Event Notification Report for June 11, 2001

FIRE IN AN OFFSITE SUBSTATION - LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED

The licensee requested offsite assistance from the Goshen Fire Department because of a fire outside the protected area. The fire is in a substation near the fire training facility and has affected power to the Emergency Operations Facility (EOF). The EOF has an emergency diesel generator, but this tripped when it was brought on line. Plant operations are not affected.

The fire department is on scene and has not identified any flames, but smoke is still coming from the substation, the substation is partially underground. The licensee will notify the town of Waterford and the State of Connecticut. The NRC resident has been notified.

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION

"At 1323 hrs, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) was notified per Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-15-06(B) that an opacity exceedance had occurred at the X-600 Steam Plant. Details are provided below.

"At approximately 0500 hrs, Utilities Operations personnel began shutting off the steam flow to the X-333 Process Building in preparation for maintenance and repair work on the steam lines. Total steam demand dropped to approximately 92,000 lb/hr (46,000 lb/hr for each of the two operating boilers). The boilers are difficult to control below approximately 50,000 lb/hr. At approximately 0518 (based on six-minute increments), Boiler #1 reached an opacity of 23% for 6 minutes, then dropped below 20%. At 0530, it rose to 33% for 6 minutes. At 0542, it again rose to 33% for 6 minutes. At 0600, it rose initially to 23%, then to approximately 28%. The Boiler Operators started several steam turbines to increase the load above 50,000 lb/hr each and regained control.

"OAC 3745-17-07 limits the boilers to an opacity of 20% as a 6 minute average. One 6 minute average per 60 minute period may exceed 20% but may not exceed 60%. There were four six-minute readings between 20% and 60% in a 60 minute period, therefore, this is reportable to the Ohio EPA. OAC 3745-15-06(B) requires an immediate report in the event that a malfunction causes the emission of contaminants in violation of any applicable law. By reporting such an incident in a timely manner, the incident is not considered a violation. Details of the incident will be included in the next quarterly OEPA opacity report. Site management has taken action to prevent recurrence of any further opacity exceedances related to the above mentioned maintenance evolution.

"This is reportable as a 4 hr. Event due to notification to a government agency (OEPA) being made per Nuclear Regulatory Event Reporting Procedure UE2-RA-RE1030 Appendix D Criteria P. (Miscellaneous)."

The NRC resident inspector has been informed of this notification.

IRRADIATOR SOURCE RACK STUCK IN THE UNSHIELDED POSITION

While initiating a run, one of two source racks did not fully withdrawal. The system is designed to automatically lower the racks if the full out position is not reached within a set amount of time. This occurred, but the same rack that did not fully withdrawal would not insert. The licensee noted the occurrence and attempted to raise the stuck rack a little, hoping to free it. This worked and then the rack was fully inserted without incident.

Upon investigation it was discovered that there was a loose guide cable. This cable was tensioned and the rack was tested several times with no problems. The irradiator was then returned to service.

GRASS FIRE IN THE OWNER CONTROLLED AREA - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION

The licensee called the Bethel Fire Department for help in extinguishing a grass fire on owner controlled property outside of the protected area. No power lines were threatened. The fire was put out in 34 minutes.

The licensee also notified the States of North and South Carolina, the Counties of York, Gaston and Mecklenburg as well as the NRC resident inspector.