Event Notification Report for July 09, 2018

SECONDARY CONTAINMENT INOPERABLE

"At approximately 1334 CDT on 7/9/18, both doors of a Secondary Containment Airlock were reported to be open simultaneously for a period of less than 3 seconds. The brief time that the doors were simultaneously open constituted an inoperable condition of Secondary Containment. Secondary Containment was immediately restored to operable by closing the airlock doors. Subsequently, the airlock interlock was verified to operate correctly.

"This event is being reported pursuant of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C). The Senior NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION SYSTEM DECLARED INOPERABLE

"On 07/09/2018 at 1111 CDT, Browns Ferry Unit 1 Operators identified U1 High Pressure Cooling Injection system steam supply valves were isolated. After reviewing ICS [Integrated Computer System], Operations determined isolation occurred at 0958 CDT during performance of surveillance testing. The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1 High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system was declared inoperable at 0958 CDT due to an inadvertent isolation that occurred during testing. During performance of surveillance procedure 1-SR-3.3.6.1.2(3B) HPCI System Steam Supply Low Pressure Functional test, an erroneous signal was induced causing actuation of primary containment isolation system group IV (i.e., HPCI Isolation). Technical Specification 3.5.1, ECCS-Operating, Condition C was entered as a result of the inoperable HPCI system. This constitutes an unplanned HPCI system inoperability and requires an 8-hour NRC notification in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D). The erroneous signal was cleared and the HPCI isolation was reset. Upon reset of the isolation signal, the HPCI system was returned to available status. The HPCI system was unavailable for 2 hours and 55 minutes, however the HPCI system remains inoperable.

"There was no impact to the health and safety of the public or plant personnel as a result of this condition.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

"A condition report has been entered into the Licensee's Corrective Action Program to capture this event."

UNPLANNED LOSS OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER (TSC) VENTILATION

"On July 9, 2018, at 1155 hours [EDT], while testing the TSC Ventilation System, an equipment malfunction occurred that resulted in an unplanned loss of TSC ventilation functionality/habitability for greater than seventy-five minutes.

"If an emergency had been declared requiring TSC activation during this period, the TSC would have been staffed and activated using existing emergency planning procedures. If relocation of the TSC had been necessary, the Emergency Coordinator would have relocated the TSC staff to an alternate location in accordance with applicable site procedures. The TSC ventilation system has been placed in an interim configuration that restored functionality and habitability. Additional maintenance is planned to promptly resolve the malfunctioning equipment.

"This is an eight-hour, non-emergency notification for a loss of Emergency Assessment Capability. This event is reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) because the equipment malfunction affected the functionality of an emergency response facility.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

The equipment malfunction (a failed solenoid valve) resulted in the loss of the ability to pressurize and filter the air in the TSC.

CONTRACTOR SUPERVISOR TESTS POSITIVE ON FITNESS FOR DUTY TEST

"At 1515 [EDT] on July 9, 2018, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) determined a contractor supervisor confirmed positive for a controlled substance during a for cause Fitness-for-Duty (FFD) test. The employee's unescorted access to the plant has been suspended. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE

The following information was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via E-mail:

"On Monday July 9, 2018, at approximately 0900 EDT the licensee reported to the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program that a construction trailer, containing a Troxler Model 3440 (serial number 17396) moisture density gauge (portable gauge) was stolen over the weekend from a road construction site in Thornburg, VA. According to the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), the gauge was secured inside its case which was secured to the floor of the trailer by lock and chain. The theft of the trailer was discovered on Monday morning (July 9th) when workers reported to the construction site to begin work. The gauge was last seen when secured inside the trailer at approximately 1500 EDT on Friday, July 6, 2018. The gauge contains (nominally) 9 milliCuries of Cs-137 and 44 milliCuries of Am-241. The construction site is located on State Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road), approximately 1 mile west of I-95. The Virginia State police were notified by the licensee on Monday morning, July 9, 2018.

"The Virginia Radioactive Materials Program has encouraged the licensee to issue a press release. The purpose of the press release is to inform the perpetrator(s) that the gauge is of no value to anyone that is not licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or an Agreement State, such as Virginia.

"Virginia Event Report ID No: VA-18-003"


* * * UPDATE ON 7/10/2018 AT 1311 EDT FROM MICHAEL FULLER TO STEVEN VITTO * * *

The following update was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via E-mail:

"On Tuesday, July 10, 2018, the licensee's RSO informed the Virginia Radioactive Materials program that the stolen portable gauge had been recovered by the Virginia State Police. As of 10:30 AM, the licensee's technician was in route to the Hampton Roads area to retrieve the stolen trailer and the portable gauge. The police detective informed the licensee that the trailer was broken into but the gauge appeared to be intact. A final update will be provided once the gauge is retrieved and its safe configuration is verified. "

Notified R1DO (Bower), ILTAB and NMSS Events Notifications via E-mail.


* * * UPDATE ON 7/13/2018 AT 1457 EDT FROM MICHAEL FULLER TO DONALD NORWOOD * * *

The following update was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via E-mail:

"On Thursday, July 12, 2018, a Virginia Radioactive Materials Program Inspector conducted a reactive inspection in Thornburg, VA. The inspector verified that the stolen portable nuclear gauge was retrieved by the licensee and that the gauge is intact.

"This is the final update to the subject report."

Notified R1DO (Bower), ILTAB and NMSS Events Notifications via E-mail.

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf