Event Notification Report for September 05, 2002
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/04/2002 - 09/05/2002
Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 39170
Facility: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Region: 2 State: SC
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
NRC Notified By: CARL SNYDER
HQ OPS Officer: RICH LAURA
Region: 2 State: SC
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
NRC Notified By: CARL SNYDER
HQ OPS Officer: RICH LAURA
Notification Date: 09/05/2002
Notification Time: 12:18 [ET]
Event Date: 09/05/2002
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/05/2002
Notification Time: 12:18 [ET]
Event Date: 09/05/2002
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/05/2002
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
THOMAS DECKER (R2)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
TIM MCGINTY (IRO)
THOMAS DECKER (R2)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
TIM MCGINTY (IRO)
MATERIAL/WATER IN SCRUBBER VENTILATION DUCT AT FUEL FACILITY
"Facility: Westinghouse Electric Company, Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia SC, low enriched PWR fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors.
License: SNM-l 107. "
"Time and Date of Event: Approximately 17:00 hours, Wednesday, September 4, 2002.'
"Reason for Notification: Material and liquid detected in wet scrubber ventilation system in Uranium Recycle and Recovery area."
"Summary of Process: This ventilation system draws from the safe geometry dissolver system in the Uranium Recycle and Recovery area."
"As Found Condition: A summary of the as found conditions is as follows: Material and liquid was found in ventilation ductwork during a planned shutdown and inspection. The ventilation system and associated processes remained shutdown and the Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) function was notified."
"Double Contingency Protection: Double contingency protection for the wet side of scrubber ventilation ducts greater than 10 inches in diameter consists of preventing accumulation through prudent system design and operation, configuration control, and detection/mitigation through periodic visual inspection and/or gamma surveys of selected lines. A criticality would be possible in a ventilation duct given an excessive accumulation of uranium occurs in a scrubber vent line greater than 10 inches in diameter, and it becomes moderated, and it is not detected before a critical configuration is formed."
"After assessing the ductwork, it was determined that this was a nuclear criticality safety event, in an analyzed system, for which less than previously documented double contingency protection remains. The event requires 24-hour notification in accordance with Westinghouse Operating License (SNM-1107), paragraph 3.7.3 (c.5)."
"Summary of Activity: Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) participated with engineering and operations to determine the source of the material and liquid. This investigation is continuing. The ventilation ductwork was inspected. Samples from the ductwork are being obtained for analysis. The ventilation and associated processes are shutdown and in a safe condition."
"Conclusions: There was a loss of double contingency protection. At no time was there any risk to the health or safety of any employee or member of the public. No exposure to hazardous material was involved. The Incident Review Committee (IRC) determined that this is a safety significant incident in accordance with governing procedures. A formal causal analysis will be performed."
"Facility: Westinghouse Electric Company, Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia SC, low enriched PWR fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors.
License: SNM-l 107. "
"Time and Date of Event: Approximately 17:00 hours, Wednesday, September 4, 2002.'
"Reason for Notification: Material and liquid detected in wet scrubber ventilation system in Uranium Recycle and Recovery area."
"Summary of Process: This ventilation system draws from the safe geometry dissolver system in the Uranium Recycle and Recovery area."
"As Found Condition: A summary of the as found conditions is as follows: Material and liquid was found in ventilation ductwork during a planned shutdown and inspection. The ventilation system and associated processes remained shutdown and the Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) function was notified."
"Double Contingency Protection: Double contingency protection for the wet side of scrubber ventilation ducts greater than 10 inches in diameter consists of preventing accumulation through prudent system design and operation, configuration control, and detection/mitigation through periodic visual inspection and/or gamma surveys of selected lines. A criticality would be possible in a ventilation duct given an excessive accumulation of uranium occurs in a scrubber vent line greater than 10 inches in diameter, and it becomes moderated, and it is not detected before a critical configuration is formed."
"After assessing the ductwork, it was determined that this was a nuclear criticality safety event, in an analyzed system, for which less than previously documented double contingency protection remains. The event requires 24-hour notification in accordance with Westinghouse Operating License (SNM-1107), paragraph 3.7.3 (c.5)."
"Summary of Activity: Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) participated with engineering and operations to determine the source of the material and liquid. This investigation is continuing. The ventilation ductwork was inspected. Samples from the ductwork are being obtained for analysis. The ventilation and associated processes are shutdown and in a safe condition."
"Conclusions: There was a loss of double contingency protection. At no time was there any risk to the health or safety of any employee or member of the public. No exposure to hazardous material was involved. The Incident Review Committee (IRC) determined that this is a safety significant incident in accordance with governing procedures. A formal causal analysis will be performed."
General Information or Other
Event Number: 39176
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: AMERICIAN RADIATION SERVICES, INC
Region: 4
City: HOUMA State: LA
County:
License #: LA-7153-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LA DEPT OF RAD PROTECTION
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Licensee: AMERICIAN RADIATION SERVICES, INC
Region: 4
City: HOUMA State: LA
County:
License #: LA-7153-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LA DEPT OF RAD PROTECTION
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Notification Date: 09/09/2002
Notification Time: 15:15 [ET]
Event Date: 09/05/2002
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2002
Notification Time: 15:15 [ET]
Event Date: 09/05/2002
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2002
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
TWO RADIOACTIVE SOURCES FOUND
"American Radiation Services discovered two 1.5 curie sources of Cs-137 at Shield Coat, Inc. while performing a survey for naturally occurring radioactive material. The sources were identified as pipe wall thickness caliper sources, The source with serial number 5171 was manufactured on November 4,1982 by Ludlum, Inc. The source with serial number 3344 was manufactured on January 25, 1983. Upon discovery the area was roped off and the sources surveyed. Readings of 4.5 mr/hr and 5 mr/hr were found at one foot from the sources. A smear of the source housings detected no alpha or beta activity. The sources will be secured in a locked building until the can be returned to Ludlum. The building will be posted with 'Caution: Radiation Area', The last known possessor of the sources with the above mentioned serial numbers was Randolph Clay in Houma, LA. An investigation is ongoing at this time."
"American Radiation Services discovered two 1.5 curie sources of Cs-137 at Shield Coat, Inc. while performing a survey for naturally occurring radioactive material. The sources were identified as pipe wall thickness caliper sources, The source with serial number 5171 was manufactured on November 4,1982 by Ludlum, Inc. The source with serial number 3344 was manufactured on January 25, 1983. Upon discovery the area was roped off and the sources surveyed. Readings of 4.5 mr/hr and 5 mr/hr were found at one foot from the sources. A smear of the source housings detected no alpha or beta activity. The sources will be secured in a locked building until the can be returned to Ludlum. The building will be posted with 'Caution: Radiation Area', The last known possessor of the sources with the above mentioned serial numbers was Randolph Clay in Houma, LA. An investigation is ongoing at this time."