| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
09/15/2003 - 09/16/2003 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! | | Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 40124 | Facility: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
Region: 3
City: PIKETON State: OH
County: PIKE
License #: GDP-2
Agreement: N
Docket: 0707002
NRC Notified By: STEVE MAY
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG | Notification Date: 09/02/2003
Notification Time: 08:21 [EST]
Event Date: 09/01/2003
Event Time: 21:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT
| Person (Organization):
CHRIS MILLER (R3)
LINDA PSYK (NMSS)
| Event Text MANUAL ACTUATION OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOCLAVE CONTAINMENT
"On 09/01/03 Operations Personnel were preparing to disconnect a UF6 cylinder from Autoclave #1 in the X-344 facility. The UF6 cylinder as in the 9 O' Clock position and was being prepared to roll to the 12 O' Clock position to complete disconnecting the cylinder safety valve and pigtail from the cylinder. At approximately 2135 hours UF6 was observed smoking from the mechanical connection for the cylinder safety valve and process manifold. The Operator seeing the smoke, alerted personnel in the area, actuated the "Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure" and the building "Gas Release Alarm" that placed the Autoclave and other operational autoclaves into containment. Emergency Response Personnel Responded and performed Air Samples for HF and Uranium in the affected area. All samples were less than Minimum Detectable.
"The actuation of the 'Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure' and the building 'Gas Release Alarm' is considered to be the manual actuation of Safety Equipment used to mitigate (prevent) a release of UF6. Reportable to the NRC as a 24 hour report."
The certificate holder notified the NRC Resident Inspector and on-site DOE Inspector.
* * * RETRACTED ON 9/15/03 AT 1159 EDT BY STEVE MAY TO GERRY WAIG * * *
"Investigation of the incident has revealed that prior to the safety system actuation the cylinder valve had been fully closed, the sampling operation had concluded and that the leak point was between the cylinder valve and the cylinder safety valve. At this point, the safety function of isolating the UF6 leak had been performed prior to the actuation of the safety system. In addition it should be noted that based on leak location, the Pigtail Line Isolation system was not designed to protect against this plant condition. SAR Section 6.9, Table 6.9-1, criteria J.2.B (2) addresses that the J.2 reporting criteria excludes the reporting of actuations that are invalid and occur after the safety function has been completed. As noted above the actuation is invalid because the Pigtail Line Isolation system would not have mitigated this UF6 release and the safety functions that in fact did mitigate the release were taken.
"It should also be noted that the 'Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure' is not a credited safety system and therefore is not applicable to the stated reporting criteria"
The Certificate Holder has notified the NRC Resident Inspector (Bruce Bartlett) and DOE (Russ Vranicar).
Notified R3DO (Roger Lanksbury) and NMSS (Doug Broaddus) |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 40144 | Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: S.T.A.T.E. TESTING, LLC
Region: 3
City: EAST DUNDEE State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01015-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JPE KLINGER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 09/10/2003
Notification Time: 17:59 [EST]
Event Date: 09/10/2003
Event Time: 13:15 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/10/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MONTE PHILLIPS (R3)
PATRICIA HOLAHAN (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE
"Abstract: The agency received a call at 13:40 on September 10, 2003, from [DELETED] RSO of S.T.A.T.E. Testing, LLC (License Number IL-01015-01). He reported that, at approximately 13:15, this afternoon, a Troxler Model 3440 moisture density gauge, serial number 22737, (containing 8 mCi of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi of Americium-241/Beryllium), was stolen from the back of a locked truck (Ford F-150) parked on the street at 63rd and Racine in Chicago. According to the technician in charge of the gauge, [DELETED], the source rod was locked in the shielded position and the device itself was contained in a locked D.O.T. Type A transport container with Radioactive -Yellow II transport labels on it. The licensee stated that he would notify the police next. We suggested that he provide the police with photographs of such a type A container and the device itself. We also recommended that he consider a press release or other means to get the word out to the public, in case it is abandoned and later found.
"In addition to the written report required by our regs, we instructed [DELETED] to keep us informed of any developments in this case. We also provided him with the number to our Dispatch Center, if it happens to be recovered during off-hours. This event was reported to the NRC Operations Center at 1759 hrs e.s.t. and assigned NRC Event No. 40144."
