Event Notification Report for February 25, 2016
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
02/24/2016 - 02/25/2016
EVENT NUMBERS
51757
Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 51757
Facility: AREVA NP INC RICHLAND
Region: 2 State: WA
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: LEU CONVERSION
FABRICATION & SCRAP
COMMERCIAL LWR FUEL
NRC Notified By: CALVIN MANNING
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Region: 2 State: WA
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: LEU CONVERSION
FABRICATION & SCRAP
COMMERCIAL LWR FUEL
NRC Notified By: CALVIN MANNING
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Notification Date: 02/26/2016
Notification Time: 12:32 [ET]
Event Date: 02/25/2016
Event Time: 11:45 [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/26/2016
Notification Time: 12:32 [ET]
Event Date: 02/25/2016
Event Time: 11:45 [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/26/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
PART 70 APP A (b)(1) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
10 CFR Section:
PART 70 APP A (b)(1) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
POTENTIAL COMMON MODE FAILURE OF ITEM RELIED ON FOR SAFETY
"While processing liquid effluent, process operators noticed that a set of uranium monitors, IROFS [Item Relied On For Safety] for the process system, registered a negative value. The process operators shut down process flows and contacted maintenance to come and check the uranium monitors. The uranium monitors checked out to be functioning correctly. The process was resumed until the condition repeated. The process operator then contacted maintenance again and shut the process down at 0300 [PST] pending further evaluation.
"It appears that an interference material (likely copper or nickel) is masking some of the uranium present in the effluent causing the uranium monitors, which are based on colorimetry, to read low.
"At 1145 PST on 2/25/16, AREVA Richland Reliability Engineering and EHS[and]L staff confirmed that this condition had not been anticipated in the ISA [Integrated Safety Analysis] and had the potential to cause a common mode failure of two IROFS.
"The waste tank that contains the process effluent is a 30,000 gallon tank and currently contains about 3,000 gallons and based on laboratory analysis of a sample of the tank contents contains about 136 grams of low enriched (<5 wt. [percent] U235) uranium. A total of 2 kg has been processed through the tank since the last NCS [Nuclear Criticality Safety] required emptying and clean out of the tank.
"Although the IROFS were degraded, it was determined that the IROFS were available and reliable to perform their function. However, this event meets the criteria in 10CFR70 Appendix A 24 hour reporting item 1, in that this condition had not been anticipated in the ISA and had the potential to cause a common mode failure of IROFS."
The NRC Regional Office will be notified.
"While processing liquid effluent, process operators noticed that a set of uranium monitors, IROFS [Item Relied On For Safety] for the process system, registered a negative value. The process operators shut down process flows and contacted maintenance to come and check the uranium monitors. The uranium monitors checked out to be functioning correctly. The process was resumed until the condition repeated. The process operator then contacted maintenance again and shut the process down at 0300 [PST] pending further evaluation.
"It appears that an interference material (likely copper or nickel) is masking some of the uranium present in the effluent causing the uranium monitors, which are based on colorimetry, to read low.
"At 1145 PST on 2/25/16, AREVA Richland Reliability Engineering and EHS[and]L staff confirmed that this condition had not been anticipated in the ISA [Integrated Safety Analysis] and had the potential to cause a common mode failure of two IROFS.
"The waste tank that contains the process effluent is a 30,000 gallon tank and currently contains about 3,000 gallons and based on laboratory analysis of a sample of the tank contents contains about 136 grams of low enriched (<5 wt. [percent] U235) uranium. A total of 2 kg has been processed through the tank since the last NCS [Nuclear Criticality Safety] required emptying and clean out of the tank.
"Although the IROFS were degraded, it was determined that the IROFS were available and reliable to perform their function. However, this event meets the criteria in 10CFR70 Appendix A 24 hour reporting item 1, in that this condition had not been anticipated in the ISA and had the potential to cause a common mode failure of IROFS."
The NRC Regional Office will be notified.