Event Notification Report for September 01, 2003
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/31/2003 - 09/01/2003
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 40124
Facility: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
NRC Notified By: STEVE MAY
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
NRC Notified By: STEVE MAY
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Notification Date: 09/02/2003
Notification Time: 08:21 [ET]
Event Date: 09/01/2003
Event Time: 21:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2003
Notification Time: 08:21 [ET]
Event Date: 09/01/2003
Event Time: 21:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
CHRIS MILLER (R3)
LINDA PSYK (NMSS)
CHRIS MILLER (R3)
LINDA PSYK (NMSS)
MANUAL ACTUATION OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOCLAVE CONTAINMENT
"On 09/01/03 Operations Personnel were preparing to disconnect a UF6 cylinder from Autoclave #1 in the X-344 facility. The UF6 cylinder as in the 9 O' Clock position and was being prepared to roll to the 12 O' Clock position to complete disconnecting the cylinder safety valve and pigtail from the cylinder. At approximately 2135 hours UF6 was observed smoking from the mechanical connection for the cylinder safety valve and process manifold. The Operator seeing the smoke, alerted personnel in the area, actuated the "Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure" and the building "Gas Release Alarm" that placed the Autoclave and other operational autoclaves into containment. Emergency Response Personnel Responded and performed Air Samples for HF and Uranium in the affected area. All samples were less than Minimum Detectable.
"The actuation of the 'Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure' and the building 'Gas Release Alarm' is considered to be the manual actuation of Safety Equipment used to mitigate (prevent) a release of UF6. Reportable to the NRC as a 24 hour report."
The certificate holder notified the NRC Resident Inspector and on-site DOE Inspector.
* * * RETRACTED ON 9/15/03 AT 1159 EDT BY STEVE MAY TO GERRY WAIG * * *
"Investigation of the incident has revealed that prior to the safety system actuation the cylinder valve had been fully closed, the sampling operation had concluded and that the leak point was between the cylinder valve and the cylinder safety valve. At this point, the safety function of isolating the UF6 leak had been performed prior to the actuation of the safety system. In addition it should be noted that based on leak location, the Pigtail Line Isolation system was not designed to protect against this plant condition. SAR Section 6.9, Table 6.9-1, criteria J.2.B (2) addresses that the J.2 reporting criteria excludes the reporting of actuations that are invalid and occur after the safety function has been completed. As noted above the actuation is invalid because the Pigtail Line Isolation system would not have mitigated this UF6 release and the safety functions that in fact did mitigate the release were taken.
"It should also be noted that the 'Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure' is not a credited safety system and therefore is not applicable to the stated reporting criteria"
The Certificate Holder has notified the NRC Resident Inspector (Bruce Bartlett) and DOE (Russ Vranicar).
Notified R3DO (Roger Lanksbury) and NMSS (Doug Broaddus)
"On 09/01/03 Operations Personnel were preparing to disconnect a UF6 cylinder from Autoclave #1 in the X-344 facility. The UF6 cylinder as in the 9 O' Clock position and was being prepared to roll to the 12 O' Clock position to complete disconnecting the cylinder safety valve and pigtail from the cylinder. At approximately 2135 hours UF6 was observed smoking from the mechanical connection for the cylinder safety valve and process manifold. The Operator seeing the smoke, alerted personnel in the area, actuated the "Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure" and the building "Gas Release Alarm" that placed the Autoclave and other operational autoclaves into containment. Emergency Response Personnel Responded and performed Air Samples for HF and Uranium in the affected area. All samples were less than Minimum Detectable.
"The actuation of the 'Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure' and the building 'Gas Release Alarm' is considered to be the manual actuation of Safety Equipment used to mitigate (prevent) a release of UF6. Reportable to the NRC as a 24 hour report."
The certificate holder notified the NRC Resident Inspector and on-site DOE Inspector.
* * * RETRACTED ON 9/15/03 AT 1159 EDT BY STEVE MAY TO GERRY WAIG * * *
"Investigation of the incident has revealed that prior to the safety system actuation the cylinder valve had been fully closed, the sampling operation had concluded and that the leak point was between the cylinder valve and the cylinder safety valve. At this point, the safety function of isolating the UF6 leak had been performed prior to the actuation of the safety system. In addition it should be noted that based on leak location, the Pigtail Line Isolation system was not designed to protect against this plant condition. SAR Section 6.9, Table 6.9-1, criteria J.2.B (2) addresses that the J.2 reporting criteria excludes the reporting of actuations that are invalid and occur after the safety function has been completed. As noted above the actuation is invalid because the Pigtail Line Isolation system would not have mitigated this UF6 release and the safety functions that in fact did mitigate the release were taken.
"It should also be noted that the 'Emergency Autoclave Shell Closure' is not a credited safety system and therefore is not applicable to the stated reporting criteria"
The Certificate Holder has notified the NRC Resident Inspector (Bruce Bartlett) and DOE (Russ Vranicar).
Notified R3DO (Roger Lanksbury) and NMSS (Doug Broaddus)
General Information or Other
Event Number: 40369
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC
Region: 4
City: Santa Clara State: CA
County:
License #: N/A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Licensee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC
Region: 4
City: Santa Clara State: CA
County:
License #: N/A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 12/02/2003
Notification Time: 23:15 [ET]
Event Date: 09/01/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2003
Notification Time: 23:15 [ET]
Event Date: 09/01/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
CLAUDE JOHNSON (R4)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (NMSS)
CLAUDE JOHNSON (R4)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (NMSS)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT OF LOST TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS
During major construction, five out of eight exit signs were discovered missing in September 2003. Each exit sign contained 20 Curies Tritium as of 12 years ago. As of today each sign contains about 10 Curies Tritium. These exit signs are Generally Licensed devices and were manufactured by Fisher. The owner investigated and interviewed several employees within the last 30 days and advised them that if they find the signs they should bring them to him. As of today, the signs have not been recovered. The owner also reported that the facility brought about 100 dumpsters to the facility for inspection of debris and that the exit signs were not picked-up with the debris.
During major construction, five out of eight exit signs were discovered missing in September 2003. Each exit sign contained 20 Curies Tritium as of 12 years ago. As of today each sign contains about 10 Curies Tritium. These exit signs are Generally Licensed devices and were manufactured by Fisher. The owner investigated and interviewed several employees within the last 30 days and advised them that if they find the signs they should bring them to him. As of today, the signs have not been recovered. The owner also reported that the facility brought about 100 dumpsters to the facility for inspection of debris and that the exit signs were not picked-up with the debris.