Event Notification Report for October 24, 2013
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
10/23/2013 - 10/24/2013
Agreement State
Event Number: 49597
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
Region: 1
City: KNOXVILLE State: TN
County:
License #: R-47005-I18
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LAURA TURNER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
Region: 1
City: KNOXVILLE State: TN
County:
License #: R-47005-I18
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LAURA TURNER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EQUIPMENT FAILURE INVOLVING A RADQUAL FLEXIBLE RULER
The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:
"Tennessee's Division of Radiological Health was notified on Monday October 28, 2013 by the RSO from the University of Tennessee [UT] Knoxville, regarding the failure of a RadQual BM83-20 flexible ruler Co-57 source. In late October, a UT nuclear medicine technician put down the ruler source, and one of the rubber caps came off. This resulted in three of the metal sources inside coming out. The sources were not leaking and no radiation contamination occurred. It appeared as though the glue from the end caps had failed. The source contained 460 micro-Ci of Co-57. Manufacturer is International Isotopes Idaho, Inc., serial # BM8305710071101. The Radiation Safety Department collected the source to be disposed of in the future."
Tennessee Report ID No.: TN-13-185
The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:
"Tennessee's Division of Radiological Health was notified on Monday October 28, 2013 by the RSO from the University of Tennessee [UT] Knoxville, regarding the failure of a RadQual BM83-20 flexible ruler Co-57 source. In late October, a UT nuclear medicine technician put down the ruler source, and one of the rubber caps came off. This resulted in three of the metal sources inside coming out. The sources were not leaking and no radiation contamination occurred. It appeared as though the glue from the end caps had failed. The source contained 460 micro-Ci of Co-57. Manufacturer is International Isotopes Idaho, Inc., serial # BM8305710071101. The Radiation Safety Department collected the source to be disposed of in the future."
Tennessee Report ID No.: TN-13-185
Power Reactor
Event Number: 49473
Facility: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: MATT REID
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: MATT REID
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Notification Date: 10/25/2013
Notification Time: 15:24 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: 10:35 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/26/2013
Notification Time: 15:24 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: 10:35 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/26/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
WAYNE WALKER (R4DO)
WAYNE WALKER (R4DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
FAILURE OF RADWASTE BUILDING EFFLUENT RADIATION MONITOR
"At 1035 [PDT] on October 24, 2013, during a channel functional test (CFT), the intermediate radiation effluent monitor on the radwaste building failed an as found range check and was declared inoperable. A single range check was found out of tolerance low. The as found values on the remaining five ranges that the instrument spans were within the acceptance criteria. This monitor is one of three methods of declaring a general emergency due to offsite radiation releases originating in the radwaste building. Lower emergency classification levels are supported by a separate radiation monitor that was not impacted. The failure to complete the CFT on the intermediate range monitor with all ranges yielding satisfactory as found values represents a potential major loss of emergency assessment capability. This issue is being conservatively reported under 10 CFR 50.73(b)(3)(xiii). Efforts are underway to restore the monitor and an update will be made when the monitor is returned to service."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE FROM EDAN ENGSTROM TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 2044 EDT ON 10/26/13 * * *
"The intermediate radiation monitor on the radwaste building has been returned to within tolerance. The radiation monitor has been declared functional at 1558 PDT on 10/26/2013.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
Notified the R4DO (Walker).
"At 1035 [PDT] on October 24, 2013, during a channel functional test (CFT), the intermediate radiation effluent monitor on the radwaste building failed an as found range check and was declared inoperable. A single range check was found out of tolerance low. The as found values on the remaining five ranges that the instrument spans were within the acceptance criteria. This monitor is one of three methods of declaring a general emergency due to offsite radiation releases originating in the radwaste building. Lower emergency classification levels are supported by a separate radiation monitor that was not impacted. The failure to complete the CFT on the intermediate range monitor with all ranges yielding satisfactory as found values represents a potential major loss of emergency assessment capability. This issue is being conservatively reported under 10 CFR 50.73(b)(3)(xiii). Efforts are underway to restore the monitor and an update will be made when the monitor is returned to service."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE FROM EDAN ENGSTROM TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 2044 EDT ON 10/26/13 * * *
"The intermediate radiation monitor on the radwaste building has been returned to within tolerance. The radiation monitor has been declared functional at 1558 PDT on 10/26/2013.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
Notified the R4DO (Walker).
