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Event Notification Report for September 18, 2003

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/17/2003 - 09/18/2003

EVENT NUMBERS
401704017140172401684018640175

Power Reactor
Event Number: 40170
Facility: HARRIS
Region: 2     State: NC
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: JOHN CAVES
HQ OPS Officer: NATHAN SANFILIPPO
Notification Date: 09/18/2003
Notification Time: 15:43 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2003
Event Time: 14:33 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
ANNE BOLAND (R2)
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
LOSS OF MORE THAN 20% OF OFFSITE EMERGENCY SIRENS

The following was received via fax from the licensee:

"As of 2:33 PM EDT, more than 20% of the offsite emergency sirens were inoperable for greater than one hour due to loss of power caused by Hurricane Isabel. Currently 27 of 81 sirens are out of service. The State of North Carolina and all four counties within the 10-mile emergency planning zone were notified and are in stand-by to implement mobile route alerting if needed. At this time, Harris cannot estimate the time of siren recovery. This requires an 8-hour non-emergency notification per 10CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) due to the loss of a significant portion of the offsite notification system. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector was informed."

* * * UPDATE 0910 EDT ON 9/19/03 FROM JOHN CAVES TO S. SANDIN * * *

The licensee is updating this report to include that less than 20% of the emergency sirens are inoperable as of 2000 hours 9/18/03.

The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R2DO(Boland).


Power Reactor
Event Number: 40171
Facility: PEACH BOTTOM
Region: 1     State: PA
Unit: [2] [3] []
RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BOB FRANSSEN
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY
Notification Date: 09/18/2003
Notification Time: 22:08 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2003
Event Time: 20:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
HAROLD GRAY (R1)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N N 0 Cold Shutdown 0 Cold Shutdown
3 N N 0 Refueling 0 Refueling
Event Text
LOSS OF 27 OF 97 EMERGENCY SIRENS DUE TO STORM

"Peach Bottom has been notified that 27 of 97 emergency sirens are out of service as a result of storm conditions. 15 of the sirens are located in southern Lancaster County. The other 12 sirens are located throughout York, Harford, and Cecil Counties.

"The individual counties have been notified of the out of service conditions."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will be notifying State agencies.

* * * UPDATE 0303 EDT ON 9/19/03 FROM BOB FRANSSEN TO S. SANDIN * * *

Due to adverse weather conditions, the number of emergency sirens out of service has risen to 80. The affected counties and PEMA have been notified.

The licensee will inform the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R1DO(Gray).


Power Reactor
Event Number: 40172
Facility: HOPE CREEK
Region: 1     State: NJ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: TOM FOWLER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/19/2003
Notification Time: 00:37 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2003
Event Time: 21:11 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/20/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
HAROLD GRAY (R1)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 94 Power Operation 94 Power Operation
Event Text
LOSS OF EMERGENCY SIREN CAPABILITY DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

"Due to the effects of severe weather related to Hurricane Isabel, local power outages have resulted in an excessive number of sirens within the Salem/Hope Creek 10-mile Emergency Protection Zone (EPZ) being unavailable. At 21:11 on September 18, 2003, 29 offsite sirens were unavailable (22 in Delaware and 7 located in New Jersey). As of 22:11, some sirens have been restored, but there are still 14 unavailable in Delaware and 7 unavailable in New Jersey. It is likely that the functionality of the EPZ sirens will continue to change due to the ongoing severe weather. Sirens will be recovered when power is restored.

"This notification is being for both Salem Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii) as a major loss of emergency assessment, offsite response, or communication capability. Salem Units 1 and 2 are operating at 100% power with all safety related equipment operable.

"Hope Creek is operating at 94% power with all safety related equipment operable. Power is reduced due to the degraded performance of the non-safety related ventilation system that cools the Reactor Recirculation Pump Motor-Generator Sets."

The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATEON 09/20/03 @ 1000 BY KOPCHICK TO GOULD * * *

"There are currently 11 unavailable sirens within the Salem/Hope Creek 10-mile Emergency Preparedness Zone (EPZ) (6 in New Jersey and 5 in Delaware). The current availability of sirens no longer constitutes a major loss of emergency assessment capability, offsite response capability, or offsite communication capability pursuant to 10C'FR50.72(b)(3)(xiii). It is anticipated that all sirens will be rendered available as power is restored and storm recovery actions are completed. No further updates to this event report will be provided."

The NRC Resident Inspector was informed.


Power Reactor
Event Number: 40168
Facility: SURRY
Region: 2     State: VA
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: TERRY HUFF
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/18/2003
Notification Time: 09:16 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2003
Event Time: 09:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/18/2003
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
ANNE BOLAND (R2)
JOSE CALVO (NRR)
RICHARD WESSMAN (IRO)
JIM DUNKER (FEMA)
THOMAS YATES (DHS)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 M/R Y 75 Power Operation 0 Hot Shutdown
2 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Shutdown
Event Text
UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO EXPECTED SEVERE WEATHER

At 0900 EDT the licensee declared an Unusual Event as a precautionary measure due to expected severe weather from hurricane Isabel. Current wind speed and direction is 10-15 mph sustained with gusting to 20 mph from the NNE direction. No additional staff other than those for the planned outage have been brought onsite.

The licensee informed state/local agencies and the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * * UPDATE 1608 ET FROM T. HUFF TO M. RIPLEY * * * *

As of 1600 ET, Surry Unit 1 commenced a power reduction of 200 mwe (100% to approximately 75% power) in anticipation of grid instabilities due to heavy weather. One of eight circ water screens is degraded due to river debris and its associated circulating water pump has been secured. On-site meteorological panels are out of service. Additionally, the Emergency Operating Facility (EOF) is out of service due to a loss of power.

Notified R2DO (A. Boland).

* * * UPDATE 2101 EDT FROM DUANE SHEPHEARD TO NATHAN SANFILIPPO * * *

The following was received via fax from the licensee:

"With Surry Power Station Unit 1 at approximately 75% reactor power and Unit 2 at 100% reactor power, a manual reactor trip was initiated on Unit 1 at 1728 and on Unit 2 at 1732, due to the loss of the '1G' and `2G' buses which supply power to all eight circulating water pumps for both units. The loss of the buses occurred during high winds and rain associated with Hurricane Isabel, although no hurricane force winds were onsite prior to or at the time of the event. A discretionary Notification of Unusual Event had been declared earlier at 0900 due to the severe weather.

"On Unit 1, the 'B' inadequate core cooling monitor (ICCM) failed. The 'A' ICCM remained operable throughout. All control rods fully inserted and the shutdown margin for Unit 1 was determined to be satisfactory. On Unit 2, eight rod position indicators showed greater than 10 steps but less than 20 steps following the reactor trip. Emergency boration was initiated. All Unit 2 IRPIs [Individual Rod Position Indications] are currently indicating less than five steps and the shutdown margin was satisfactory.

"Auxiliary feedwater automatically initiated as designed for both units on low low steam generator level following the trip. Primary RCS temperature decreased to approximately 543 and 538 degrees on Unit 1 and 2 respectively and was stabilized at 547 degrees.

"No primary safety or relief valves were actuated during the event on either unit. As a result of the loss of the circulating water pumps, the emergency service water pumps were started to conserve intake canal level. After start, 2 out of the 3 emergency service water pumps tripped on high water temperature. The pumps were checked and restarted 14 minutes later. Also due to the need to conserve intake canal level, the main steam trip valves on both units were closed and primary temperature is being maintained by use of the secondary power operated relief valves. No indication of primary to secondary leakage exists on either unit, therefore no adverse radiological consequences resulted from this event.

"Both units are currently stable at hot shutdown. At 1845, the 2G bus was energized and circulating water pumps were started. The emergency service water pumps were secured and are in standby.

"This 4 hour and 8 hour report is being made for Surry Units 1 and 2 in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A)."

Notified R2DO (A. Boland), NRR EO (J. Calvo), DIRO (R. Wessman), FEMA (Chuck Bagwell), DHS (Colleen Wilson).

* * *UPDATE AT 1948 EDT ON 9/19/03 FROM BILL SUMMERS TO E. THOMAS* * *

The licensee terminated their unusual event due to the following conditions:
- severe weather has left the area
- both units are stable at hot shutdown on offsite power
- 2 of 3 ESW pumps are operable, and the third ESW pump is being prepared for an operational test
- 45 of 67 sirens remain inoperable, but the sirens will be restored when power to the grid is restored

The licensee will notify the NRC Senior Resident Inspector, as well as state and local officials

Notified R2DO (Boland), NRR EO (Calvo), DIRO (McGinty), FEMA (M. Eaches), DHS (D. Licastro)


Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 40186
Rep Org: GEOTEST
Licensee: GEOTEST
Region: 3
City: ST LOUIS   State: MO
County:
License #: 24-26550-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: RICH EVANS
HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD
Notification Date: 09/20/2003
Notification Time: 08:16 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/22/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
ROGER LANKSBURY (R3)
C.W. (BILL) REAMER (NMSS)
Event Text
MISSING TROXLER GAUGE

The licensee has not been able to locate their technician who has had a Troxler gauge in his possession since the evening of 09/18/03. The missing gauge is a Troxler 3440 serial #24340 containing 8 millicuries Cs-137 and 40 millicuries Am-241/Be. The licensee has been unsuccessful in contacting the technician at his various addresses. A police report was made with the Brentwood, MO Police Dept.

* * * UPDATE ON 09/22/03 @ 06:57 BY EVANS TO GOULD * * *

The gauge was found at one of the technician's residences on 09/20/03. It was intact and not damaged. The technician is still missing.

Notified Reg 3 RDO(Lanksbury) and NMSS(Reamer)


Power Reactor
Event Number: 40175
Facility: CALVERT CLIFFS
Region: 1     State: MD
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: AL KELLY
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/19/2003
Notification Time: 01:41 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2003
Event Time: 21:05 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
HAROLD GRAY (R1)
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
2 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
Event Text
LOSS OF EMERGENCY SIREN CAPABILITY DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

A significant portion of emergency sirens (43 of 72) located in Calvert, St. Mary's and Dorchester county are unavailable due to a loss of power. Restoration is not expected until dayshift when the effects of Tropical Storm Isabel have abated.

The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector.