Event Notification Report for February 08, 2001

LOST SOURCE AT FT. RILEY, KANSAS

The U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds reported the loss of a chemical agent detector, model number M43A1. The detector contains 300 microcuries of Am-241. The exact date, time and circumstances of the loss are not known.

* * * UPDATE 1150EST ON 2/13/01 FROM JEFF HAVENNER TO S. SANDIN * * *

The Rock Island Depot updated this report to provide the following additional details: The detector was lost during an Infantry training exercise. The unit involved is currently at Ft. Irwin, CA and unavailable for questioning. The RSO at Ft. Riley intends to conduct a search of the exercise area when the snow melts. Notified R1DO(Anderson), R3DO(Phillips) and NMSS(Sturz).

BOTH REACTOR RECIRCULATING SAMPLE LINE CONTAINMENT ISOLATION VALVES DECLARED INOPERABLE

During operation of Unit 2 at 100% power, it has been determined that both Primary Containment Isolation Valves for the Reactor Recirculating Sample Line are inoperable. During restoration from maintenance activities on the line, the outboard isolation valve[HV243F020] failed to stroke closed. Following several attempts the valve was closed. The valve was declared inoperable, and as required by Technical Specifications an attempt was made to close the inboard isolation valve[HV243F019]. The inboard valve also failed to close. The air supply was isolated to the outboard valve to deactivate it, and the pathway was confirmed to be isolated. The problem with the outboard valve is due to a bad solenoid. The problem with the inboard valve is under investigation. They were able to get both valves closed when the inboard valve finally closed on its own an hour later.

The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.

* * * UPDATE 1244EST ON 3/27/01 FROM BOESCH TO S. SANDIN * * *

This report is retracted based on the following:

"ENS Notification # 37727 on 02/08/01 at 1735 reported that both Unit 2 Reactor Recirculating System sample line Primary Containment Isolation Valves (PCIVs) were declared inoperable. This event is now being retracted.

"The original notification stated that during restoration from maintenance activities on the sample line, the outboard PCIV (HV243F020) initially failed to stroke closed via a manual signal from the control room. The inboard PCIV (HV243F019) also failed to close via a manual signal from the control room. HV243F020 was subsequently closed via a manual signal and deactivated to ensure primary containment integrity. Based on the information at the time of the event, HV243F019 and HV243F020 were determined to be incapable of performing their design basis function of closing automatically when the condition was initially observed. The initial condition was reported under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(C), loss of safety function to mitigate the consequences of an accident and 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A), nuclear power plant including its principal safety barriers being seriously degraded. Investigation of the initial condition was not immediately pursued since containment integrity was
maintained with HV243F020 deactivated closed, the penetration was not required for sampling purposes and the Unit 2 Refueling Outage was scheduled to begin 3/10/01.

"The subsequent investigation and Engineering evaluation of HV243F020 during the Unit 2 Refueling Outage showed that the design basis function of closing automatically to ensure primary containment integrity was not impacted during the initial observation on 2/8/01. Therefore, HV243F020 had been capable of isolating the subject primary containment penetration and an ENS notification per 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) and 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) was not required."

The licensee informed the NRC resident inspector. Notified R1DO(Evans).

PLANT DECLARED SSPS(SOLID STATE PROTECTION SYSTEM) INOPERABLE

Reactor shutdown was initiated at 1900 due to train "B" SSPS being declared inoperable. Technical Specifications 3.3.1.1 and 3.3.2.1, which were entered at 1628, requires the Unit to be in hot standby within 6 hours.
The problem was caused by a redundant power supply to the "B" train being declared inoperable, and an incorrect procedure. Procedure changes are currently being developed to correct it.

The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.

* * * UPDATE ON 2/8/01 BY JOHNSON TO GOULD * * *

Procedural changes were complete at 2030 and power reduction was terminated at 58% and power was stabilized between 50 and 55 percent. The plant will maintain that power level until feed pump repairs are complete(approx. 4-5 hrs).

The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.

The Reg 3 RDO(Clayton) and NRR EO(Marsh) were informed.

LOST TROXLER GAUGE

The licensee reported that a Troxler model 3411 serial #16727 (8.5 millicuries Cs-137 and 40 millicuries Am-241 Be) fell out of the back of an employees truck between work and home (approx. 15 to 20 miles). They made a search of the route taken by the employee, but they did not find it. The licensee notified the local police department.

MISSING LOW ACTIVITY SOURCE

"During a routine inventory of licensed radioactive sources, one low activity, mixed isotope source could not be accounted for. The source contained a total of approximately 0.992 microcurie, of which approximately 0.154 microcurie was americium-241. Since the quantity of americium-241 in this source was more than ten times greater than the quantity specified in Appendix C of 10CFR20, a telephone report is required in accordance with 10CFR20.2201(a)(1)(ii). None of the other isotopes in the source exceeded reportable quantities specified in Appendix C. The low activity and relatively large physical size of the source are such that it would not be a significant radiological hazard. A search of the site failed to locate the source. It is not likely that a person could have inadvertently carried the source out of the radiologically controlled area (RCA) on his body since the source would have caused the RCA exit monitors to alarm. We have concluded that the source was most likely discarded by mistake inside the RCA into a yellow trash bag with other radioactive waste. The low level radioactive waste from the time period in question was shipped off site to a licensed vendor and has been incinerated."

The NRC resident inspector has been informed of this event by the licensee.