Event Notification Report for March 14, 2005

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION OF SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE SPILL

The following information was obtained from the licensee via facsimile (licensee text in quotes):

"This is a 4-hour notification to report a sodium hypochlorite spill from a pipe flange elbow on the permanent sodium hypochlorite tank to the ground at Salem generating station. The spill was over an excavation trench that was filled with rain water. The trench was being pumped to the nearest manhole. Maintenance personnel noticed a 2 drops per second sodium hypochlorite leak from the elbow. The operations shift manager made a 15-minute report to the State of New Jersey to report the spill. The sodium hypochlorite tank was out of service at the time undergoing corrective maintenance. The spill has been contained. Chemistry samples are being taken to determine if any reportable quantities were pumped to the nearest manhole. There was no effect on plant operation since the tank was out of service. Actions include follow up samples and if necessary remediation of the ground soil. There was no one injured during the event."

The licensee notified State and local authorities and the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION FROM S. SAUER TO W. GOTT AT 2037 ON 3/18/05 * * *

The following information was obtained from the licensee via facsimile (licensee text in quotes):

"On March 14, PSEG reported to the NRC that Report had been made to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding a spill of sodium hypochlorite (Event No. 41489). As the spill was cleaned up within 24 hours and there was no direct discharge to the Delaware River, this report has been retracted from the State of New Jersey. Chemistry samples taken indicated no reportable quantities pumped to the river. Ground water was pumped from the excavation to a concrete diked area and the excavation flushed with fresh water until chemistry samples indicated no residual sodium hypochlorite. This EVENT is retracted."

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified R1DO (L. Doerflein)

FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT

A non-licensed employee was determined to be under the influence of illegal drugs during a random test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED DIAPER PLACED IN REGULAR TRASH

The following information was provided by the State via email (State text in quotes):

"On March 14, 2005 BFI returned a compactor/dumpster to Renaissance Hospital because of radiation detector alarms. After surveying the entire container, one area was reading 9 mR/hr on contact. The trash from this area was again surveyed. A diaper from a patient that had received an I-131 iodine therapy treatment was accidentally put in the regular hospital trash for immediate disposal. The diaper has been removed from the dumpster and sent to the hospital's Nuclear Medicine department for decay. The dumpster was again surveyed after removing the diaper and there were no dose rates above background found. The diaper was reading 10 mR/hr on contact. The diaper was again surveyed on 3/15/05. It was reading 5 mR/hr on contact with a 1 foot reading of 2 mR/hr."


Texas Incident No. I-8220

DISCOVERY OF AFTER-THE-FACT EMERGENCY CONDITION (UNUSUAL EVENT)

"On March 14, 2005, a fire occurred in a trash receptacle adjacent to a shipping container, in the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) Multi-Purpose Facility (MPF). The MPF is a machine shop attached to the Radwaste Building inside the Protected Area of CNS. At 0249 upon receipt of the fire alarm in the MPF and alarms received for the automatic start of station fire pumps, Control Room Operators entered the CNS Fire Procedure and dispatched a Station Operator (SO) to the scene. At 0251 the SO was permitted to fight the fire with a fire hose, and the fire brigade was mobilized. The SO extinguished the fire in the trash receptacle at 0258. The SO reported to the Fire Brigade Leader that he had felt heat from the walls of the adjacent shipping container, but was unable to access it due to being locked. At 0308 the Fire Brigade gained access to the shipping container and reported a small fire inside. At 0313 the fire was extinguished. Subsequently, the embers were overhauled, and the reflash watch was set. No further reflashes occurred. All applicable steps in the Fire Procedure were completed. The apparent cause of the fire was the failure of a large overhead light.

"Because these were regarded as two separate fires, CNS did not enter the Emergency Action Level (EAL) for a Notice of Unusual Event (NOUE.) Further review, continued benchmarking with other utilities, and consideration of the lack of a consistent treatment for declaring a fire being out, has prompted CNS to determine that a declaration of NOUE should have been made. Upon making that determination, CNS is required to notify the NRC in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1022, Revision 2. The event has been concluded and the basis for the emergency no longer exists.

"The Licensee will notify both state and local agencies and has informed the NRC Resident Inspector. "

The licensee stated that the discovery that a declaration of NOUE should have been made occurred at 1700 CDT 05/26/05.