U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 03/20/2013 - 03/21/2013 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | Agreement State | Event Number: 48815 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: UNKNOWN Region: 1 City: MILLBURY State: MA County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: TONY CARPENITO HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL | Notification Date: 03/12/2013 Notification Time: 13:10 [ET] Event Date: 02/14/2013 Event Time: [EDT] Last Update Date: 03/12/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): GLENN DENTEL (R1DO) FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI) | Event Text BLACKOUT BUTTON FOUND IN LOAD OF SCRAP METAL The following information was received by email: "On 2/4/13, a scrap metal load shipped by Southern Recycling from Millbury, MA, was rejected by Audubon Metals of Henderson, KY, for triggering the site's radiation detectors. The highest net radiation reading was 10 microR/hr. The vehicle returned to Millbury where, on 2/6/13, one device (described as a WWII "Blackout Button" measuring ~1.75 inch diameter and containing ~10 microCuries Radium-226) was located and removed from load by an independent consultant and isolated in secure storage for further processing. The remaining load re-shipped to Henderson without further incident. On 2/13/13, the device was removed, packaged and shipped to a proper disposal site by a third-party waste broker. The original owner was not determined. "The Agency [MA Radiation Control Program] considers this matter closed." SCRAP Docket #: 14-0613 | Power Reactor | Event Number: 48832 | Facility: VOGTLE Region: 2 State: GA Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: HANS BISHOP HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 03/20/2013 Notification Time: 03:15 [ET] Event Date: 03/20/2013 Event Time: 02:46 [EDT] Last Update Date: 03/20/2013 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT 10 CFR Section: 50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED | Person (Organization): DANIEL RICH (R2DO) SCOTT MORRIS (IRD) LOUISE LUND (NRR) VICTOR McCREE (R2 R) ERIC LEEDS (NRR) | Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | 2 | N | N | 0 | Defueled | 0 | Defueled | Event Text UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED BASED ON INDICATION OF FIRE WITHIN PROTECTED AREA The licensee declared a Unusual Event based on EAL HU-2 due to indication of a fire in the Protected Area for greater than 15 minutes. The licensee received initial indication of a fire alarm and startup of fire water pumps. The alarm was located in the vicinity of the Auxiliary Building Unit 2 HVAC supply unit. The licensee declared an unusual event at 0246 EDT. Upon investigation, it was determined that the heater strips in an HVAC unit were overheated and caused a fire alarm and no fire actually existed. The licensee notified state and local agencies and will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified DHS, FEMA, DHS NICC and NuclearSSA (email). * * * UPDATE AT 0409 EDT ON 3/20/13 FROM BISHOP TO CROUCH * * * The licensee terminated its unusual event at 0341 EDT on 3/20/13 after confirming there was no fire within the Unit 2 Auxiliary Building HVAC supply unit. The licensee notified state and local agencies and will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. R2DO (Rich) and NRR EO (Lund) notified. Notified DHS, FEMA, DHS NICC and NuclearSSA (email). | Part 21 | Event Number: 48834 | Rep Org: ASCO VALVE INCORPORATED Licensee: ASCO VALVE INCORPORATED Region: 1 City: AIKEN State: SC County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: BOB AMONE HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 03/20/2013 Notification Time: 10:41 [ET] Event Date: 03/20/2013 Event Time: 08:38 [EDT] Last Update Date: 03/20/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 21.21(d)(3)(i) - DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE | Person (Organization): DANIEL RICH (R2DO) PART 21 GROUP (E-MA) | Event Text PART 21 - ASCO DIRECT ACTING 3-WAY SOLENOID VALVE FAILURE The following is a summary of a Part 21 report received from ASCO Valves Inc., via facsimile: ASCO received a failed solenoid actuated valve from its distributor (Areva). The valve has been qualified for 1-E nuclear use and is referred to as a NP8320 direct acting 3-way valve. The valve that failed would not shift when de-energized. Information accompanying the valve identified that it was operating for approximately three months since August 2012. The valve was manufactured in May 2010. "The valve was disassembled and the spring was observed to be not on the core completely. The valve was re-assembled with the spring properly on the core and subjected to cycling. During cycle testing the second turn of the spring was shown to completely overlap the first turn coming over the edge of the core, pulling the first turn off of the core. The spring came completely off the core in 97 cycles. ASCO identified that the spring was not properly manufactured as the beginning of the second turn was not wound to the same diameter of the first turn. "ASCO and the spring supplier identified the manufacturing lot that was the source of the spring for serial number A483456-001. ASCO identified 10 nuclear valves manufactured with this manufacturing lot. The remaining 3990 springs from this lot were used in commercial valves. ASCO uses this same spring in approximately 40,000+ commercial valves per year and no commercial returns have been found with the same condition of this spring coming off the core. "Neither ASCO's incoming inspection nor the spring manufacturer detected the nonconformance for this manufacturing lot. "ASCO evaluated other valves that used this same spring manufactured from other lots received in 2010. These valves represent a time period shortly before and shortly after the manufacture of the above valve. ASCO's investigation concluded that these springs are conforming. "This condition may cause the spring to work itself off the core and present a situation where the valve would not shift to its de-energized position. ASCO believes the condition would present itself relatively early into its cycle life. "ASCO has contacted the customer, AREVA, who received the 10 valves in question. ASCO has implemented corrective actions to include inspection of the spring assembled to the core at nuclear dedication inspection to verify that the spring is properly seated and the second turn does not overlap the first at the springs working length. "ASCO does not have adequate knowledge of the actual installation and operating conditions of these valves to determine whether their malfunction could create a 'substantial safety hazard' as defined in 10 CFR 21.3. We are providing this information to inform you of our investigation results, corrective action and customer notification. "If you have any questions, you can contact Bob Amone at 803-641-9395." | Power Reactor | Event Number: 48837 | Facility: LIMERICK Region: 1 State: PA Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4 NRC Notified By: THOMAS INGRAM HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 03/20/2013 Notification Time: 20:52 [ET] Event Date: 03/20/2013 Event Time: 14:47 [EDT] Last Update Date: 03/20/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) - DEGRADED CONDITION | Person (Organization): JAMES TRAPP (R1DO) | 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 HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION (HPCI) TURBINE OIL LEAK "After securing the Unit 1 HPCI turbine from service following a planned pump, valve, and flow surveillance test an oil leak of approximately 1 pint per minute developed. The oil leak was stopped by securing the auxiliary oil pump for the HPCI system. "There was no loss of oil pressure while the HPCI turbine was operating. This issue has caused the Unit 1 HPCI system to be declared inoperable and unavailable. Per LGS [Limerick Generating Station] Unit 1 Technical Specifications section 3.5.1, the HPCI system must be restored to operable status within 14 days. "The cause of the oil leak is being investigated." The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 48838 | Facility: BYRON Region: 3 State: IL Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: KEN ANDERSON HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 03/20/2013 Notification Time: 22:41 [ET] Event Date: 03/20/2013 Event Time: 19:51 [CDT] Last Update Date: 03/20/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION | Person (Organization): DAVE PASSEHL (R3DO) | Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | 2 | M/R | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Standby | Event Text MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO LOSS OF GENERATOR STATOR COOLING WATER "At 1951 CDT on March 20, 2013, Byron Unit 2 Reactor was manually tripped due to the loss of all Generator Stator Cooling Water. 2BEP-0, 'Reactor Trip or Safety Injection Unit 2' was entered and a transition was made to 2BEPES 0.1, 'Reactor Trip Response Unit 2.' The auxiliary feedwater pumps automatically actuated upon the expected low steam generator level. Upon the trip, it was noted that a Digital Rod Position Indication System Urgent Failure occurred with a General Warning on Control Rod position M12. Indication for the Train 'B' Reactor Trip breaker was lost. All Control Rods inserted upon Reactor trip and the Train 'B' Reactor trip breaker was locally verified open." The plant is in its normal shutdown electrical lineup. No safeties or reliefs lifted during the event. There was no impact on unit-1. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |