Event Notification Report for September 13, 2017
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/12/2017 - 09/13/2017
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor
Event Number: 52967
Facility: COOK
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: RONNIE SIMMONS
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: RONNIE SIMMONS
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 09/13/2017
Notification Time: 01:08 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2017
Event Time: 00:47 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2017
Notification Time: 01:08 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2017
Event Time: 00:47 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2017
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
KENNETH RIEMER (R3DO)
BERNARD STAPLETON (IRD)
CYNTHIA PEDERSON (R3RA)
BRIAN HOLIAN (NRR)
CHRIS MILLER (NRR)
KENNETH RIEMER (R3DO)
BERNARD STAPLETON (IRD)
CYNTHIA PEDERSON (R3RA)
BRIAN HOLIAN (NRR)
CHRIS MILLER (NRR)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | N | 0 | Hot Standby | 0 | Hot Standby |
UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO LETDOWN RELIEF VALVE DISCHARGE TO THE PRESSURIZER RELIEF TANK
At 0047 EDT, the licensee declared a notification of unusual event under emergency action level (EAL) S8 due to actuation of the letdown relief valve which resulted in reactor coolant system leakage to the pressurizer relief tank exceeding 10 gpm.
The plant was in mode 3 at the time making preparations to proceed to cold shutdown to support their refueling outage. Operators were in the process of reducing reactor coolant system letdown from 120 gpm to 45 gpm when the letdown system relief valve lifted. The relief discharged to the pressurizer relief tank at approximately 12 gpm. Operators isolated the letdown line which reduced the leakage to approximately 1 gpm.
Plant staff is in the process of determining where the 1 gpm leakage is from and evaluating the basis for terminating the unusual event.
Notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, DHS NICC, FEMA National Watch Center (email) and Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * UPDATE FROM BUD HINCKLEY TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 0807 EDT ON 9/13/17 * * *
At 0800 EDT, the licensee terminated the notification of unusual event. The basis for termination was that the letdown line was isolated which reduced leakage to less than the EAL threshold of 10 gpm.
The cause of the letdown relief lifting is still under investigation.
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will be notifying the state of Michigan and Berrien County.
The licensee has issued a press release to the media concerning this event.
Notified R3DO (Riemer), IRD MOC (Stapleton), NRR (Miller), DHS SWO, DHS NICC, FEMA Ops Center, FEMA National Watch Center (email) and Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * RETRACTION FROM BUD HINCKLEY TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 1617 EDT ON 9/15/17 * * *
"The condition reported in Event Notification #52967 pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(a)(1)(i) has been evaluated, and determined not to have met the threshold for classification as an Unusual Event under Emergency Action Level (EAL) S-8 and is being retracted.
"During the events of 9/13/17, Control Room staff calculated Reactor Coolant System (RCS) leakage to the Pressurizer Relief Tank (PRT) through the Letdown Relief Valve to be greater than the EAL S-8 threshold of 10 gallons per minute. Subsequent review of trends associated with PRT level increase during the event determined that the RCS leakage to the PRT was less than 10 gallons per minute and therefore did not represent an Unusual Event under EAL S-8.
"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this retraction."
Notified R3DO (Riemer).
At 0047 EDT, the licensee declared a notification of unusual event under emergency action level (EAL) S8 due to actuation of the letdown relief valve which resulted in reactor coolant system leakage to the pressurizer relief tank exceeding 10 gpm.
The plant was in mode 3 at the time making preparations to proceed to cold shutdown to support their refueling outage. Operators were in the process of reducing reactor coolant system letdown from 120 gpm to 45 gpm when the letdown system relief valve lifted. The relief discharged to the pressurizer relief tank at approximately 12 gpm. Operators isolated the letdown line which reduced the leakage to approximately 1 gpm.
Plant staff is in the process of determining where the 1 gpm leakage is from and evaluating the basis for terminating the unusual event.
Notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, DHS NICC, FEMA National Watch Center (email) and Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * UPDATE FROM BUD HINCKLEY TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 0807 EDT ON 9/13/17 * * *
At 0800 EDT, the licensee terminated the notification of unusual event. The basis for termination was that the letdown line was isolated which reduced leakage to less than the EAL threshold of 10 gpm.
The cause of the letdown relief lifting is still under investigation.
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will be notifying the state of Michigan and Berrien County.
The licensee has issued a press release to the media concerning this event.
Notified R3DO (Riemer), IRD MOC (Stapleton), NRR (Miller), DHS SWO, DHS NICC, FEMA Ops Center, FEMA National Watch Center (email) and Nuclear SSA (email).
* * * RETRACTION FROM BUD HINCKLEY TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 1617 EDT ON 9/15/17 * * *
"The condition reported in Event Notification #52967 pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(a)(1)(i) has been evaluated, and determined not to have met the threshold for classification as an Unusual Event under Emergency Action Level (EAL) S-8 and is being retracted.
