The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process of rescinding or revising guidance and policies posted on this webpage in accordance with Executive Order 14151 Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Executive Order 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. In the interim, any previously issued diversity, equity, inclusion, or gender-related guidance on this webpage should be considered rescinded that is inconsistent with these Executive Orders.

Event Notification Report for August 30, 2000

                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                              Operations Center

                              Event Reports For
                           08/29/2000 - 08/30/2000

                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **

37268  37269  37270  37271  37272  

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   37268       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT   |NOTIFICATION DATE: 08/29/2000|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 01:36[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        08/28/2000|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        15:29[EDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  08/29/2000|
|    CITY:  PIKETON                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  PIKE                      STATE:  OH |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-2                 AGREEMENT:  N  |MELVYN LEACH         R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707002                              |JOSEPHINE PICCONE    NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  RICK LARSON                  |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  BOB STRANSKY                 |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NBNL                     RESPONSE-BULLETIN      |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 24-HOUR NRC BULLETIN 91-01 REPORT                                            |
|                                                                              |
| "On 8/28/00 at 1529, during implementation of NCSA 0705_076 (Inadvertent     |
| Containers) a concern was raised about the maximum distance of spray from a  |
| leak from a pressurized pipe. Calculations were reevaluated and the          |
| corrected spray distance for the system in question resulted in a distance   |
| of 106 feet. This new distance for the system in question is greater than    |
| the original implementation distance of 15 feet, which the NCSA had          |
| previously predicted for the entire X-705. This is considered a loss of one  |
| control. The control considered lost is control #2 which states in part,     |
| 'When unattended all potential inadvertent containers shall be:              |
| -modified to prevent unsafe accumulation                                     |
| -covered to prevent the in-leakage of spilled materials                      |
| -oriented to prevent an unsafe accumulation                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "The PSS(Plant Shift Superintendent) directed the facility custodian to      |
| enter an anomalous condition. The system in question was previously shut     |
| down prior to recalculation of the spray distance. The same equipment        |
| remains shutdown until compliance with NCSA 0705_076 can be determined.      |
|                                                                              |
| "SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS:                                              |
|                                                                              |
| "Safety significance is low. The resulting situation is conservatively being |
| identified as a violation of one control contained in NCSA 0705_076 which    |
| requires that all potential inadvertent containers utilized in the X-705 be  |
| modified, covered, or oriented to prevent an unsafe accumulation. However,   |
| since the system in question maintained its physical integrity and thus no   |
| uranium bearing material was involved the safety significance of this event  |
| is low.                                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| "POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED (BRIEF SCENARIO[S] OF HOW           |
| CRITICALITY COULD OCCUR):                                                    |
|                                                                              |
| "If a sufficient amount of uranium bearing material had leaked, spilled,     |
| splashed from the micro filtration system and the resuming material          |
| accumulated on/in an inadvertent container, an unsafe geometry could have    |
| resulted. If the leaking solution had contained a sufficient amount of       |
| uranium, the resulting configuration could have been sufficient for a        |
| criticality to occur. it should be noted that the allowed safe geometry and  |
| volume limits established in NCSA 0705-076 are based on optimally moderated  |
| solution which contains uranium enriched to 100 wt% U235.                    |
|                                                                              |
| "CONTROLLED PARAMETERS (MASS, MODERATION, GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION, ETC):     |
|                                                                              |
| "The parameter which was violated during this upset was maintaining          |
| geometry/volume controls regarding potential accumulation points available   |
| on/in nearby inadvertent containers.                                         |
|                                                                              |
| "ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS    |
| LIMIT AND % WORST CASE OF CRITICAL MASS):                                    |
|                                                                              |
| "No uranium-bearing material was actually involved in the upset.             |
|                                                                              |
| "NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION  |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES:                                             |
|                                                                              |
| "NCSA 0705_076 takes credit for the physical integrity of systems which      |
| contain uranium bearing materials. NCSA 0705_076 also takes Credit that      |
| unsafe volume/geometry containers are either modified, covered or oriented   |
| while in areas where uranium bearing material can leak, spill or spray to    |
| prevent an unsafe configuration from resulting in the event of a leak. The   |
| administrative control #2 was not being followed for the new area identified |
| where uranium bearing materials can leak, spill or spray. The resulting      |
| situation is conservatively being identified as a violation of the           |
| administrative control in NCSA 0705_076.                                     |
|                                                                              |
| "CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEM AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED:  |
|                                                                              |
| "The PSS (Plant Shift Superintendent) directed the facility custodian to     |
| enter an anomalous condition. The system in question was previously shut     |
| down prior to recalculation of the spray distance. The same equipment will   |
| remain shutdown until NCS (Nuclear Criticality Safety) can assist in         |
| determination of operability of that system and compliance with NCSA         |
| 0705_076."                                                                   |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC resident inspector has been informed of this event.                  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   37269       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: LIMERICK                 REGION:  1  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 08/29/2000|
|    UNIT:  [] [2] []                 STATE:  PA |NOTIFICATION TIME: 06:37[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4                    |EVENT DATE:        08/29/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        03:15[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  CRAIG HOFFMAN                |LAST UPDATE DATE:  08/29/2000|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  BOB STRANSKY                 +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |PETE ESELGROTH       R1      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|AIND 50.72(b)(2)(iii)(D) ACCIDENT MITIGATION    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|                                                   |                          |
|2     N          N       0                         |0                         |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| HPCI SYSTEM DECLARED INOPERABLE                                              |
|                                                                              |
| "While performing valve strokes for a normally scheduled High Pressure       |
| Coolant Injection (HPCI) surveillance test, the outboard suppression pool    |
| suction Primary Containment Isolation Valve (PCIV) to HPCI failed to stroke  |
| open. HPCI was declared inoperable. Investigation as to why the valve failed |
| to stroke is in progress."                                                   |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC resident inspector has been informed of this event by the licensee.  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   37270       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 08/29/2000|
|LICENSEE:  GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANTS, INC.       |NOTIFICATION TIME: 10:57[EDT]|
|    CITY:  COLUMBUS                 REGION:  3  |EVENT DATE:        08/28/2000|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  OH |EVENT TIME:        11:00[EDT]|
|LICENSE#:  31210-25-0023         AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  08/29/2000|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |MELVYN LEACH         R3      |
|                                                |BRIAN SMITH          NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  MIKE SNEE                    |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  BOB STRANSKY                 |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| STOLEN MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE                                                |
|                                                                              |
| A CPM brand moisture/density gauge, model MC1DR, serial #MD9119207, was      |
| stolen from the back of a pickup truck in Columbus, Ohio. The gauge contains |
| one 10 mCi Cs-137 source and one 50 mCi Am-241/Be source. The gauge and      |
| overpack were chained to the bed of the truck, but the chain was cut. The    |
| licensee has filed a report with the Columbus Police Department.             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   37271       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: HARRIS                   REGION:  2  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 08/29/2000|
|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  NC |NOTIFICATION TIME: 11:34[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] W-3-LP                           |EVENT DATE:        08/29/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        11:00[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  JAMES ABRAHAM                |LAST UPDATE DATE:  08/29/2000|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  BOB STRANSKY                 +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |ROBERT HAAG          R2      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|AESS 50.72(b)(1)(v)      EMERGENCY SIREN INOP   |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |
|                                                   |                          |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| EMERGENCY SIRENS INOPERABLE                                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "Loss of Offsite siren capability in Harnett County NC for greater than one  |
| hour for planned maintenance. On August 29, 2000, Harnett County was         |
| performing planned maintenance on the county primary repeater tower. This    |
| repeater is used to activate the Harris Plant offsite notification sirens in |
| Harnett County. The primary repeater was taken out of service at 10:00 a.m.  |
| on August 29, 2000, and as of 11:00 a.m. had not been returned to service.   |
| The primary repeater is expected to be returned to service at approximately  |
| 1:00 p.m. on August 29, 2000. In case of an emergency occurring while the    |
| outage is ongoing, Harnett County is prepared to perform backup route        |
| alerting as necessary."                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC resident inspector has been informed of this notification by the     |
| licensee.                                                                    |
|                                                                              |
| * * * UPDATE ON 08/29/00 AT 1519 ET BY JAMES ABRAHAM TAKEN BY MACKINNON * *  |
| *                                                                            |
|                                                                              |
| Harnett County Emergency Sirens were returned to service at 1510 ET.  NRC    |
| R2DO (Haag) notified.                                                        |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC Resident Inspector will be informed of this notification by the      |
| licensee.                                                                    |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   37272       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: COOPER                   REGION:  4  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 08/29/2000|
|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  NE |NOTIFICATION TIME: 13:28[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] GE-4                             |EVENT DATE:        08/29/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        10:40[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  STEVE WHEELER                |LAST UPDATE DATE:  08/29/2000|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  JOHN MacKINNON               +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |CHUCK PAULK          R4      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(vi)     OFFSITE NOTIFICATION   |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|1     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |
|                                                   |                          |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| OFFSITE EMERGENCY SIRENS INADVERTENTLY ACTUATED                              |
|                                                                              |
| "At 1040 Central Daylight time the Atchison County Missouri emergency sirens |
| were inadvertently actuated by State/Local officials during an Emergency     |
| Preparedness Drill.  Local radio Stations were verbally notified of the      |
| false alarm, however an official press release is not planned at this time." |
| State and Local officials were notified by the licensee of this event.       |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee.       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021