Event Notification Report for February 14, 2002

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED FIXED GAUGE

SUBJECT: Damage to Fixed Gauge Containing Radioactive Material.

On February 14,2002 at 4:45 PM CDT, a representative of McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company notified the Agency that on February 13,2002, the burner on a cupola caused a partial melting of the shielding of a mounted Ohmart model A2104 gauge containing 4,500 millicuries of Cesium-137 to melt. McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company possesses and uses radioactive material under Alabama Specific License No. 507. A hole was burned in the side of the source holder and approximately one quart of lead flowed to the floor. A consultant was hired and performed surveys and leak tests of the device. No excessive radiation levels were noted and the leak test results were within acceptable limits. The gauge remains mounted and is isolated. The manufacturer's representative is scheduled to come to the facility on February 15, 2002 to replace the device. The incident did not cause any exposure of radiation above applicable limits.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION REQUIRED SHUTDOWN

"This ENS notification is made to report initiation of a plant shutdown required by the Columbia Generating Station Technical Specifications pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(i). This plant shutdown is initiated due to the expected inability to restore the Division II Emergency Diesel Generator (DG) to Operable status prior to exceeding the expiration of the Completion Time of Tech Spec LCO 3.8 1 Required Action B.4. The expected inability to restore the DG to operable status is due to a mechanical problem in the DG output breaker. The breaker is capable of closing and connecting the DG to its safety bus however, Mechanically Operated Contacts that are actuated by the breaker have failed to actuate, Although the Completion time of Technical Specification LCO 3 8.1 Required Acton B.4 expires at 0315, February 14, 2002, plant shutdown will commence prior to that time in order to fully evaluate the breaker anomaly."

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

POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURE AT ENGINEER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

On 02/04/02, the licensee received a telephone notification that an individual's badge had an exposure of 16 Rem during a 3-month period. After further investigation on 02/05/02, the licensee determined that the individual had lost the badge while packing a moisture density gauge for storage. Approximately 4 weeks later, the badge was discovered when the device was being prepared to be sent for recalibration.

On 02/08/02, the licensee received a telex identifying what the exposures were in writing. The licensee notified the NRC Region 1 office (Betsy Ullrich) on 02/14/02.

The licensee currently believes that the 16-Rem exposure was an exposure to the badge and not to the individual.

NOTE: The licensee stated that Engineer Research & Development Center is a research portion of the Core of
Engineers and that it was previously know as the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering
Laboratory.

(Call the NRC operations officer for a licensee contact telephone number.)

POWER RESOURCES HIGHLAND URANIUM PROJECT (AN IN-SITU URANIUM MINE LOCATED IN A RURAL AREA APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH OF DOUGLAS, WYOMING) REPORTED A MINOR RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL.

At 1330 MST, while personnel were moving a trailer-mounted 1,000-gallon tank full of water from a well, they forgot to close a valve, and approximately 20 to 25 gallons of water containing uranium drained onto a county road. The spill was cleaned up by approximately 1530 MST. Original contamination levels were between 1,000 and 5,000 cpm, however, alpha scans of the area currently meet the NRC unrestricted release standard of 1,000 cpm. A sample of the water from the trailer is being analyzed to determine the actual activity levels. There were no personnel contaminations or injuries associated with this event.

The licensee notified the Department of Transportation and plans to notify the local sheriff's office. The NRC Region 4 office plans to notify the State of Wyoming.

The NRC mining experts assessed this event and stated that no adverse impact is anticipated and no response is required.

(Call the NRC operations officer for licensee contact telephone numbers.)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION REQUIRED SHUTDOWN OF BOTH UNITS BECAUSE STEAM GENERATOR WATER LEVEL INSTRUMENT CHANNELS ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO A NON-CONSERVATIVE WATER LEVEL-LOW LOW SETPOINT

The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:

"During the investigation into the Unit 2 manual reactor trip on February 9, 2002 (Event Number 38687), PG&E discovered a potentially unanalyzed condition. The narrow range (NR) steam generator (SG) water level instrumentation did not respond as expected to initiate an automatic reactor trip and auxiliary feedwater actuation on SG water level-low low."

"The SG NR water level-low low setpoint is 7.2 percent. This instrumentation is part of the Reactor Trip System (Technical Specification (TS) Table 3.3.1-1 Function 14.a), and Engineered Safety Feature Actuation System (ESFAS) (TS Table 3.3.2-1 Function 6.d), Auxiliary Feedwater (AFW)."

"On February 9, 2002, main feedwater regulating valve (MFRV) FW-2-FCV-540 failed closed, resulting in a rapid decrease in SG 2-4 water level. Indicated NR water level fell to approximately 7.5 percent and leveled out. Operators tripped the reactor within approximately one minute of the MFRV closing. Based on investigations and conversations with Westinghouse today, PG&E believes the actual SG 2-4 NR water level fell below the 7.2 percent setpoint before the reactor was tripped. Westinghouse attributes this water level discrepancy to a previously unaccounted for differential pressure (dP) created by steam flow past the mid-deck plate (MDP) in the moisture separator section of the SG. This dP phenomena will cause the SG NR to read higher than actual at high steam flows (>60% power). Thus, the SG NR water level-low low setpoint is believed to be non-conservative during certain transients."

