Event Notification Report for March 27, 2000
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
03/24/2000 - 03/27/2000
** EVENT NUMBERS **
36511 36827 36829 36830 36831 36832 36833 36834 36835
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|Other Nuclear Material |Event Number: 36511 |
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| REP ORG: H. C. NUTTING CO. |NOTIFICATION DATE: 12/14/1999|
|LICENSEE: H. C. NUTTING CO. |NOTIFICATION TIME: 13:08[EST]|
| CITY: CINCINATTI REGION: 3 |EVENT DATE: 12/14/1999|
| COUNTY: STATE: OH |EVENT TIME: 09:50[EST]|
|LICENSE#: 34-18882-01 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/26/2000|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |GARY SHEAR R3 |
| |JOHN HICKEY NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: HAROLD WIDENER | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|BAB1 20.2201(a)(1)(i) LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE |
| |
| The licensee reported a Troxler moisture density gauge (model 3430, serial |
| number 28862) stolen some time last night after 2110 EST from the cargo area |
| of a locked Nissan Pathfinder. The gauge was in a locked box in the vehicle |
| at the technician's home in Cincinnati. The gauge sources contain 8 mCi of |
| Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am/Be-241. The City of Cincinnati Police responded and |
| are investigating the theft (no report number at this time). The licensee |
| notified the Ohio Bureau of Radiation Safety, part of the Department of |
| Health as part of their license requirement. |
| |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for a contact telephone number.) |
| |
| |
| * * * UPDATE ON 3/26/00 @ 1105 BY WIDENER TO GOULD * * * |
| |
| A civilian notified the licensee, on 3/25/00 @ 2130 EST, that they had |
| discovered the above Troxler gauge at Paddock Rd and I-75 in Cincinnati, OH. |
| The device was not damaged and there was no leakage detected by their survey |
| meter. The licensee took possession of the device on 3/26/00 @ 0830 EST. |
| The Ohio Bureau of Radiation Safety was notified and the Cincinnati Police |
| Department will be notified. |
| |
| The Reg 3 RDO(Wright) and the NMSS EO(Camper) were notified. |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 36827 |
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| REP ORG: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/23/2000|
|LICENSEE: NDC |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:46[EST]|
| CITY: IRWINDALE REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 03/21/2000|
| COUNTY: STATE: CA |EVENT TIME: 06:30[PST]|
|LICENSE#: 145-19 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |LAWRENCE YANDELL R4 |
| |LARRY CAMPER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+FRANK CONGEL IRO |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DONALD BUNN |MATT ROBERTS DOT |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES |JOHN WILLIAMS DOE |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
|NTRA TRANSPORTATION EVENT | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| AGREEMENT STATE/TRANSPORTATION EVENT INVOLVING A BURNED FEDERAL EXPRESS |
| TRUCK CARRYING A GAUGE WITH A SMALL SOURCE IN IT |
| |
| On 3/21/00 at about 6:30 AM in Oxnard CA, a Federal Express truck burned due |
| to an unknown cause. It was discovered today, 3/23/00, that a thickness |
| gauge from NDC of Irwindale, CA was on the truck. The gauge contains a |
| special form source of Curium-244, 100 mCi. The source is thought to be |
| able to survive the fire and is being sought. Dr. Roy Parker, the Federal |
| Express Safety Officer, is on the scene and following up on the incident. |
| |
| The National Response Center report number is 523952. |
| |
| (Call the HOO for contact numbers) |
| |
| * * * UPDATE AT 1715 EST ON 3/24/00 BY DONALD BUNN TO FANGIE JONES * * * |
| |
| The source has been recovered intact from the fire debris, there has been no |
| release. Notified the NMSS EO (Larry Camper), R4DO (Lawrence Yandell), IRO |
| (Frank Congel), DOT (Matt Robertson), and DOE (Mike Wyatt). |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 36829 |
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| FACILITY: SUSQUEHANNA REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2000|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: PA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 05:56[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 04:45[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DAVE WALSH |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DICK JOLLIFFE +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |LOUIS MANNING R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|ADAS 50.72(b)(2)(i) DEG/UNANALYZED COND | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1 N N 0 Refueling |0 Refueling |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| - 'C' INBOARD MAIN STEAM ISOLATION VALVE FAILED ITS LOCAL LEAK RATE TEST - |
| |
| During the performance of a local leak rate test of the 'C' main steam |
| isolation valves (MSIVs) with Unit 1 in a refueling outage, the inboard MSIV |
| #HV141-F022C was unable to hold pressure. This constitutes a failure of the |
| maximum path leak rate required by Tech Spec 3.6.1.3. |
| |
| This condition constitutes a degraded condition of a principal safety |
| barrier found while Unit 1 was shutdown. No other adverse conditions were |
| identified. |
| |
| Unit 1 remains safely shutdown and the licensee is conducting an |
| investigation to determine the cause of the failure. |
| |
| The licensee plans to notify the NRC Resident Inspector. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 36830 |
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| FACILITY: MILLSTONE REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2000|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: CT |NOTIFICATION TIME: 06:32[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-3,[2] CE,[3] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 05:37[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: STEVE MYERS |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DICK JOLLIFFE +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |LOUIS MANNING R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(vi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 N Y 100 Power Operation |70 Power Operation |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| - CONTROL ROD DROPPED INTO THE CORE DURING CONTROL ROD MOTION TESTING - |
| |
| While performing control rod motion testing, plant technicians were checking |
| the control rod fuses and caused a fuse to blow which caused control rod #48 |
| to drop into the core. Plant operators reduced power from 100% to 70% and |
| are in the process of retrieving the dropped control rod and are |
| investigating the cause of the blown fuse. |
| |
| The licensee notified state and local officials and the NRC Resident |
| Inspector. |
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 36831 |
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2000|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:42[EST]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 03/23/2000|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 10:00[CST]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |GEOFFREY WRIGHT R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 |FRITZ STURTZ NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: MIKE UNDERWOOD | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DICK JOLLIFFE | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NBNL RESPONSE-BULLETIN | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| - NRC BULLETIN 91-01, 24 HOUR REPORT - |
| |
| During chemical cleaning of motor brake pads in the C-400 alkali tank, it |
| was discovered that the brake pads were placed in the alkali tank before |
| being verified to meet unconditional release limits, in violation of NCSA |
| 400.011. |
| |
| Compliance with unconditional release limits requires both a removable |
| contamination smear and a fixed uranium contamination survey. The fixed |
| contamination survey was omitted. Compliance with unconditional release |
| limits and a visual inspection for uranium contamination are used to ensure |
| that unknown quantities of fissile material do not enter the alkali tank. |
| The visible inspection required was properly performed. A determination |
| that assay was 5.5 wt% is also required and was performed and documented. |
| However, the determination was documented on the C-400 Chemical Cleaning Log |
| sheet, instead of the form required by CP2-EG-NS1O33. |
| |
| |
| SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS: |
| |
| The visual inspection of the brake pads showed no uranium contamination and |
| this equipment is not directly in contact with process UF6. The potential |
| for introduction of U-235 into the alkali tank from the brake pads is |
| extremely low, a control relied upon for criticality safety was violated. |
| |
| POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED [BRIEF SCEANARIO(S) OF HOW |
| CRITICALITY COULD OCCUR]: |
| |
| In order for a criticality to be possible, the accumulation of fissile |
| material involving an unsafe mass and geometry would have to occur. |
| However, since the visual inspection showed no contamination, an |
| accumulation of U-235 above assumed limits did not occur. These limits are a |
| small fraction of the unsafe mass value, |
| |
| CONTROLLED PARAMETERS (MASS, MODERATION, GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION, ETC.): |
| |
| Double contingency for this scenario is established by implementing two |
| independent controls on mass. |
| |
| ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS |
| LIMIT AND % WORST CASE CRITCAL MASS): |
| |
| No visible contamination. Therefore, the mass is zero grams. |
| |
| NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES: |
| |
| The first leg of double contingency relies on a visual inspection of all |
| internal and external surfaces for uranium contamination to verify no visual |
| contamination. Verification of no visual contamination ensures the mass |
| limit is maintained for assays </= 5.5 wt%. This control was not violated. |
| The second leg of double contingency is based on meeting health physics |
| unconditional release criteria in order to meet the mass limit for assays |
| </= 5.5 wt%. Compliance with the unconditional release criteria was not |
| established. This control was violated when the brake pads were placed in |
| the tank without verification that the unconditional release criteria were |
| met. |
| |
| One of the two controls on mass was violated, therefore double contingency |
| was not maintained. |
| |
| CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED: |
| |
| Sample the alkali tank and verify that the assay is less than 1 wt% U-235 |
| and uranium concentration is less than 1.0 g U/I. |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of this event. |
| |
| PGDP Problem Report #ATRC-OO-1758; PGDP Event Report #PAD-2000-023. |
| Responsible Division: Chemical Operations. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 36832 |
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| FACILITY: GRAND GULF REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2000|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: MS |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:58[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-6 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 11:30[CST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DAVID HANKS |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |LAWRENCE YANDELL R4 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|AENS 50.72(b)(1)(v) ENS INOPERABLE | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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
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| COMPLETE LOSS OF COMMERCIAL AND DEDICATED PHONE LINES |
| |
| The plant has lost all normal offsite communications, commercial and FTS. |
| This is an area problem, not just a plant problem. Bell South has been |
| contacted and is troubleshooting the problem. The plant still has its |
| communication link to load dispatch as well as radio communication. Also, |
| the control room has a satellite phone which was used to make this |
| notification. |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| |
| * * * UPDATE AT 2148 EST ON 3/24/00 BY CHRIS MILLER TO FANGIE JONES * * * |
| |
| The FTS and commercial phones have been restored. The NRC Resident |
| Inspector and R4DO (Lawrence Yandell) have been notified. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 36833 |
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| FACILITY: RIVER BEND REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2000|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: LA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:18[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-6 |EVENT DATE: 03/24/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 13:00[CST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DONALD CHASE |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |LAWRENCE YANDELL R4 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(vi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1 N N 0 Cold Shutdown |0 Cold Shutdown |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| ONE EMERGENCY SIREN INADVERTENTLY INITIATED |
| |
| "One (1) emergency siren inadvertently initiated on 03-24-00 at 1300. At |
| 1310. the West Feliciana parish BOC Director called to advise RBS personnel |
| that one of our sirens in East Feliciana parish had sounded. Telephone calls |
| with East Feliciana personnel corroborated the information. Siren control |
| computer records indicate that beginning at 1230, siren #6 had attempted |
| unsuccessfully to power up several times. At 1300, it succeeded in powering |
| up and sounded for about two minutes. There was no event or maintenance |
| activity in progress to initiate this siren. The siren is communicating with |
| the RBS LOF communications room but the siren was not initiated from that |
| center. The cause of the activation is not known at this time. Technicians |
| are en route to the siren to investigate. All other sirens are fully |
| operable. The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness (State Agency) and |
| the RBS NRC site Senior Resident Inspector (T. Pruitt) have been notified." |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 36834 |
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| REP ORG: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/24/2000|
|LICENSEE: |NOTIFICATION TIME: 17:25[EST]|
| CITY: REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 02/08/2000|
| COUNTY: STATE: TX |EVENT TIME: [CST]|
|LICENSE#: AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/24/2000|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |LAWRENCE YANDELL R4 |
| |LARRY CAMPER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
|BAB1 20.2201(a)(1)(i) LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN GAUGE |
| |
| The following text is from the facsimile received from the Texas Department |
| of Health: |
| |
| "Theft/Recovery of a nuclear gauge - licensee notified the agency [Texas |
| Department of Health] Feb 8, 2000. Reports lost in mail. Faxed information |
| today at request of Incident Investigation. Gauge recovered intact Feb 14, |
| 2000. Leak tested Feb 15, 2000 was fully satisfactory." |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 36835 |
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| FACILITY: CRYSTAL RIVER REGION: 2 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/26/2000|
| UNIT: [3] [] [] STATE: FL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 21:06[EST]|
| RXTYPE: [3] B&W-L-LP |EVENT DATE: 03/26/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 17:34[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: W. BANDHAUER |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/26/2000|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |THOMAS DECKER R2 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(vi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|3 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| STATE OF FLORIDA NOTIFICATION INVOLVING LOGGER HEAD SEA TURTLE |
| |
| An endangered Logger Head Sea Turtle was discovered at the Crystal River |
| (CR-3) intake area. The turtle which appeared to have been struck by a boat |
| propeller died from injuries . The Florida Department of Environmental |
| Protection will be notified on Monday, 3/27/2000. |
| |
| The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector. |
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