |EVENT TIME:        16:45[EDT]|
|LICENSE#:  12-00722-06           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|                                                |FREDERICK COMBS      NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+CLIFFORD ANDERSON    R1      |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  JEFF HAVENER                 |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|BAB1 20.2201(a)(1)(i)    LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| DISCOVERY OF THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF FOUR M43A1 CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTORS (EACH  |
| CONTAINING 250 �Ci OF AMERICIUM-241) AND TWO CHEMICAL AGENT MONITORS (EACH   |
| CONTAINING UP TO 15 mCi OF NICKEL-63) OVERSEAS                               |
|                                                                              |
| The U.S. Army (located in Rock Island, Illinois) reported that four M43A1    |
| chemical agent detectors and two CAMs (chemical agent monitors) may have     |
| been lost overseas.  Each missing M43A1 contains 250 �Ci of Americium-241,   |
| and each missing CAM contains up to up to 15 mCi of Nickel-63.               |
|                                                                              |
| These items were issued to a battalion of the 10th Infantry Division.  The   |
| battalion returned from Bosnia approximately 6 months ago and is currently   |
| located at Fort Drum in New York.  Discovery of the missing items occurred   |
| during performance of an inventory (possibly a change-of-command             |
| inventory/date unknown).  At approximately 1545 CDT on 04/27/99, a battalion |
| representative informed the U.S. Army at Rock Island, Illinois, that the     |
| missing items may have been lost overseas.                                   |
|                                                                              |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for a licensee contact telephone number.)   |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   35641       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: DRESDEN                  REGION:  3  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|    UNIT:  [] [2] [3]                STATE:  IL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 17:53[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] GE-1,[2] GE-3,[3] GE-3           |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        15:55[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  DAVID THRONE                 |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|DDDD 73.71               UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|                                                   |                          |
|2     N          Y       99       Power Operation  |99       Power Operation  |
|3     N          Y       99       Power Operation  |99       Power Operation  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| DISCOVERY OF A SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM DEGRADATION RELATED TO THE PERIMETER AREA   |
|                                                                              |
|                                                                              |
| Security personnel discovered a safeguard system degradation related to the  |
| perimeter area.  Immediate compensatory actions were taken upon discovery.   |
| (Contact the NRC operations officer for additional details.)                 |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee plans to notify the NRC resident inspector.                     |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   35642       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT      |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:31[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        09:25[CDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|    CITY:  PADUCAH                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  McCRACKEN                 STATE:  KY |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-1                 AGREEMENT:  Y  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707001                              |FREDERICK COMBS      NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  ERIC WALKER                  |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NCFR                     NON CFR REPORT REQMNT  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| SAFETY SYSTEM ACTUATION DUE TO A VALID SIGNAL (24-HOUR REPORT)               |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from Paducah:        |
|                                                                              |
| "At 0925 CDT on 04/27/99, [the] C-337a Autoclave Position 2 West received a  |
| High Autoclave Steam Pressure Alarm while in TSR mode 5.  The Autoclave      |
| Steam Pressure Control System is required to be operable while in mode 5 per |
| LCO 2.2.3.3.  Systems actuated as designed.  TroubleshootIng of [the] system |
| revealed failure of the steam controller.  When the controller failed, an    |
| increase in autoclave steam pressure was observed by the Autoclave Steam     |
| Pressure Control System, and steam was isolated from the autoclave.  [The]   |
| cause of the steam controller failure is being investigated by system        |
| engineer."                                                                   |
|                                                                              |
| "The safety system activation is reportable to the NRC as required by Safety |
| Analysis Report, Section 6.9, Table 1, Criteria J.2, safety system actuation |
| due to a valid signal as a 24-hour event notification."                      |
|                                                                              |
| Paducah personnel notified the NRC resident inspector.                       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   35643       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT   |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 21:48[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        13:12[EDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|    CITY:  PIKETON                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  PIKE                      STATE:  OH |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-2                 AGREEMENT:  N  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707002                              |FREDERICK COMBS      NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  RON CRABTREE                 |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NCFR                     NON CFR REPORT REQMNT  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| VALID ACTUATION OF A 'Q' SAFETY SYSTEM (24-HOUR REPORT)                      |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from Portsmouth:     |
|                                                                              |
| "At approximately 1312 hours [on] 04/27/99, operations personnel responded   |
| to a smokehead alarm (#SSWE) at the X-33O Tails Withdrawal facility.  While  |
| no smoke was discovered during the investigation of the alarm, additional    |
| investigation revealed visible evidence of a minor UF6 leakage on the stem   |
| of valve WL-1.  Due to the evidence of outgassing on valve WL-1, which is    |
| physically located in the vicinity of smokehead #SSWE, [Portsmouth] is       |
| reporting this discovery as a valid actuation of a 'Q' safety system."       |
|                                                                              |
| "This is reportable to the NRC as a valid actuation of a 'Q' safety system   |
| in accordance with Safety Analysis Report, Section 6.9. (24-hour report)."   |
|                                                                              |
| "There was no radioactive/radiological contamination exposure as a result of |
| this event."                                                                 |
|                                                                              |
| Portsmouth personnel notified the NRC resident inspector and the Department  |
| of Energy site representative.                                               |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   35644       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: DIABLO CANYON            REGION:  4  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/27/1999|
|    UNIT:  [1] [2] []                STATE:  CA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 22:14[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP                |EVENT DATE:        04/27/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        18:45[PDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  RODERTO ARROYO               |LAST UPDATE DATE:  04/27/1999|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |DAVID GRAVES         R4      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|DDDD 73.71               UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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       50       Power Operation  |50       Power Operation  |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| DISCOVERY OF A SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM DEGRADATION RELATED TO A VITAL AREA         |
| BARRIER                                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| Security personnel discovered a safeguard system degradation related to the  |
| vital area barrier.  Immediate compensatory actions were taken upon          |
| discovery.  (Contact the NRC operations officer for additional details and   |
| for a licensee contact telephone number.)                                    |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.                            |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021