"During the events of 9/13/17, Control Room staff calculated Reactor Coolant System (RCS) leakage to the Pressurizer Relief Tank (PRT) through the Letdown Relief Valve to be greater than the EAL S-8 threshold of 10 gallons per minute. Subsequent review of trends associated with PRT level increase during the event determined that the RCS leakage to the PRT was less than 10 gallons per minute and therefore did not represent an Unusual Event under EAL S-8.
"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this retraction."
Notified R3DO (Riemer).
Power Reactor
Event Number: 52968
Facility: VOGTLE
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [3] [4] []
RX Type: [3] W-AP1000,[4] W-AP1000
NRC Notified By: MARTIN WASHINGTON
HQ OPS Officer: STEVEN VITTO
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [3] [4] []
RX Type: [3] W-AP1000,[4] W-AP1000
NRC Notified By: MARTIN WASHINGTON
HQ OPS Officer: STEVEN VITTO
Notification Date: 09/14/2017
Notification Time: 09:10 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2017
Event Time: 15:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2017
Notification Time: 09:10 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2017
Event Time: 15:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
Person (Organization):
GERALD MCCOY (R2DO)
FFD GROUP (EMAI)
GERALD MCCOY (R2DO)
FFD GROUP (EMAI)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | N | N | 0 | Under Construction | 0 | Under Construction |
| 4 | N | N | 0 | Under Construction | 0 | Under Construction |
CONTRACTOR MANAGER CONFIRMED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL
On September 13, 2017, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) determined a Contractor Manager confirmed positive for alcohol during a for cause fitness-for-duty test. The employee's unescorted access to the plant has been terminated.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
On September 13, 2017, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) determined a Contractor Manager confirmed positive for alcohol during a for cause fitness-for-duty test. The employee's unescorted access to the plant has been terminated.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Agreement State
Event Number: 52969
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: UNITED INSPECTION AND TESTING, INC.
Region: 4
City: MORENO VALLEY State: CA
County:
License #: 4788-33
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: L. ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Licensee: UNITED INSPECTION AND TESTING, INC.
Region: 4
City: MORENO VALLEY State: CA
County:
License #: 4788-33
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: L. ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 09/14/2017
Notification Time: 16:38 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2017
Event Time: 14:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2017
Notification Time: 16:38 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2017
Event Time: 14:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
JEREMY GROOM (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
JEREMY GROOM (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER GAUGE
The following information was received from the State of California via email:
"On September 14, 2017, [The RSO] of Southwest Calibration & Training notified the RHB Brea office that United Inspection & Testing, Inc., RML # 4788-33, had a Troxler, 3411B, serial #6644 radioactive gauge run over and damaged. On September 14, 2017, RHB Brea contacted [The RSO] of United Inspection & Testing, Inc. [The RSO of United Inspection & Testing, Inc.] informed our office that the radioactive gauge had been run over by a backhoe on the afternoon of September 13, 2017 at approximately 1400 [PDT], at the intersection of Banana Street and Daurin Street at a construction site in Fontana, CA. As a result of the accident the radioactive gauge had the handle broken off. The RSO was able to return the Cs-137 source to its shielded position, but it could not be locked in the shielded position due to the damage to the gauge. The authorized user of the gauge was also struck by the backhoe and died of his injuries. [The RSO of the United Inspection & Testing, Inc.] retrieved the gauge from the accident site and transported it to Southwest Calibration & Training to be inspected. [The RSO] of Southwest Calibration & Training reported that the Troxler radioactive gauge read 0.9 mR/hr at 1 foot. The gauge was extensively damaged and may not be repairable."
California 5010 Number: 091417
The following information was received from the State of California via email:
"On September 14, 2017, [The RSO] of Southwest Calibration & Training notified the RHB Brea office that United Inspection & Testing, Inc., RML # 4788-33, had a Troxler, 3411B, serial #6644 radioactive gauge run over and damaged. On September 14, 2017, RHB Brea contacted [The RSO] of United Inspection & Testing, Inc. [The RSO of United Inspection & Testing, Inc.] informed our office that the radioactive gauge had been run over by a backhoe on the afternoon of September 13, 2017 at approximately 1400 [PDT], at the intersection of Banana Street and Daurin Street at a construction site in Fontana, CA. As a result of the accident the radioactive gauge had the handle broken off. The RSO was able to return the Cs-137 source to its shielded position, but it could not be locked in the shielded position due to the damage to the gauge. The authorized user of the gauge was also struck by the backhoe and died of his injuries. [The RSO of the United Inspection & Testing, Inc.] retrieved the gauge from the accident site and transported it to Southwest Calibration & Training to be inspected. [The RSO] of Southwest Calibration & Training reported that the Troxler radioactive gauge read 0.9 mR/hr at 1 foot. The gauge was extensively damaged and may not be repairable."
California 5010 Number: 091417