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Event Notification Report for September 13, 2001

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/12/2001 - 09/13/2001

EVENT NUMBERS
382823828438285382863828738378

Power Reactor
Event Number: 38282
Facility: VERMONT YANKEE
Region: 1     State: VT
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BRIAN COPPERTHITE
HQ OPS Officer: FANGIE JONES
Notification Date: 09/13/2001
Notification Time: 02:00 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2001
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/13/2001
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
STEVE BARR (R1)
GLENN TRACEY (IAT)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
Event Text
INFORMATION REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 98-35

A suspicious vehicle was noted in area around the plant site. Immediate compensatory actions were taken upon discovery.

Contact HOO for further details.


Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 38284
Facility: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
Region: 3     State: OH
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: ADVANCED FUEL R&D AND PILOT PLANTS
NRC Notified By: C. JENSEN
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 09/13/2001
Notification Time: 09:39 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2001
Event Time: 09:25 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/13/2001
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
Person (Organization):
SONIA BURGESS (R3)
FED BROWN (NMSS)
STEINDURF (FEMA)
Event Text
UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO CONTAINED FIRE.

Unusual event was declared because of a small contained fire, now out, in High Energy Cell (HEC) lasting less than 10 minutes. A "berry can" was being ground open in order to dispose of some combustible material. The grinding caused the contents inside the can to catch fire. The fire remained within the can until it burnt itself out. First water was sprayed into the can to extinguish the fire but the flames got larger so the licensee let the fire burn itself out. The max. flame height was approximately 18 inches. The "berry can", which looks like a one gallon paint can, was located in a 20 foot high hot cell located in building JN-1B. There was no release and nobody was injured. Smears taken detected no radioactivity except for radon which was caused by an atmospheric inversion. Any gases released within the hot cell must go through a HEPA filter. The licensee notified NRC Region 3, the DOE Project Manager, and local officials of this event.

* * * UPDATE ON 09/13/01 AT 1026 ET BY C. JENSEN TAKEN BY MACKINNON * * *

Unusual event terminated at 0957 ET based on negative air samples. R3DO (Sonia Burgess), NMSS (Fred Brown) and FEMA (Barden) notified.


Power Reactor
Event Number: 38285
Facility: TURKEY POINT
Region: 2     State: FL
Unit: [3] [] []
RX Type: [3] W-3-LP,[4] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL MATUSZEWSKI
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/13/2001
Notification Time: 14:17 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2001
Event Time: 12:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/13/2001
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
JOHN MONNINGER (R2)
Power Reactor Unit Info
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
OFFSITE NOTIFICATION INVOLVING CONTAMINATED SCAFFOLD KNUCKLES

"While performing incoming routine surveys, Turkey Point Health Physics personnel discovered low levels of radioactivity on several pieces of scaffolding knuckles and elbows received from a vendor. The knuckles never entered the site's radiation controlled area. These items were counted in a Small Articles Monitor (SAM) and indicated low level contamination was present. In total 3 out of approximately 2700 items surveyed indicated the presence of low level fixed activity. The highest level measured was 9,800 disintegrations per minute (dpm) when counted in the SAM and non-detectable using a standard HP-210 (pancake GM) probe. Isotopic analysis indicates Cobalt-60 and Cesium-137. No loose surface contamination was found. The items identified with low level fixed contamination are now being held inside the Turkey Point radiation controlled area.

"Florida Power & Light Company has notified the owner of the scaffolding and the State of Florida (Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control) of this matter."

The licensee informed the NRC resident inspector.


Power Reactor
Event Number: 38286
Facility: WOLF CREEK
Region: 4     State: KS
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DAVE DEES
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/13/2001
Notification Time: 19:11 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2001
Event Time: 17:48 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/13/2001
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
MARK SHAFFER (R4)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
Event Text
PRESS RELEASE INVOLVING AN INJURED CONSTRUCTION WORKER

"The following is a press release issued by a construction company that is working on a construction project at Wolf Creek Generating Station. The project is associated with a training center outside the protected area but inside the owner controlled area. The Senior Resident has been notified. This four-hour notification is being made pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi).

" 'BURLINGTON, Kan.--A workman performing metal building erection on a training center renovation located just outside the Wolf Creek Generating Station fell 20 feet to the ground sustaining multiple injuries. The workman, who worked for Total Construction Enterprises located in St. Louis, Mo., was flown out via Life Star to a Topeka hospital for treatment. The name of the workman is not being released nor is his medical status known at this time.' "


General Information or Other
Event Number: 38287
Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: GARCO TESTING LABORATORIES
Region: 4
City: SALT LAKE CITY   State: UT
County: SALT LAKE
License #: UT 1800153
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JULIE R. FELICE
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/14/2001
Notification Time: 16:06 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2001
Event Time: 10:45 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2001
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MARK SHAFFER (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A DAMAGED TROXLER GAUGE

"On 9/13/01 at 1045MST, a smooth barrel compactor ran over a Troxler Electronic Laboratories Incorporated Model 4640-B thin layer density gauge (serial number 1580, containing 8 millicuries of Cesium-137). As a result, the source rod was damaged (bent) and could not be returned to the safe shielded position. The event location was 7765 Highway 89, Willard, Utah.

"The Utah Division of Radiation Control was notified by the licensee on 9/13/01 at 1100MST. A Utah Division of Radiation Control inspector was sent to investigate the incident (Utah Event Report ID No. UT-01-0003)."


Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 38378
Rep Org: US ARMY
Licensee: US ARMY
Region: 1
City: ABERDEEN   State: MD
County:
License #: 19-30563-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KUYKENDALL
HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD
Notification Date: 10/11/2001
Notification Time: 14:49 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2001
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/11/2001
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.1906(d)(1) - SURFACE CONTAM LEVELS > LIMITS
Person (Organization):
R1 IRC TEAM MANAGER (R1)
DON COOL (NMSS)
Event Text
WIPE TEST LIMITS EXCEEDED LIMITS FOR CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTORS

Wipe test on a Ni -63 chemical agent detector measured 17,931 DPM(equivalent to .007 microcuries). This was way above their action level guide lines of 1,000 DPM. They are in the process of disposing of the device.