Event Notification Report for December 12, 2000
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/11/2000 - 12/12/2000
EVENT NUMBERS
37591
Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 37591
Facility: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
NRC Notified By: KEITH VANDERPOOL
HQ OPS Officer: DOUG WEAVER
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
NRC Notified By: KEITH VANDERPOOL
HQ OPS Officer: DOUG WEAVER
Notification Date: 12/12/2000
Notification Time: 18:38 [ET]
Event Date: 12/12/2000
Event Time: 09:50 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/12/2000
Notification Time: 18:38 [ET]
Event Date: 12/12/2000
Event Time: 09:50 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/12/2000
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RONALD GARDNER (R3)
JOHN GREEVES (NMSS)
CHARLES MILLER (IRO)
RONALD GARDNER (R3)
JOHN GREEVES (NMSS)
CHARLES MILLER (IRO)
BULLETIN 91-01 24 HOUR REPORT
ON 12/12/00, AT 0950 HOURS IT WAS DISCOVERED BY A NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY STAFF
MEMBER THAT A NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY APPROVAL (NCSA) SPACING CONTROL WAS LOST IN A SEAL CAN STORAGE AREA WITHIN THE X-333 PROCESS BUILDING. IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT TWO (2) GROUPS OF SEAL CANS WERE NOT SPACED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTROL #9 OF NCSA-PLANT064.A05. THE SPECIFIED NCSA REQUIRES THAT GROUPS OF UP TO FIFTY (50) SEAL CANS CAN BE SPACED A MINIMUM OF 48" EDGE-TO-EDGE. ONE GROUP OF 50 AND ONE GROUP OF 20 SEAL CANS WERE DISCOVERED SPACED AT 46" EDGE-TO-EDGE.
THIS EVENT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ONE CONTROL FOR SPACING (INTERACTION CONTROL)
BETWEEN SEAL CAN GROUPS AND OTHER URANIUM BEARING MATERIALS. THE MASS AND MODERATION OF URANIUM IN THE SEAL CANS (ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS) AND THE SIZE OF THE SEAL CAN (PASSIVE DESIGN FEATURE) REMAINED INTACT THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT. THUS, ONLY ONE CONTROL RELIED UPON FOR DOUBLE CONTINGENCY WAS LOST.
NCSA-PLANT064.A05 CONTROL RE-ESTABLISHED AT 1000 HOURS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE NCS ON SCENE STAFF MEMBER
ON 12/12/00, AT 0950 HOURS IT WAS DISCOVERED BY A NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY STAFF
MEMBER THAT A NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY APPROVAL (NCSA) SPACING CONTROL WAS LOST IN A SEAL CAN STORAGE AREA WITHIN THE X-333 PROCESS BUILDING. IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT TWO (2) GROUPS OF SEAL CANS WERE NOT SPACED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTROL #9 OF NCSA-PLANT064.A05. THE SPECIFIED NCSA REQUIRES THAT GROUPS OF UP TO FIFTY (50) SEAL CANS CAN BE SPACED A MINIMUM OF 48" EDGE-TO-EDGE. ONE GROUP OF 50 AND ONE GROUP OF 20 SEAL CANS WERE DISCOVERED SPACED AT 46" EDGE-TO-EDGE.
THIS EVENT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ONE CONTROL FOR SPACING (INTERACTION CONTROL)
BETWEEN SEAL CAN GROUPS AND OTHER URANIUM BEARING MATERIALS. THE MASS AND MODERATION OF URANIUM IN THE SEAL CANS (ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS) AND THE SIZE OF THE SEAL CAN (PASSIVE DESIGN FEATURE) REMAINED INTACT THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT. THUS, ONLY ONE CONTROL RELIED UPON FOR DOUBLE CONTINGENCY WAS LOST.
NCSA-PLANT064.A05 CONTROL RE-ESTABLISHED AT 1000 HOURS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE NCS ON SCENE STAFF MEMBER