"In response, operators declared all SG NR water level-low low channels inoperable and entered TS Action 3.0.3. At 1700 [PST], both units began reducing power to approximately 60 percent, where Westinghouse indicates this condition will no longer result in a non-conservative setpoint."

"In accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(i), PG&E is reporting this as the initiation of a TS required shutdown. It is also being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) as condition that at the time of discovery could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of structures or systems that are needed to shutdown the reactor and maintain it in a safe shutdown condition."

The licensee notified the Salem facility and the NRC resident inspector. The licensee also plans to notify the local Advisory of the County.

(Refer to event #38687 for additional information.)

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE

February 14, 2002 / 3:35 p.m.

Hallsville, Texas (between Longview and Marshall, Texas along U.S. Highway 80, north of Interstate Highway 20) - Hallsville High School near small concession stand.

Damaged nuclear density gauge - Troxler Model 3430, Serial No 29993; Source Cs-137 Serial No. 7504631, activity 8 millicuries; Source Am-24 :Be Serial No. 47-26971, activity 20 millicuries. Last leak tested December 5, 2001.

Texas Bureau of Radiation Control was notified of the incident at approximately 4 p.m. February 14, 2002. Troxler Electronic Labs has been contacted to leak test the damaged gauge and to arrange repair/disposal.

Event description: The gauge operator was preparing to conduct density tests when a dump truck passed. The operator prepared to drive the pin to provide a hole for the source rod. As he was performing this task he noticed that the truck was now backing toward him. He jumped out of harms way and immediately began banging on the side of the truck with his hammer near the tailgate to get the driver's attention. However, the driver was looking in his other mirror and talking on either a cell phone or radio. The truck's rear dual wheels backed over the gauge. The driver then sensed he had hit something and immediately stopped the vehicle. The gauge's source rod was in the up and locked position. After the impact the rod was bent but still intact. The gauge case was severely damage but the integral source retained it's structural integrity. The area was roped off. A radiation survey was performed, in place, on the damaged gauge. A NDS Survey Meter Model ND 2000, Serial No 25207 obtained readings of 2.5 to 3.5 mRem/hour near at the surface of the damaged device. After assessment, the gauge was removed from the site and placed in its transport container in the company transport vehicle. The soil under the damaged gauge was removed to check for debris (none found) and surveyed with no measurable radiation detected. The gauge was transported to the Longview headquarters site and locked in a storage closet pending a leak test of the device by Troxler. Radiation levels at the closet were consistent with those taken at the incident site. Arrangements for transportation and repair/disposal of the damaged gauge are pending with the Troxler Office in Arlington, Texas.


Transport vehicle description: Not applicable. Gauge was in use. Gauge was damaged by a loaded dump truck belonging to the K.K. Mobbs Construction Company, Kilgore, Texas. The vehicle was surveyed and released.

Media attention: None known

AGREEMENT STATE NOTIFICATION OF LOST NEUTRON GENERATOR BETWEEN HOUMA, LA AND PEARLAND, TEXAS

The following is a portion of the facsimile received from the State of Louisiana:

"Agreement State Agency: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality"

"Event Report ID No: LA020002"

"License No.: LA-2187-LO1"
"Licensee: Baker Atlas"

"Event date and Time: January, 3-3 1, 2002"

"Event Location: Between Houma, LA and Pearland, TX"

"Event type: Lost Neutron Generator"

"Notifications: Licensee notified State Police, Highway Maintenance, LA Department of Environmental Quality,
and the State of Texas. Has not notified media yet."

"Event description: Baker Atlas requested two Neutron Generator tools with 0.878 Ci of H-3 in sponge form in each tool from Pearland, TX. The tools are shipped in four sections for each tool for a total of 8 sections. The night watchmen in Houma, LA recorded on January 3, 2002, that 8 sections were delivered and then placed in storage. On January 31, 2002, Pearland wanted the tools back. It was discovered that there were only 7 sections instead of eight. The section that was missing contained the H-3. The RSO was notified of the lost source on February 14, 2002. The RSO notified the LA Department of Environmental Quality on February 14, 2002. The night watchmen was interviewed and said he thought there were 8 sections delivered."

"Transport vehicle description: Flatbed truck (Hot Shot Transport Company)"

"Media attention: Media not notified."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STUCK LOGGING WELL SOURCE

"Well logging tool became stuck at 17,125 feet, top of tool is 17,106 feet. Attempted fishing on 3 consecutive days, unsuccessful. Pumped 466 feet of red cement to secure source on February 14, 2002, to plug well. Top of plug is 16,640 feet. Permanent identification plaque is under construction for emplacement on the wellhead. Abandoned at Frank Bell #1 RE, Leon County, Texas, AP# 42-289-30432. Source abandoned IAW Texas Regulations.

"Isotope Products Laboratory, sealed logging source (Capsule Type), Model # HEG-241, Serial # NN-082, 250 microcuries Am-241. Last leak tested 09/07/01 (No leakage). Manufactured September 25, 1998, pressure tested to 25,000 psi."