Event Notification Report for July 19, 2005

RADIOACTIVE PACKAGE WITH REMOVABLE SURFACE CONTAMINATION EXCEEDING A LIMIT

"Licensee: Department of Veterans Affairs, National Health Physics Program License # 03-23853-01VA
"Permittee: VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, Mississippi

"Date of event: July 19, 2005, about 1000 CDT
"Date and Time NHPP notified: July 19, 2005, 1700 CDT

"A radioactive package was received from the commercial radiopharmacy at about 1000 hours CDT. The nuclear medicine technologist followed routine procedures for opening radioactive packages and performed a wipe test on the outside of the package. The wipe test results were 13,000 dpm / 300 cm2. Slight contamination was located on the inside of the package. The technologist immediately notified the radiopharmacy of the contamination. The radiopharmacy is Cox Nuclear Pharmacy in Biloxi, MS.

"NHPP representatives will follow-up with the permittee on July 20, 2005. A copy of this text has been sent to Kevin Null, NRC Region III

"Event Number: 41855"

**** RETRACTION ON 07/20/05 AT 1010 EDT FROM GARY WILLIAMS TO MACKINNON ****

"The basis for retracting the event is that the package had approximately 49 DPM per cm2 removable radioactive contamination on the outside, which is less than the reporting requirement under 49 CFR 173.443.

"This retraction was coordinated with NRC Region III." R3DO (Patrick Louden), R1DO (Rich Conte) and NMSS EO (Michele Burgess) notified.

LOSS OF EMERGENCY SIREN POWER

On July 19, 2005, at approximately 0650 hours, it was determined that of all of the Indian Point Energy Center emergency sirens were out of service and had been out of service since approximately 0200 on July 19, 2005. This results in a degraded emergency siren notification system which is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii). Both Units 2 and 3 were at 100 percent power and remain at 100 percent power. The loss of sirens was caused by a loss of power to the main radio transmitter. The loss of normal power is still under investigation. The loss of emergency backup occurred when the non-safety related backup diesel tripped. The transmitter remained operable on the backup battery supply until it was expended. Immediate corrective action was completed at approximately 0745 by restoring backup battery power and verification of system operability, (two sirens remain inoperable). Availability of battery power will be assured until corrective action to restore normal power is complete. The loss of the [non-safety related backup] diesel is being investigated.

The emergency plan has route alerting and public radio announcements available as necessary to notify the public in lieu of the non-operational sirens. The counties and state were notified of the loss of sirens and restoration.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION SYSTEM INOPERABLE

"On 7/19/05 at 0345, maintenance technicians were performing a voltage check during an I&C surveillance when a lead slipped, making inadvertent contact within the panel. This resulted in shorting of a power connection and blowing a fuse. This fuse supplied initiation and trip logic components associated with the High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system, the 'A' Core Spray system, and the 'A' Residual Heat Removal (RHR) system. Loss of the HPCI system is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) as a loss of a single train safety system required to mitigate the consequences of an accident.

"Hope Creek entered Technical Specification (TS) 3.0.3 for HPCI inoperability with one Core Spray and one RHR system inoperable. Actions to replace the fuse and restore operability of the HPCI system were completed at 0909 on 7/19/05, allowing exit from TS 3.0.3. Actions to commence staffing for a shutdown and implement required procedures were implemented, however a power reduction was not initiated based on successful restoration.

"The remaining retest activities associated with fuse restoration were completed for the 'A' Core Spray Loop and the 'A' RHR system at 0923 on 7/19/05, clearing the remaining Limiting Conditions for Operation associated with the fuse failure. No additional Emergency Core Cooling Systems or safety related equipment was inoperable during this time period."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and Lower Alloways Creek Township.

* * * UPDATE PROVIDED BY DARON ZAKARIAN TO JEFF ROTTON AT 1331 EDT ON 08/05/05 * * *

"Event # 41852, which was made by Hope Creek on July 19, 2005, at 1053, is being retracted.

"Although HPCI was declared inoperable in accordance with the instrumentation Technical Specification due to the instrumentation that was inoperable as a result of the blown fuse, a subsequent review of the HPCI control circuitry determined that HPCI remained capable of automatically performing its safety function in response to any event for which it is credited. Since HPCI was able to perform its safety function, it is not reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) and this notification can be retracted."

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified the R1DO (Gray).