Power Reactor
Event Number: 49471
Facility: OCONEE
Region: 2 State: SC
Unit: [] [] [3]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] B&W-L-LP,[3] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: MIKE TATE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Region: 2 State: SC
Unit: [] [] [3]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] B&W-L-LP,[3] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: MIKE TATE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 10/24/2013
Notification Time: 09:45 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: 05:53 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/10/2014
Notification Time: 09:45 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: 05:53 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/10/2014
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
Person (Organization):
STEVEN VIAS (R2DO)
STEVEN VIAS (R2DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | M/R | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Standby |
MANUAL REACTOR TRIP FROM FULL POWER DUE TO FEEDWATER SYSTEM OSCILLATIONS
"At 0553 EDT on 10/24/2013, Oconee Unit 3 was manually tripped due to oscillations in the feedwater system in anticipation of an automatic reactor trip. At 0549 EDT, Unit 3 began experiencing small feedwater oscillations. The feedwater control system was placed in manual in an attempt to stabilize feedwater flows. Feedwater oscillations continued to grow in magnitude and at 0553 EDT, a manual trip was directed to prevent an automatic reactor trip.
"Due to an RPS actuation, this event is being reported as a 4 and 8 hour Non-Emergency per 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(B) and 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)
"Following the reactor trip, four main steam relief valves failed to reseat. Procedure guidance was utilized to reduce main steam system pressure by approximately 30 psig to reseat the main steam relief valves. All main stream relief valves are now reseated. All other post trip conditions were normal and all other systems performed as expected. Unit 3 is currently in Mode 3 and stable.
"Operations have been stabilized on Unit 3. A post-trip investigation is in progress, per site procedures and directives."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE FROM BOB MEIXELL TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1439 ON 9/10/14 * * *
"Duke Energy reviewed NRC Event Number 49471 against NUREG 1022, Rev 3, section 3.2.6, "System Actuation" and determined this event should have been reported only per 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(B), RPS Actuation (while critical). Thus, Duke Energy is revising NRC Event Number 49471 to remove the 8-hour report criteria 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(A). The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this revised report.
"This update has no effect on safety significance."
Notified R2DO (Shaeffer).
"At 0553 EDT on 10/24/2013, Oconee Unit 3 was manually tripped due to oscillations in the feedwater system in anticipation of an automatic reactor trip. At 0549 EDT, Unit 3 began experiencing small feedwater oscillations. The feedwater control system was placed in manual in an attempt to stabilize feedwater flows. Feedwater oscillations continued to grow in magnitude and at 0553 EDT, a manual trip was directed to prevent an automatic reactor trip.
"Due to an RPS actuation, this event is being reported as a 4 and 8 hour Non-Emergency per 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(B) and 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)
"Following the reactor trip, four main steam relief valves failed to reseat. Procedure guidance was utilized to reduce main steam system pressure by approximately 30 psig to reseat the main steam relief valves. All main stream relief valves are now reseated. All other post trip conditions were normal and all other systems performed as expected. Unit 3 is currently in Mode 3 and stable.
"Operations have been stabilized on Unit 3. A post-trip investigation is in progress, per site procedures and directives."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE FROM BOB MEIXELL TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1439 ON 9/10/14 * * *
"Duke Energy reviewed NRC Event Number 49471 against NUREG 1022, Rev 3, section 3.2.6, "System Actuation" and determined this event should have been reported only per 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(B), RPS Actuation (while critical). Thus, Duke Energy is revising NRC Event Number 49471 to remove the 8-hour report criteria 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(A). The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this revised report.
"This update has no effect on safety significance."
Notified R2DO (Shaeffer).