Event Notification Report for December 10, 2011
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/09/2011 - 12/10/2011
Power Reactor
Event Number: 47516
Facility: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: DANNY STEPHENS
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: DANNY STEPHENS
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 12/10/2011
Notification Time: 14:36 [ET]
Event Date: 12/10/2011
Event Time: 04:56 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/10/2011
Notification Time: 14:36 [ET]
Event Date: 12/10/2011
Event Time: 04:56 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/10/2011
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
Person (Organization):
NEIL OKEEFE (R4DO)
NEIL OKEEFE (R4DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
SECONDARY CONTAINMENT INOPERABLE DUE TO ICING OF REACTOR BUILDING INTAKE FILTERS
"Secondary containment pressure exceeded atmospheric pressure which does not meet the surveillance requirement to have secondary containment vacuum greater than or equal to 0.25 inches of water vacuum. Secondary containment was declared inoperable and the Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) Action Statement was entered. Manual control of the reactor building pressure control system was taken. Vacuum was less than 0.25 inches of water for approximately 1 minute. Secondary containment is [now] operable.
"There were no actual radiological releases associated with the event.
"Actual secondary containment integrity was not challenged. The secondary containment pressure excursion was a result of icing of the reactor building intake filters which caused the automatic reactor building pressure control system to function improperly.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
"Secondary containment pressure exceeded atmospheric pressure which does not meet the surveillance requirement to have secondary containment vacuum greater than or equal to 0.25 inches of water vacuum. Secondary containment was declared inoperable and the Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) Action Statement was entered. Manual control of the reactor building pressure control system was taken. Vacuum was less than 0.25 inches of water for approximately 1 minute. Secondary containment is [now] operable.
"There were no actual radiological releases associated with the event.
"Actual secondary containment integrity was not challenged. The secondary containment pressure excursion was a result of icing of the reactor building intake filters which caused the automatic reactor building pressure control system to function improperly.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
Agreement State
Event Number: 47519
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: PASADENA REFINING SYSTEM, INC
Region: 4
City: PASADENA State: TX
County:
License #: 01344
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Licensee: PASADENA REFINING SYSTEM, INC
Region: 4
City: PASADENA State: TX
County:
License #: 01344
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 12/12/2011
Notification Time: 14:38 [ET]
Event Date: 12/10/2011
Event Time: 19:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 06/21/2012
Notification Time: 14:38 [ET]
Event Date: 12/10/2011
Event Time: 19:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 06/21/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
WAYNE WALKER (R4DO)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
WAYNE WALKER (R4DO)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGES DAMAGED DUE TO FIRE
The following information was provided from the state via email:
"On December 12, 2011, the Agency was notified by a licensee that on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at approximately 1900 CST, there was a fire in the coker unit at their facility in Pasadena, TX. The RSO reported there were 4 fixed nuclear gauges on drums in the area of the fire. The gauges were Ohmart-Vega Model SH1G-1 and each contained a 300 milliCurie Cesium-137 source. Two gauges were directly in the fire and were damaged. The other two gauges were shielded from the fire by the drum they were mounted on and it has not yet been determined if they sustained any damage. The area was barricaded to prevent entry due to unsafe conditions caused by the fire (i.e. structural damage that has to be assessed, heat, ash/hydrocarbons). There were no radiation levels above background found during initial surveys from the barricade line and subsequent surveys conducted under the drums on the ground level and second level (areas where people will begin working). Higher levels will be surveyed prior to entry. The licensee has made arrangements with Ohmart-Vega for service to remove all 4 gauges once the area is safe.
"Gauge and Source Information:
Gauges: All Ohmart-Vega Model SH1G-1
Serial numbers:13543162, 13543163, 13543164 (in fire), 13543165 (in fire)
Sources: Cesium-137, 300 milliCuries each, SN same as gauge
Gauges installed March, 2010.
"More information will be provided as it is obtained."
* * * UPDATE FROM ART TUCKER TO JOHN KNOKE AT1612 EDT ON 06/21/12 * * *
The following information was provided from the state via email:
"On June 13, 2012, the Agency was notified by the licensee that the four gauges involved in the fire on December 12, 2011, had been removed from the vessel and sent to their service provider. Prior to being shipped a source leak test was performed on all four gauges. The results for all the sources was less than the acceptable limit. A second source leak test was performed on the gauges once they were received at the service providers facility. The results were reported as less than the acceptable limit. On June 19, 2012, the service provider contacted the Agency and stated that while repairing one of the gauges containing 300 milliCuries of cesium - 137, their technician, the floor in the work area, and the work bench became contaminated. The area and the technician were decontaminated to background that same day. The service provider has not provided the contamination levels, but stated that they were low enough that they did not believe there was any risk to the worker of internal contamination. They also reported that the gauge was void of lead shielding. The service provider is trying to determine how the source failed.
Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA 300."
Texas Incident #: I-8909
Notified R1DO (Geoffrey Miller), FSME via email
The following information was provided from the state via email:
"On December 12, 2011, the Agency was notified by a licensee that on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at approximately 1900 CST, there was a fire in the coker unit at their facility in Pasadena, TX. The RSO reported there were 4 fixed nuclear gauges on drums in the area of the fire. The gauges were Ohmart-Vega Model SH1G-1 and each contained a 300 milliCurie Cesium-137 source. Two gauges were directly in the fire and were damaged. The other two gauges were shielded from the fire by the drum they were mounted on and it has not yet been determined if they sustained any damage. The area was barricaded to prevent entry due to unsafe conditions caused by the fire (i.e. structural damage that has to be assessed, heat, ash/hydrocarbons). There were no radiation levels above background found during initial surveys from the barricade line and subsequent surveys conducted under the drums on the ground level and second level (areas where people will begin working). Higher levels will be surveyed prior to entry. The licensee has made arrangements with Ohmart-Vega for service to remove all 4 gauges once the area is safe.
"Gauge and Source Information:
Gauges: All Ohmart-Vega Model SH1G-1
Serial numbers:13543162, 13543163, 13543164 (in fire), 13543165 (in fire)
Sources: Cesium-137, 300 milliCuries each, SN same as gauge
Gauges installed March, 2010.
"More information will be provided as it is obtained."
* * * UPDATE FROM ART TUCKER TO JOHN KNOKE AT1612 EDT ON 06/21/12 * * *
The following information was provided from the state via email:
"On June 13, 2012, the Agency was notified by the licensee that the four gauges involved in the fire on December 12, 2011, had been removed from the vessel and sent to their service provider. Prior to being shipped a source leak test was performed on all four gauges. The results for all the sources was less than the acceptable limit. A second source leak test was performed on the gauges once they were received at the service providers facility. The results were reported as less than the acceptable limit. On June 19, 2012, the service provider contacted the Agency and stated that while repairing one of the gauges containing 300 milliCuries of cesium - 137, their technician, the floor in the work area, and the work bench became contaminated. The area and the technician were decontaminated to background that same day. The service provider has not provided the contamination levels, but stated that they were low enough that they did not believe there was any risk to the worker of internal contamination. They also reported that the gauge was void of lead shielding. The service provider is trying to determine how the source failed.
Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA 300."
Texas Incident #: I-8909
Notified R1DO (Geoffrey Miller), FSME via email