Illinois Item Number: IL030067 |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 40149 | Rep Org: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY
Licensee: ATL INC.
Region: 4
City: MESA State: AZ
County:
License #: 07-116
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: WILLIAM WRIGHT
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 09/11/2003
Notification Time: 16:11 [EST]
Event Date: 09/11/2003
Event Time: 12:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 09/11/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
LINDA HOWELL (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
VICTOR GONZALES (MEXI)
| Event Text STOLEN SOIL DENSITY MOISTURE GAUGE
The following information was provided via facsimile:
"On September 11, 2003, and prior to 6:00 AM, a soil density moisture gauge was stolen from the back of a pickup truck located at (Deleted), Mesa, AZ. The gauge is a Troxler Model 4640, Serial Number 2443 and was contained in a yellow shipping container. It was reported that the gauge was originally chained and locked in the rear of the pickup bed and the chain and lock were missing. This Agency was notified and the Mesa Police are investigating. The company is offering a $500.00 for information leading to the recovery and return of the gauge.
"The initial investigation indicates that several violations may have occurred.
"The Agency and licensee's will continue to investigate this occurrence and report further. The U.S. NRC, FBI, Mexico, and the states of Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and California are being informed of the incident." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 40158 | Facility: PEACH BOTTOM
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [2] [3] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BRIAN OVERMILLER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON | Notification Date: 09/15/2003
Notification Time: 03:06 [EST]
Event Date: 09/15/2003
Event Time: 02:39 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2003 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
| Person (Organization):
MOHAMED SHANBAKY (R1)
PATRICIA HOLAHAN (NMSS)
DOUG WEAVER (IRO)
RANDY BLOUGH (R1)
HUB MILLER (R1RA)
DORA HEYMAN (FEMA)
|
| 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 | | 3 | A/R | Y | 91 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Shutdown | Event Text DUAL UNIT REACTOR SCRAM. DISCRETIONAY UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED
"A discretionary UE has been declared for PB (Peach Bottom) U/2 (Unit 2) and U/3 (Unit 3) due to a dual unit transient that has resulted in both unit's scramming with a Group 1 (Main Steam Isolation Valve closure) PCIS isolation.
"An electrical transient caused all 4KV emergency buses to be powered by the diesel generators. One diesel generator (E2) subsequently tripped leaving 6 of 8 (3 per unit) buses energized.
"Off-site power is available. Preparations for transfer back to off-site power is in progress. The U/3 (Unit 3) "D" SRV (Safety relief valve) opened and did not close until electrically deenergized. The SRV is closed at this this time.'
Both reactors scrammed at 0132 EDT.
NRC Resident Inspectors, State and Local were notified by the licensee.
* * * Update 09/15/03 at 1055 EDT by McClellan to MacKinnon * * *
Unusual Event for Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Station Units 2 & 3 was terminated at 1046 EDT. Unusual Event was terminated because plant conditions have been stabilized, offsite electrical power has been restored to the plant and both plants being in cold shutdown in Mode 4. An investigation is in progress. State and Local will be notified by the licensee. R1DO (M. Shanbaky), NRR EO (C. Holden), DIRO Manager (Doug Weaver), FEMA (Jim Dunker), DHS (Mark Babb) & R4DO (T. Gody) notified.
The NRC Resident Inspectors are onsite and have been informed of the termination of the unusual event by the licensee. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 40159 | Facility: SEABROOK
Region: 1 State: NH
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: JAMES PESCHEL
HQ OPS Officer: RICH LAURA | Notification Date: 09/15/2003
Notification Time: 16:40 [EST]
Event Date: 09/15/2003
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH
| Person (Organization):
CORNELIUS HOLDEN (NRR)
HAROLD GRAY (R1)
JACK FOSTER (NRR)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text PART 21 ISSUE AT SEABROOK ON SPENT FUEL POOL TEST COUPONS
The licensee reported an apparent abnormality involving Boral spent fuel pool test coupons. Westinghouse built the spent fuel pool racks using Boral material manufactured by ARR Inc. Specifically, inspection of test coupons revealed bulging or blistering of the aluminum cladding. The information provided by the licensee does not include any other affected plants. | |