Event Notification Report for June 4, 1999
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
06/03/1999 - 06/04/1999
** EVENT NUMBERS **
35738 35788 35789 35790 35791
!!!!!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!!!
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 35738 |
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| FACILITY: WOLF CREEK REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 05/19/1999|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: KS |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:12[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 05/19/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 11:00[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DAVID ERBE |LAST UPDATE DATE: 06/03/1999|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: STEVE SANDIN +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |GARY SANBORN R4 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|DDDD 73.71 UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| PHYSICAL SECURITY REPORT |
| |
| Unescorted access granted inappropriately, immediate compensatory measures |
| taken upon discovery. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| |
| * * * RETRACTED AT 1153 EDT ON 6/3/99 BY DAVID ERBE TO FANGIE JONES * * * |
| |
| The licensee retracted this event based on a determination that the event |
| did not meet the criteria for a one hour report. The licensee notified the |
| NRC Resident Inspector and the Headquarters Operations Officer notified the |
| R4DO (Linda Howell). |
| |
| Refer to the HOO Log for additional details. |
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 35788 |
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| FACILITY: GE NUCLEAR ENERGY |NOTIFICATION DATE: 06/03/1999|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:27[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: LEU CONVERSION (UF6 TO UO2) |EVENT DATE: 06/02/1999|
| LEU FABRICATION |EVENT TIME: 15:00[EDT]|
| LWR COMMERICAL FUEL |LAST UPDATE DATE: 06/03/1999|
| CITY: WILMINGTON REGION: 2 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: NEW HANOVER STATE: NC |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: SNM-1097 AGREEMENT: Y |KENNETH BARR R2 |
| DOCKET: 07001113 |DON COOL NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: LON PAULSON | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DICK JOLLIFFE | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NBNL RESPONSE-BULLETIN | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| - NRC BULLETIN 91-01, 24 HOUR REPORT - |
| |
| At 1500 on 06/02/99, it was determined that the mass control within a |
| primary High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter had been exceeded. |
| This primary HEPA filter is on the combined exhaust of a utility hood and |
| oxidation furnace. |
| |
| Maintenance personnel discovered this situation in the Dry Scrap Recycle |
| (DSR) facility during a routine inspection. The hold-up weight was |
| determined to be approximately 45 kgs U02 equivalent. This exceeds the |
| established mass limit of 25 kgs U02. The second, independent control |
| parameter on moderation remained intact, thus no unsafe condition existed. |
| |
| Associated equipment has been shutdown and controls were reestablished |
| within 4 hours. |
| |
| SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENT: |
| Low safety significance; independent controls on moderation remained intact. |
| |
| |
| POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVE [BRIEF SCENARIO(S) OF HOW CRITICALITY |
| COULD OCCUR]: |
| Multiple failure modes required before a criticality accident could occur. |
| Simultaneous loss of moderation required. |
| |
| CONTROLLED PARAMETER(S) (MASS, MODERATION, GEOMETRY. CONCENTRATION. ETC.): |
| Mass and moderation. |
| |
| ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS |
| LIMIT AND % WORST CASE CRITICAL MASS): |
| 47 kgs U308 (~45 kgs U02 equivalent) at 4.1% U235 enrichment with maximum |
| moisture content of 1,493 ppm H20. Mass limited to 25 kgs U02 at 5% U235 |
| enrichment moderation limited to 50,000 ppm H20. At 50,000 ppm H20, the |
| safe hemisphere mass of theoretical density U02 exceeds 600 kgs U02 at 5% |
| U235 enrichment |
| |
| |
| NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES: |
| Administrative control on differential pressure across HEPA filter housing |
| failed. Fuel business system computer controls limit feed material type to |
| <50,000 ppm H2O equivalent. Moderation control remained intact. |
| |
| CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED: |
| 1. Shutdown of DSR oxidation furnace/utility hood operation; begin |
| nondestructive assay gamma monitoring of DSR HVAC. |
| 2. Removal of prefilter & HEPA filter cartridge, shake U308 material down |
| into safe geometry 3 gallon containers. |
| 3. Investigation and implementation of corrective actions pending. |
| |
| This event is reportable pursuant to NRC Bulletin 91-01 (within 24 hours) |
| due to the mass control failure. |
| |
| The licensee plans to notify state and local officials and NRC Region 2. |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 35789 |
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| REP ORG: WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE: 06/03/1999|
|LICENSEE: NOT APPLICABLE |NOTIFICATION TIME: 14:15[EDT]|
| CITY: SEATTLE REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 06/01/1999|
| COUNTY: STATE: WA |EVENT TIME: [PDT]|
|LICENSE#: AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 06/03/1999|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |LINDA HOWELL R4 |
| |FRED COMBS NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+CHARLES MILLER IRO |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: TERRY FRAZEE |M. ROBERTSON (NRC) EPA |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES |email OSP |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
|NINF INFORMATION ONLY | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| US CUSTOMS INTERCEPTED UNAUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION OF IODINE 131 BY |
| INDIVIDUAL |
| |
| Event Report #WA-99-017 |
| |
| "On Tuesday, June 1, 1999, US Customs at Seattle-Tacoma International |
| Airport detained a passenger whose luggage was detected to be radioactive. |
| The alarm level was the highest on the US Customs meters. The passenger was |
| determined to be a [World Health Organization (WHO)] physician in-bound from |
| Thailand on his way home to Alaska. The physician admitted that he was |
| bringing I-131 with him to his home in Alaska where he intended to treat his |
| cat for hyperthyroidism. He did not have a license or any other |
| authorization for the radioactive material. |
| |
| "US Customs contacted the emergency number for the Washington Department of |
| Health, Division of Radiation Protection (WDOH). During this initial |
| contact, it was determined that the glass vial containing 4 to 6 millicuries |
| of I-131 was being carried with NO SHIELDING and appeared to constitute a |
| public health threat. WDOH immediately asked the US Customs to seize the |
| material under state law prohibiting possession of radioactive material |
| without a license. The pouch containing the vial was quickly isolated by |
| US Customs, and staff from WDOH were dispatched. The passenger was allowed |
| to continue home to Alaska. |
| |
| "WDOH staff arrived at US Customs at 6 PM and noted that radiation levels in |
| the office were about twice background. The I-131 had been placed in a |
| storage room about 50 feet away from US Customs staff. Dose rates exceeding |
| 2 mR/hour where noted within several feet of the pouch, and the vial was |
| immediately placed into a lead shield and brought to the office for safe |
| storage. No contamination was detected. |
| |
| "Radiation exposures to the US Customs personnel, airlines personnel, and |
| airline passengers are being assessed. The airline is being advised of this |
| event and US Customs has notified FAA. |
| |
| "Activity and Isotope(s) involved: I-131, approximately 6 millicuries as of |
| 3 PM (Pacific time), June 2, 1999. |
| Overexposures? Unknown at this time." |
| |
| (Call the NRC Operations Center for contact telephone numbers.) |
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 35790 |
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 06/03/1999|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 14:44[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 06/02/1999|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 16:30[CDT]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 06/03/1999|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |DAVID HILLS R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 |DON COOL NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: THOMAS WHITE | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|OCBA 76.120(c)(2)(i) ACCID MT EQUIP FAILS | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| THREE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS DECLARED INOPERABLE DUE TO CORRODED HEADS |
| |
| "On 06/02/99 at 1630 CDT, the Plant Shift Superintendent was notified that |
| numerous sprinkler heads were corroded, affecting 16 sprinkler systems in |
| C-337 and one system in C-333, such that the ability of the sprinklers to |
| flow sufficient water was called into question. Subsequently, these |
| sprinkler systems were declared inoperable and TSR required actions |
| establishing roving fire patrols were initiated. This deficiency was |
| detected during scheduled system inspections conducted by Fire Protection |
| personnel. Currently, functionality of the sprinkler heads has not been |
| fully evaluated by Fire Protection personnel and the remaining cascade |
| buildings are currently being inspected and if necessary this report will be |
| updated to identify any additional areas. |
| |
| "It has been determined that this event is reportable under |
| 10CFR76.120(c)(2) as an event in which equipment is disabled or falls to |
| function as designed." |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of this event. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 35791 |
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| FACILITY: SAINT LUCIE REGION: 2 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 06/04/1999|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: FL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 05:48[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] CE,[2] CE |EVENT DATE: 06/04/1999|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 03:13[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: JACK BREEN |LAST UPDATE DATE: 06/04/1999|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DICK JOLLIFFE +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |KENNETH BARR R2 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(ii) RPS ACTUATION | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 M/R Y 48 Power Operation |0 Hot Standby |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| - MANUAL REACTOR TRIP FROM 48% POWER DUE TO 4 CONTROL RODS DROPPING INTO THE |
| CORE - |
| |
| AT 0313 ON 06/04/99, WHILE PERFORMING TROUBLESHOOTING ACTIVITIES ON UNIT 2 |
| CONTROL ELEMENT DRIVE SYSTEM FOLLOWING A CONTROL ROD DROPPING INTO THE |
| REACTOR CORE ON 06/02/99 (REFER TO EVENT #35785), FOUR CONTROL ELEMENT |
| ASSEMBLIES (SHUTDOWN GROUP 'B' - SUBGROUP 21) FELL INTO THE REACTOR CORE FOR |
| UNKNOWN REASONS. CONTROL ROOM OPERATORS MANUALLY TRIPPED UNIT 2 FROM 48% |
| POWER. ALL CONTROL RODS INSERTED INTO THE CORE COMPLETELY. STEAM IS BEING |
| DUMPED INTO THE MAIN CONDENSER. UNIT 2 IS STABLE IN MODE 3 (HOT STANDBY). |
| |
| THE LICENSEE IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE(S) OF THE DROPPED |
| CONTROL RODS. |
| |
| THIS EVENT HAD NO EFFECT ON UNIT 1 WHICH IS OPERATING AT 100% POWER. |
| |
| THE LICENSEE INFORMED THE NRC RESIDENT INSPECTOR. |
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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021