Event Notification Report for February 20, 2002

SHIPMENT WITH REMOVABLE RADIOACTIVE SURFACE CONTAMINATION EXCEEDING THE LIMITS

A shipment of 170 millicuriesTc-99 diagnostic vials was shipped to Montgomery Hospital, Morristown PA from Mallinckrodt Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA. An incoming survey on the outside of the shipping package indicated loose smearable levels of 938,000 to 1,000,000 dpm/smear of beta-gamma contamination. Surveys of the shipping vehicle and driver indicated no removable contamination. No personnel at the Hospital were contaminated and the shipping package is stored in the hospital hot cell. The material was shipped non-exclusive use.

Licensee contacted Michelle Beardsley at R1 and the shipper.

FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT

A non-licensed Supervisory employee was determined to have failed to comply with FFD procedures during random test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the HOO for additional details.

The Resident Inspector has been notified.

SAFE SHUTDOWN CAPABILITY IMPACTED BY NON-CONSERVATIVE SG NR SETPOINT

"Based on the review of [Operating Experience (OE)] 13294 from Diablo Canyon regarding unexpected response of Steam Generator [(SG)] Narrow Range level trip not responding as expected, an assessment was performed of the narrow range (NR) Steam Generator level channels at Sequoyah 1 and 2. This assessment determined that the current 10.7% lo-lo level trip setpoint did not account for the uncertainties associated with the differential pressure (dP) created by the steam flow past the mid-deck plate in the moisture separator section of the steam generator. This dP phenomena will cause the SG NR level channels to read higher than actual water level at high steam flows. Thus, the lo-lo level trip setpoint is non-conservative.

"In the unlikely event of a Loss of Normal Feedwater or a Loss of Offsite Power, the potential exists that a required reactor trip on lo-lo steam generator level may be delayed or may not be received at all. In this scenario, other trip functions such as overtemperature delta-T would be expected to actuate in response to the initiating event. However, these would arrive in a different sequence, and the net effect on the UFSAR Chapter 15 accident analysis results is unknown. Thus, a condition exists in that a safety function could have been prevented.

"As a conservative measure, upon identification of this condition by Westinghouse via NSAL 02-3, the environmental allowance monitor (EAM) was actuated on U-1 and U-2 on Friday, February 15, 2002. This feature changes the S/G Lo-Lo Level Rx Trip setpoint from 10.7% to 15%. Since the known S/G channel uncertainty is 8.3% with a narrow range span uncertainty of 5.3%, it was determined that operating with the EAMs continuously actuated will allow continued operation. After further evaluation of this condition, it has been determined that 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) applies as a 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.

"EAMs actuated on U-1 at time of discovery (vent in progress). EAMs actuated at 1814 on 2/20/02."

The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATED AT 0800 EST BY MICHAEL HOWARD TO FANGIE JONES * * *

Correction to statement above ".. EAMs actuated at 1814 on 2/20/02," should have said EAMs actuated at 1814 on 2/15/02 on U-2.

The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector. The R2DO (Leonard Wert) has been informed.

24 HOUR AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE

"Area office received notification that a CPN [Campbell Pacific Nuclear] moisture density gauge, MC3-S/N, M38088381 was stolen from a storage container between the evening of 2/19/02 to the morning of 2/20/02 from a job site at Pine and Butterfield Ranch in Chino Hills, CA.

"Local sheriff contacted and report filed. Licensee to run an add in local paper describing device and offering reward for return of gauge."

SEALED GADOLINIUM SOURCE LOST

During an inspection on 2/20/2002 by the VA at the Central California Health Care System, Fresno, CA a sealed Gd-153 (980 microcuries) source was determined to be missing as of 5/11/2001. The source is a solid Gadolinium pellet sealed in a titanium capsule and in a lead shield with a spring operated shutter. Present activity is calculated to be 430 microcuries. A search of the facilities, personnel interviews, and an inventory was conducted. It has been determined that in most probability the source inside its lead shield was mistakenly discarded with non-radioactive hospital waste and is presently buried in the municipal landfill. A visit to the landfill determined that recovery was very unlikely. There was little likelihood that this event resulted in measurable radiation doses to hospital workers or any member of the public.

The RSO has been retrained in proper disposal of sources and methods for decay and storage. It is believed that sufficient corrective actions have been taken to date to prevent a reoccurrence of this event, however further actions are being researched and developed.

The VA has contacted NRC Region 4 (Cain).