Event Notification Report for October 4, 2001

                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                              Operations Center

                              Event Reports For
                           10/03/2001 - 10/04/2001

                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **

38342  38343  38344  38345  

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|Other Nuclear Material                           |Event Number:   38342       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  STERIGENICS                          |NOTIFICATION DATE: 10/03/2001|
|LICENSEE:  STERIGENICS                          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 13:10[EDT]|
|    CITY:  ROCKAWAY                 REGION:  1  |EVENT DATE:        10/02/2001|
|  COUNTY:  MORRIS                    STATE:  NJ |EVENT TIME:        23:59[EDT]|
|LICENSE#:  29-30308-01           AGREEMENT:  N  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  10/03/2001|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |RICHARD CONTE        R1      |
|                                                |FRED BROWN           NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+JOSEPH HOLONICH      IRO     |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  STANLEY YAP                  |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|MAAA 36.83(a)(1)         UNSHIELD STUCK SOURCE  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
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                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
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| COMMERCIAL IRRADIATOR FACILITY REPORT REGARDING A SOURCE HANG UP             |
|                                                                              |
| Sterigenics is a panoramic, wet-source storage, commercial, irradiator       |
| facility.  At approximately midnight on 10/02/01, a 2.6-megacurie cobalt-60  |
| source got stuck in the unshielded position for approximately 1 hour.        |
| Because the source got stuck on the way down, the licensee lifted the source |
| rack, freed it, and successfully returned it to the shielded position.  The  |
| licensee is still investigating the cause of this event but stated that      |
| there were no obvious reasons at this time.  There were no personnel         |
| radiation exposures or injuries as a result of this event, and there was no  |
| source leakage.                                                              |
|                                                                              |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for a site contact telephone number.)       |
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+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   38343       |
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+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  SORRENTO ELECTRONICS                 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 10/03/2001|
|LICENSEE:  SORRENTO ELECTRONICS                 |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:12[EDT]|
|    CITY:  SAN DIEGO                REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        10/03/2001|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  CA |EVENT TIME:             [PDT]|
|LICENSE#:                        AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  10/03/2001|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |CLAUDE JOHNSON       R4      |
|                                                |RICHARD CONTE        R1      |
+------------------------------------------------+KEVIN RAMSEY, MOB    NMSS    |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  DIRK KOOPMAN                 |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|CCCC 21.21               UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 10 CFR PART 21 NOTIFICATION REGARDING MICROPROCESSOR BASED RADIATION MONITOR |
| RM-2000                                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is portion of a facsimile received from Sorrento          |
| Electronics:                                                                 |
|                                                                              |
| "The information following is in accordance with the reporting requirements  |
| of 10 CFR 21.21(d)(4):"                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| "ii)  Identification of the basic component which contains the defect:  The  |
| basic component which contains the defect is software version 16.0 and       |
| higher of the microprocessor based radiation monitor, RM-2000, with the      |
| 'SAVE MASTER DATABASE' function, where the master database has been restored |
| at least once."                                                              |
|                                                                              |
| "iii)  Identification of the firm supplying the basic component:  Sorrento   |
| Electronics, Inc. [...]"                                                     |
|                                                                              |
| "iv)  Nature of the defect and the safety hazard which is created by the     |
| defect:  The defect was noted at Sorrento Electronics following a power up   |
| on a RM-2000 skid, where the detectors had been detached while the monitor   |
| was powered down.  When the monitor was powered up, the channels associated  |
| with the detectors continued to indicate a green operate status rather than  |
| indicating a NO PULSES operate failure condition.  Further interrogation of  |
| the database revealed the monitor was not responding to taking the channel   |
| in and out of service or to changing the alarm status.  The monitor showed a |
| constant radiation on the channel display.  The affected channels would not  |
| return to a normal operating condition until the detector was reconnected."  |
|                                                                              |
| "This failure will cause the RM-2000 to not process the following tasks      |
| associated with the affected channel:                                        |
| 1. Temperature correction                                                    |
| 2.  Tracking algorithm                                                       |
| 3.  No pulses                                                                |
| 4.  Display checksource value                                                |
| 5.  Over range                                                               |
| 6.  Background subtract                                                      |
| 7.  Pressure correction                                                      |
| 8.  Limit to minimum value                                                   |
| 9.  Display current count rate                                               |
| 10.  Limit to maximum value                                                  |
| 11.  Perform checksource                                                     |
| 12.  Channel in service                                                      |
| 13.  Check alarms                                                            |
| 14.  Reset alarms after power failure"                                       |
|                                                                              |
| "v)  Date on which the information was obtained:  The information was noted  |
| on software discrepancy notice, (SDN 545), on August 14, 2001, for review of |
| possible 10 CFR [Part] 21 implications.  Evaluation by [Sorrento             |
| Electronics'] engineering of the problem for 10 CFR [Part] 21 applicability  |
| was immediately begun.  The evaluation was completed and declared reportable |
| on October 1, 2001."                                                         |
|                                                                              |
| "vi)  The number and location of the components subject to the regulations   |
| per 10 CFR [Part] 21:  The following safety-related equipment is affected:   |
|                                                                              |
| PLANT                  RADIATION MONITOR  ASSEMBLY NUMBER            RM-2000 |
| VERSION                                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| Salem (PG & E)                 04231701-001, S/N: 001 (Gas Monitor)          |
| 16.6                                                                         |
| Salem (PG & E)                 04233101-001, S/N: 001 (Duct Monitor)         |
| 16.6                                                                         |
| Salem (PG & E)   04231201-001, S/N: 001 (Particulate Iodine Gas Monitor)     |
| 16.6                                                                         |
|                                                                              |
| "vii)  Name of the implementing organization and time frame for implementing |
| the corrective action:  The responsibility for the implementing the          |
| corrective action has been delegated to [...] RMS Engineering.  Sorrento     |
| Electronics will make the individual purchasers aware of this possible       |
| problem.  Further, the RM-2000 operating code will be revised to correct the |
| deficiency.  The new corrected version of the RM-2000 code will be available |
| to customers after November 1, 2001."                                        |
|                                                                              |
| "viii)  Advise related to the defect that will be given to the purchasers:   |
| While this defect is not likely to occur during normal operation at a        |
| nuclear power plant, it is possible.  Therefore, Sorrento Electronics will   |
| advise the affected purchasers via a Quality Bulletin of the following       |
| interim test procedure to verify operability of the affected RM-2000:"       |
|                                                                              |
| "There are two methods to verify that a RM-2000 has not failed after a power |
| fail sequence.  First, if the radiation value being displayed is changing,   |
| the monitor is operating correctly.  Second, if the radiation value is not   |
| changing, then the user should remove the monitor from operation by taking a |
| channel out of service by database manipulation.  If the channel goes into a |
| operate fail condition, the RM-2000 is working correctly and the channel can |
| be returned to service.  If the monitor does not go into an operate fail     |
| condition, the monitor has failed and is not receiving any pulses from the   |
| associated detector."                                                        |
|                                                                              |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for reporting organization contact          |
| information.)                                                                |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   38344       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: GRAND GULF               REGION:  4  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 10/03/2001|
|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  MS |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:28[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] GE-6                             |EVENT DATE:        10/03/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        13:00[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  BOB CARROLL                  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  10/03/2001|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |CLAUDE JOHNSON       R4      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NONR                     OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 24-HOUR REPORT REGARDING AN OPERATING LICENSE CONDITION VIOLATION (POTENTIAL |
| MAXIMUM POWER LEVEL VIOLATION)                                               |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:   |
|                                                                              |
| "This report is made as required by Grand Gulf Nuclear Station License       |
| Condition 2F.  Grand Gulf is reporting a potential violation of the maximum  |
| power level of 3833 MWT as stated in Licensee Condition 2.C.1."              |
|                                                                              |
| "This event is similar to event number 38337 and 38340 called in by two      |
| other BWR plants.  Based on the General Electric (GE) report titled, 'Impact |
| of Steam Generator Carryover Fraction on Process Computer Heat Balance       |
| Calculations, September 2001.'  It is possible that Grand Gulf [may] have    |
| exceeded the maximum power level on some occasions in the past by about 3    |
| MWT.  The plant has reduced the 100% power limit by 3 MWT until the Heat     |
| Balance Equation can be corrected."                                          |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.                            |
|                                                                              |
| (Refer to event #38330 for a similar event at Fermi, event #38337 for a      |
| similar event at Perry, event #38340 for a similar event at Hope Creek, and  |
| #38445 for a similar event at Columbia Generating Station.)                  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   38345       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATIREGION:  4  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 10/03/2001|
|    UNIT:  [2] [] []                 STATE:  WA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:50[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [2] GE-5                             |EVENT DATE:        10/02/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        16:37[PDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  DAVE BROWN                   |LAST UPDATE DATE:  10/03/2001|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |CLAUDE JOHNSON       R4      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NONR                     OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|2     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |
|                                                   |                          |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 24-HOUR REPORT REGARDING AN OPERATING LICENSE CONDITION VIOLATION (POTENTIAL |
| MAXIMUM POWER LEVEL VIOLATION)                                               |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:   |
|                                                                              |
| "General Electric (GE) report titled, 'Impact of Steam Carryover Fraction on |
| Process Computer Heat Balance Calculation, September 2001,' documents a      |
| non-conservative constant for moisture carryover fraction in the equation    |
| used to calculate plant heat balance.  The report states that a number of    |
| later model GE BWR plants report carryover fractions of less than 0.003%.    |
| Currently, Columbia Generating Station uses 0.1% for the carryover term in   |
| the calculation as directed by the GE design specifications.  Use of the     |
| 0.1% term in the heat balance calculation may have resulted in Columbia      |
| Generating Station exceeding the maximum core thermal power value of 3486    |
| MWt specified in license condition 2.C(1) by approximately 2.83 MWt or 0.08% |
| Rated Thermal Power.  As a compensatory measure until this issue is          |
| resolved, Columbia Generating Station will adopt a conservative value of     |
| 0.0% for the moisture carryover term in the plant heat balance calculation.  |
| Consequently, the Plant Process Computer eight hour average core thermal     |
| power is currently being administratively controlled at less than or equal   |
| to 3482 MWt."                                                                |
|                                                                              |
| "The Columbia Generating Station Operating License (NPF-21) contains a       |
| requirement to report a violation of this license condition to the NRC       |
| Regional Administrator or the Administrators designee.  The NRC Region IV    |
| Regional Administrator's designee, Mr. William Jones, has been informed of   |
| this condition."                                                             |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.                            |
|                                                                              |
| (Refer to event #38330 for a similar event at Fermi, event #38337 for a      |
| similar event at Perry, event #38340 for a similar event at Hope Creek, and  |
| #38444 for a similar event at Grand Gulf.)                                   |
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