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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
12/24/2003 - 12/29/2003
** EVENT NUMBERS **
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| General Information or Other |
Event Number: 39670 |
Rep Org: WESTINGHOUSE
Licensee: ABB INC
Region: 1
City: PITTSBURGH State: PA
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: HANK SEPP
HQ OPS Officer: YAMIR DIAZ |
Notification Date: 03/14/2003
Notification Time: 15:47 [ET]
Event Date: 03/14/2003
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/25/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH |
Person (Organization):
DAVID AYRES (R2)
MARK SHAFFER (R4)
JACK FOSTER (NRR)
BRIAN MCDERMOTT (R1)
KENNETH O'BRIEN (R3) |
Event Text
10 CFR PART 21 REPORT REGARDING FAILURES OF ABB CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Circuit breakers manufactured by ABB Inc. and used for Class 1E applications by Westinghouse were shipped to the Calvert Cliffs Plant with model 5 operating mechanisms installed. Recently, Westinghouse had retrofitted the breakers with model 7 operating mechanisms manufactured by ABB Inc. Westinghouse validated that the original breaker qualifications (for Class 1E applications) are still applicable with the model 7 operating mechanism installed. Two of these breakers failed to close and latch during testing at Calvert Cliffs. The first breaker failed to close and latch during acceptance testing on January 18, 2003. The second breaker failed to close and latch during its installation acceptance test in the breaker cubicle on January 27, 2001.
* * * UPDATE VIA FAX ON 12/24/03 AT 15:25 CST BY ABB INC * * *
Summary: The issue reported in the notification above is limited in scope and there is no indication that the failure mode will exist in a K-Line breaker. ABB does concur that dimensional non-conformities were present in the breakers that exhibited the fail to close of the primary and secondary trip latches. ABB also concurs that this out-of-tolerance situation is contributory to the failure exhibited in the 5VHKR250 1200A breaker but is not in and of itself the root cause of failure.
Notified R1DO (R. Lorson), R2DO (M. Ernstes), R3DO P. Louden), R4DO (L. Smith), NRR (Jack Foster) via email |
| !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! |
| Power Reactor |
Event Number: 40287 |
Facility: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: STEPHEN MAGILL
HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD |
Notification Date: 11/02/2003
Notification Time: 02:44 [ET]
Event Date: 11/01/2003
Event Time: 17:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/26/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION |
Person (Organization):
TROY PRUETT (R4) |
| Unit |
SCRAM Code |
RX CRIT |
Initial PWR |
Initial RX Mode |
Current PWR |
Current RX Mode |
| 2 |
N |
Y |
100 |
Power Operation |
100 |
Power Operation |
Event Text
AN EVENT THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED FULFILLMENT OF THE SAFETY FUNCTION TO MITIGATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACCIDENT,
On November 1, 2003, the plant was performing testing on the Control Room Envelope for Unfiltered In-Leakage Tracer gas Test. During this test the control room ventilation is set up to simulate system line up following an F [high drywell pressure initiation signal], A [low reactor pressure vessel level], or Z [high containment building radiation] signal. This dual pressurization line up consists of both control room emergency filtration (CREF) fans running with the normal and one of two remote air intakes isolated. This line up caused a low-flow condition to occur on both trains of CREF, rendering both trains of CREF to become inoperable. The inoperability of the CREF is due to losing the permissive to allow the heaters located in each of the fresh air ducts to the emergency filters to energize. These heaters reduce the relative humidity of air entering the emergency filters to 70%. Without the heaters the 30-day dose limits to control room personnel of GDC 19 of 10CFR50, Appendix A could be exceeded during a Design Basis Accident.
The isolation of a single remote air intake is a condition allowed under technical specification 3.3.7.1 and is also required for certain radiological and HAZMAT conditions. During an FAZ with an isolated remote air intake both trains of CREF will become inoperable until one train is shutdown.
Once both trains of CREF were inoperable the plant entered LCO 3.0.3. per technical specification 3.7.3. At 1728 the plant opened the isolation valves for the second remote air intake and the low-flow condition cleared for one train of CREF and LCO 3.0.3 was exited. The plant is currently in a 7 day LCO to shutdown for having one train of CREF inoperable per 3.7.3.
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.
* * * UPDATE (RETRACTION) AT 1439 EST ON 12/26/03 BY FRED SCHILL TO JOLLIFFE * * *
On 11/1/2003 at 2344 [PST], Columbia Generating Station (CGS) reported (EN# 40287) both trains of Control Room Emergency Filtration (CREF) were made inoperable during performance of tracer gas testing. This condition was reported to NRC headquarters pursuant to 10 CFR § 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) as a condition that at the time of discovery, could have prevented fulfillment of a safety function needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident. After further evaluation, the 8-hour report is being retracted based on the following:
At 1646 (PST) on 11/1/2003, with the plant in mode 1, testing was being performed to measure control room in-leakage using (ASTM 741) tracer gas methodology. In accordance with the test procedure, the CREF system was configured in a non-standard manner that would create the most limiting in-leakage conditions. Specifically, the configuration was a dual-pressurization mode with both trains of CREF running and the normal, and one of the two remote intakes closed. This line-up caused a low-flow condition to occur in both CREF trains, and prevented electric heaters from energizing in each of the CREF air ducts containing the emergency filters. Differential pressure switches monitor the differential pressure across HEPA filters in each of the CREF trains. These switches provide a high/low alarm in the main control room to alert operators of either low airflow, fan failure, or dirt loading. Additionally, a low differential pressure setpoint provides an interlock permissive for automatic operation of an upstream duct heater. This design feature ensures the 5 KW heater has adequate airflow to prevent damage to the heater elements. When this low flow permissive is satisfied, the associated heater will cycle on and off to maintain the relative humidity of the air entering the CREF unit to 70% or lower.
When the low-flow condition occurred on 11/1/2003, plant operators declared both trains of CREF inoperable and entered Technical Specifications Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) 3.0.3 as directed by Technical Specifications LCO 3.7.3 condition D.1. This condition existed for approximately 45 minutes until 1728 (PST) when operators opened the second remote intake and the low-flow condition cleared.
During the time the heaters were inoperable, meteorological conditions were recorded as: Relative Humidity (RH) between 31.5 to 34.0% RH, temperature between 39.2 to 40.3 degrees F, wind speed between 5.3 to 9.8 mph, and wind direction from the southeast. A postulated Main Steam or Feedwater line break outside of primary containment provides a potential for the RH conditions at the remote intake that was open during this event to exceed the measured ambient 34% RH. However, each of the remote intake lines are routed underground, then up through the interior of the building containing the control room, the intake ducts traverse the full length of the Control Room, and continue up to the 525 foot elevation where they join into a common line. Because the pipe is buried and routed through relatively warm internal building areas, the temperature of this fresh air makeup increases during this time of year. Test data collected in the same CREF alignment (i.e. dual train, single remote intake) showed a significant temperature increase (preliminary information indicates greater than 40 degrees F). Considering a worst-case postulated accident condition that results in remote intake inlet air containing 100% RH, only a minor temperature increase (i.e. approximately 2 degrees F) of the ambient fresh air makeup would be required to ensure that the resulting relative humidity of the air entering the CREF units was less than 95% RH. Therefore, taking into consideration the meteorological conditions, distance of the intake from CREF unit, and applying engineering judgment, it is reasonable to conclude that at all times during the approximately 45-minute event, the CREF inlet air relative humidity remained at or less than the design basis 95% RH and most likely less than the heater-controlled limit of 70% RH.
As discussed in NRC Generic Letter 99-02 "Laboratory Testing of Nuclear-Grade Activated Charcoal," if ESF filtration systems have humidity control (i.e. heaters), then carbon lab testing should be in accordance with ASTM D3803-89 "Standard Test Method for Nuclear-Grade Activated Carbon" at 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) and 70% RH. For systems without humidity control the laboratory test conditions are 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) and 95% RH. Columbia's Technical Specification 5.5.7.c requires testing to demonstrate methyl iodide penetration for a sample of the CREF system charcoal adsorber is less than 2.5% when tested in accordance with ASTM D3803-89 at a temperature of (30 degrees C) 86 degrees F and 70% RH. The lower than normal flow conditions during the tracer gas test effectively resulted in a CREF system without humidity control, which per GL 99-02 would require lab testing at 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) and 95% RH.
Figure A 5.1 of ASTM D3803-89 illustrates the impact of CREF unit operation with no humidity control. This figure provides the relative effect of carbon methyl iodide penetration versus % RH on new carbon. As shown by this figure, the methyl iodide penetration at 95% RH is 670% (which includes standard deviation) of penetration value at 70% RH. The most recent laboratory carbon test data for Columbia's filters provided methyl iodine penetration test results of 0.31% for train A and 0.13% for train B. Applying a multiplier of 6.7 (for the no-humidity control test 95% RH value) to these test results yields penetration values of 2.08% for train A and 0,87% for train B when no credit is taken for humidity control. A teleconference was conducted with an industry recognized charcoal testing laboratory to corroborate this carbon efficiency impact analysis. The laboratory stated they had observed an increase in penetration for used carbon of 300 to 500% (or 3 to 5 times) when varying RH from 70 to 95%.
This analysis demonstrates that without reliance on the CREF heaters, the allowable methyl iodide penetration of 2.5% as specified in TS 5.5.7.c would not be exceeded and the penetration remains well below the more conservative analytical design limit of 5% (CGS accident analysis assumes 95% iodine removal efficiency for the CREF system). Therefore, the condition experienced at Columbia, on 11/1/2003 at 2344 (PST) where the CREF heaters did not energize during the low-flow condition, would not have prevented the CREF system from performing its design safety function and does not meet the criterion for reporting under 10 CFR § 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) as "a condition that at the time of discovery, could have prevented fulfillment of a safety function needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
Notified R4DO Linda Smith. |
| General Information or Other |
Event Number: 40409 |
Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: CENTRAL ARKANSAS RADIATION THERAPY INSTITUTE INC
Region: 4
City: CONWAY State: AR
County:
License #: ARK 654-BP-12
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KIM WIEBECK (fax)
HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD |
Notification Date: 12/22/2003
Notification Time: 13:49 [ET]
Event Date: 12/04/2003
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE |
Person (Organization):
LINDA SMITH (R4)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS) |
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE EVENT
"A medical misadministration resulting from an I-125 permanent prostate seed implant procedure was reported to Arkansas Department of Health, Radiation Control and Emergency Management on December 19, 2003. The licensee reported that the misadministration, resulting from a December 4, 2003 implant procedure, had been identified during the patient's post-implant CT study on December 18, 2003.
"The brachytherapy misadministration involves an underdose to an intended treatment area as well as a radiation dose delivered to an unintended area. This event is still under investigation by the licensee and the Department." |
| General Information or Other |
Event Number: 40412 |
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: GUIDANT CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: L05178
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JIM OGDEN
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY |
Notification Date: 12/23/2003
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 12/22/2003
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/23/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE |
Person (Organization):
LINDA SMITH (R4)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS) |
Event Text
LEAKING P-32 SOURCE WIRE
The following information was received via facsimile:
"Houston licensee received an IVB [Intravascular Brachytherapy] source wire back from a hospital. Source wire was determined to be leaking upon leak test. Leaking Source, P32 IVB, approximately 85 millicuries of P-32. Leaking IVB source returned by unknown hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana to the manufacturer."
Texas Incident Report I-8086. |
| General Information or Other |
Event Number: 40413 |
Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: SOUTHWEST GENERAL HEALTH CENTER-IRELAND CANCER CENTER
Region: 3
City: MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS State: OH
County:
License #: 02120180001
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK LIGHT
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG |
Notification Date: 12/24/2003
Notification Time: 09:34 [ET]
Event Date: 12/22/2003
Event Time: 13:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/24/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE |
Person (Organization):
PATRICK LOUDEN (R3)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS) |
Event Text
OHIO AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIATION DOSE TO UNINTENDED SITE DURING BRACHYTHERAPHY TREATMENT
On 12/23/2003 at 1600 hours EST the licensee notified the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Protection, of the following information regarding a patient undergoing intravascular brachytheraphy treatment:
"On December 22, 2003 during a treatment with a Novoste Beta-Cath 3.5 French IVB System, the source did not travel the entire way to the treatment site and was 3 centimeters proximal to the treatment site. The immediate cause of the event was a small kink in the delivery catheter which kept the source train from traveling to the correct site, even though the kink was not substantial enough to affect the flow of sterile water used to send/retrieve the sources. The error was discovered the next day during medical physics quality checks and reported to Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Protection. An investigation will be performed the week of December 29, 2003."
The dose to the unintended site was identified as 1840 rad (18.4 Gy) from a 0.05378 curie, Sr-90, sealed source. The attending physician has been notified. The intravascular brachytheraphy unit is a Novoste, model TDA-1040, serial number 91828.
The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Protection reference number for this event is 2003-126. |
| Power Reactor |
Event Number: 40414 |
Facility: BROWNS FERRY
Region: 2 State: AL
Unit: [1] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: SUSAN FERRELL
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY |
Notification Date: 12/24/2003
Notification Time: 13:37 [ET]
Event Date: 12/24/2003
Event Time: 09:51 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/24/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.73 - FITNESS FOR DUTY |
Person (Organization):
MIKE ERNSTES (R2) |
| Unit |
SCRAM Code |
RX CRIT |
Initial PWR |
Initial RX Mode |
Current PWR |
Current RX Mode |
| 1 |
N |
N |
0 |
Cold Shutdown |
0 |
Cold Shutdown |
| 2 |
N |
Y |
100 |
Power Operation |
100 |
Power Operation |
| 3 |
N |
Y |
100 |
Power Operation |
100 |
Power Operation |
Event Text
FITNESS FOR DUTY
A contract employee was determined to be under the influence of alcohol during a random test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the HOO for additional details.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified. |
| Power Reactor |
Event Number: 40415 |
Facility: CRYSTAL RIVER
Region: 2 State: FL
Unit: [3] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [3] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: RICHARD SWEENEY
HQ OPS Officer: DICK JOLLIFFE |
Notification Date: 12/28/2003
Notification Time: 11:42 [ET]
Event Date: 12/28/2003
Event Time: 08:49 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/28/2003 |
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION |
Person (Organization):
STEPHEN CAHILL (R2) |
| Unit |
SCRAM Code |
RX CRIT |
Initial PWR |
Initial RX Mode |
Current PWR |
Current RX Mode |
| 3 |
N |
Y |
100 |
Power Operation |
100 |
Power Operation |
Event Text
FISH KILL AT CRYSTAL RIVER REPORTED TO FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
"At 0849 [EST] on December 28, 2003, Progress Energy determined that the Crystal River Energy Complex experienced a fish kill reportable to the state of Florida. This was based upon an unusual amount of dead fish within the discharge canal. It has not been determined if this event is casually related to power operations of the energy complex. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been notified of an unusual fish kill at 0900 [EST on December 28, 2003]. This report has been provided in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi)."
The Licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
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