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Event Notification Report for December 13, 2000

                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                              Operations Center

                              Event Reports For
                           12/12/2000 - 12/13/2000

                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **

37572  37588  37589  37590  37591  

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   37572       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 12/06/2000|
|LICENSEE:  DAMES AND MOORE                      |NOTIFICATION TIME: 11:38[EST]|
|    CITY:  TUCSON                   REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        12/06/2000|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  AZ |EVENT TIME:             [MST]|
|LICENSE#:  07-228                AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  12/12/2000|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |BLAIR SPITZBERG      R4      |
|                                                |JOHN HICKEY          NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  AUBREY  GODWIN (VIA FAX)     |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  STEVE SANDIN                 |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING TWO STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGES          |
|                                                                              |
| "This First Notice constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or  |
| public interest significance. The information is as initially received       |
| WITHOUT verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by    |
| the Agency Staff at this time.                                               |
|                                                                              |
| "Date: December 6, 2000                                                      |
| Time: 9:00 AM (MST)                                                          |
| First Notice: 00-16                                                          |
|                                                                              |
| "Arizona Licensee:   Dames and Moore                                         |
| License No. 07-228                                                           |
| 7500 North Dreamy Draw Drive                                                 |
| Phoenix, AZ 857020                                                           |
|                                                                              |
| "At approximately 2:00 PM, December 5, 2000, the Agency received a report    |
| advising that 2 Troxler Model 3440 moisture/density gauges were missing.     |
| This information was supplied by the Dames and Moore Radiation Safety        |
| Officer. The information supplied indicated that the LICENSEE was unsure     |
| when the gauges were taken. They were last seen on December 4, 2000 in a     |
| locked storage building at 1790 East River Road, Tucson, AZ. Each gauge      |
| contains a 8 millicurie cesium 137 source and a 44 millicuries Americium 241 |
| :Beryllium source. The serial numbers for the gauges are 13024 and 17318.    |
| The storage building was locked and had 24 hour security guard surveillance. |
| The lock had been cut. Tucson PD is investigating this matter. The LICENSEE  |
| is offering a $500.00 reward. The Agency will be issuing a press release.    |
|                                                                              |
| "The LICENSEE and the Agency continue to investigate this event.             |
|                                                                              |
| "The states of Utah, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada together   |
| with the U.S. NRC, the U.S. FBI and Mexico are being notified of this        |
| event."                                                                      |
|                                                                              |
| * * * UPDATE AT 1632 ON 12/12/00 BY FAX * * *                                |
|                                                                              |
| Text of Fax provided by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency.             |
|                                                                              |
| "The Agency Duty Officer received a call from the DPS Duty Officer at about  |
| 7:00 PM indicating that a teenage boy had found one of the Soil Density      |
| Moisture Gauges and had taken it to his home.   Arrangements were made by    |
| the Agency to dispatch two people to pick up the gauge.   The first gauge    |
| was discovered by three teenage boys in Tucson and brought to the boys'      |
| home.  The condition of this gauge (SN: 17315) was excellent. The second     |
| gauge (SN: 13024) was discovered on a dirt road at the East end of Linda     |
| Vista Rd. approximately 5 miles north of the first site.   Again, this gauge |
| was in excellent condition.   Leak tests were taken of both gauges and are   |
| being evaluated by the agency.  The gauge carrying cases were both intact.   |
| However, the gauges could not be secured with locks through the gauge        |
| handles.   Also, at the second site were found two additional pieces of      |
| equipment that had been taken from the original storage shed.  The gauges    |
| were released to a Dames and Moore representative."                          |
|                                                                              |
| The operations center informed the R4DO (Cain) and NMSS EO (Greeves).        |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Other Nuclear Material                           |Event Number:   37588       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  USAF RADIOISOTOPE COMMITTEE          |NOTIFICATION DATE: 12/12/2000|
|LICENSEE:  UNKNOWN                              |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:13[EST]|
|    CITY:  FT. EUSTIS               REGION:  2  |EVENT DATE:        12/07/2000|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  VA |EVENT TIME:        15:00[EST]|
|LICENSE#:                        AGREEMENT:  N  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  12/12/2000|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |ANNE BOLAND          R2      |
|                                                |CHUCK CAIN           R4      |
+------------------------------------------------+BRIAN SMITH          NMSS    |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  DAVID PUGH                   |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  DOUG WEAVER                  |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|BAB1 20.2201(a)(1)(i)    LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| UNACCOUNTED FOR STRONTIUM 90 SOURCE                                          |
|                                                                              |
| A 500 �Ci Sr-90 source used in a helicopter was unaccounted for by the Air   |
| Force.  The source was discovered on a helicopter with Air Force markings    |
| located at Ft. Eustis, Virginia.  Although the aircraft had Air Force        |
| marking, the Air Force could not immediately account for the source involved |
| or state whether or not the aircraft  still belonged to the Air Force.       |
|                                                                              |
| An instructor was showing some students the helicopter when he noticed the   |
| source was in the exposed position.  The source is part of a device used to  |
| look for failures or fractures on the helicopter's blades.  A contractor was |
| called and the source was properly stowed.  A swipe survey was performed but |
| the results were not known by the caller.  The students are believed to be   |
| military personnel.  The time spent around the aircraft was approximately 50 |
| minutes, however because the source is located near the rotors, exposure is  |
| believed to be minimal.   This device has an expected dose rate of 75 mr/hr  |
| at one foot according to the sealed source device registry.                  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   37589       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: NINE MILE POINT          REGION:  1  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 12/12/2000|
|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  NY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 13:23[EST]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] GE-2,[2] GE-5                    |EVENT DATE:        11/30/2000|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        14:19[EST]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  FRED RINGWALD                |LAST UPDATE DATE:  12/12/2000|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  DOUG WEAVER                  +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |JOHN WHITE           R1      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|AINC 50.72(b)(2)(iii)(C) POT UNCNTRL RAD REL    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|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                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REACTOR BUILDING DOOR NOT FULLY SHUT - CONTAINMENT INTEGRITY VIOLATED        |
|                                                                              |
| "On November 30, 2000, at 1419, operators discovered that Secondary          |
| Containment was breached with the inner rollup door in the Reactor Building  |
| track bay not fully closed, and the outer door was inoperable.  The Station  |
| Shift Supervisor entered Technical Specification Limiting Condition for      |
| Operations, 3.4.1.a.2 and 3.4.1.b, which required the initiation of a        |
| shutdown if Secondary Containment was not restored within 4 hours.   At      |
| 1440, operators verified that the inner rollup door was closed with a        |
| properly inflated door seal.   The Station Shift Supervisor subsequently     |
| exited Technical Specification Limiting Conditions for Operation 3.4.1.a.2   |
| and 3.4.1.b. The available information at the time indicated that the door   |
| had only been open for 2 hours, 39 minutes.                                  |
|                                                                              |
| "After completion of an investigation that was delayed due to repairs on the |
| inoperable outer door, on December 12, 2000, at 1215, it was determined that |
| the earlier information about the door being closed was not credible. Based  |
| on this conclusion, the door was actually open for 24 hours, 10 minutes.     |
| This resulted in a condition that could have prevented the fulfillment of    |
| the safety function of secondary containment, that affects the control of    |
| the release of radioactive material."                                        |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.                            |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   37590       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| REP ORG:  ROSEMOUNT NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS        |NOTIFICATION DATE: 12/12/2000|
|LICENSEE:  ROSEMOUNT NUCLEAR INTSRUMENTS        |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:32[EST]|
|    CITY:  EDEN PRAIRIE             REGION:  3  |EVENT DATE:        07/15/1998|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  MN |EVENT TIME:        12:00[CST]|
|LICENSE#:                        AGREEMENT:  N  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  12/12/2000|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |VERN HODGE           NRR     |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  JEFFREY SCHMITT              |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  DOUG WEAVER                  |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|CCCC 21.21               UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH  |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PART 21 REPORT                                                               |
|                                                                              |
| Pursuant to 10CFR Part 21 Paragraph 21.21(b), Rosemount Nuclear Instruments, |
| Inc. (RNII) is writing to inform you of a deviation related to a single      |
| model 710DU0CL calibration unit with serial number 0515346.   As a result of |
| an isolated human error, this single calibration unit was originally shipped |
| in July 1998 with the stable  calibration current ramp rate out of           |
| specification. This deviation was identified when the calibration unit was   |
| returned to Rosemount Nuclear Instruments, Inc for an unrelated issue.  The  |
| calibration unit has been reworked and now performs within specification.    |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   37591       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT   |NOTIFICATION DATE: 12/12/2000|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:38[EST]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        12/12/2000|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        09:50[EST]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  12/12/2000|
|    CITY:  PIKETON                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  PIKE                      STATE:  OH |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-2                 AGREEMENT:  N  |RONALD GARDNER       R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707002                              |JOHN GREEVES         NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+CHARLES MILLER       IRO     |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  KEITH VANDERPOOL             |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  DOUG WEAVER                  |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          N/A                   |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NBNL                     RESPONSE-BULLETIN      |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| BULLETIN 91-01 24 HOUR REPORT                                                |
|                                                                              |
| ON 12/12/00,  AT 0950 HOURS IT WAS DISCOVERED BY A NUCLEAR CRITICALITY       |
| SAFETY STAFF                                                                 |
| MEMBER THAT A NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY APPROVAL (NCSA) SPACING CONTROL WAS |
| LOST IN A SEAL CAN STORAGE AREA WITHIN THE X-333 PROCESS BUILDING.   IT WAS  |
| IDENTIFIED THAT TWO (2) GROUPS OF SEAL CANS WERE NOT SPACED IN ACCORDANCE    |
| WITH CONTROL #9 OF NCSA-PLANT064.A05. THE SPECIFIED NCSA REQUIRES THAT       |
| GROUPS OF UP TO FIFTY (50) SEAL CANS CAN BE SPACED A MINIMUM OF 48"          |
| EDGE-TO-EDGE. ONE GROUP OF 50 AND ONE GROUP OF 20 SEAL CANS WERE DISCOVERED  |
| SPACED AT 46" EDGE-TO-EDGE.                                                  |
|                                                                              |
| THIS EVENT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ONE CONTROL FOR SPACING (INTERACTION        |
| CONTROL)                                                                     |
| BETWEEN SEAL CAN GROUPS AND OTHER URANIUM BEARING MATERIALS. THE MASS AND    |
| MODERATION OF URANIUM IN THE SEAL CANS (ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS) AND THE     |
| SIZE OF THE SEAL CAN (PASSIVE DESIGN FEATURE) REMAINED INTACT THROUGHOUT     |
| THIS EVENT.  THUS, ONLY ONE CONTROL RELIED UPON FOR DOUBLE CONTINGENCY WAS   |
| LOST.                                                                        |
|                                                                              |
| NCSA-PLANT064.A05 CONTROL RE-ESTABLISHED AT 1000 HOURS UNDER THE DIRECTION   |
| OF THE NCS ON SCENE STAFF MEMBER                                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


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