Event Notification Report for April 11, 2001
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
04/10/2001 - 04/11/2001
** EVENT NUMBERS **
37901 37902 37904 37905 37906 37907
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 37901 |
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| FACILITY: BYRON REGION: 3 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/09/2001|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: IL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 06:48[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/09/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 05:07[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: WILLIAMS/BOOMGARDER |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/10/2001|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: STEVE SANDIN +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |MICHAEL JORDAN R3 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|*PRE 50.72(b)(2)(xi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 N N 0 Cold Shutdown |0 Cold Shutdown |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| PRESS RELEASE PREPARED CONCERNING WORKERS TRANSPORTED TO AREA HOSPITAL AND |
| PLANNED NOTIFICATION TO THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION |
| (OSHA) |
| |
| "A news release is planned regarding the following incident: |
| |
| "At 0304 [CDT] this morning, 13 Contract Individuals working in the 2B Main |
| Condenser experienced respiratory distress. The individuals all exited the |
| condenser under their own power for medical attention. Seven individuals |
| were transported offsite to a local area hospital for treatment. The |
| remaining 6 are under the care of the onsite medical staff. An |
| investigation is ongoing. |
| |
| "Additional information: At the current time, the Byron site is preparing |
| information to be made available to the media upon request." |
| |
| The licensee informed the NRC resident inspector. |
| |
| ***** UPDATE RECEIVED AT 1313 EDT ON 04/09/01 FROM SCOT SWANSON TO LEIGH |
| TROCINE ***** |
| |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee: |
| |
| "[...] The Byron Site Vice President arranged for a meeting with the local |
| media to present available information and answer questions. Exelon |
| Corporation is arranging the press release. In summary:" |
| |
| "Exelon Byron Station had an incident at 0304 [CDT] on 04/09/01 that |
| involved 13 individuals supporting the Unit 2 outage. They were working in |
| the Unit 2 Main Condenser and had to leave due to respiratory distress. Of |
| the 7 that were transported to local Rockford Memorial hospital, 4 have been |
| admitted for observation. [...]" |
| |
| "This is reportable to OSHA under 29 CFR 1904.8." |
| |
| The licensee stated that four individuals were admitted to the hospital for |
| observation at 0830 CDT. Therefore, the required 8-hour notification to |
| OSHA is due by 1630 CDT. |
| |
| The licensee also stated that Unit 2 is presently in Mode 6 (Refueling). |
| Mode 6 was entered at 0938 CDT on 04/09/01. |
| |
| The licensee plans to notify the NRC resident inspector and OSHA. A press |
| release has been made. The NRC operations officer notified the R3DO |
| (Geoffrey Wright). |
| |
| Call the NRC Operations Center for a licensee point of contact. |
| |
| ***** UPDATE RECEIVED AT 1637 EDT ON 04/10/01 FROM STEVE GODBY TO LEIGH |
| TROCINE ***** |
| |
| The following text is a portion of a press release that was received from |
| the licensee via facsimile: |
| |
| "[...] - All seven contract workers from Byron Generating Station |
| transported to Rockford Memorial Hospital Monday morning have been |
| released." |
| |
| "The workers had been building scaffolds inside the Unit 2 condenser as part |
| of a refueling outage that started over the weekend. Shortly after 3:00 |
| a.m. [CDT], an oxygen monitor worn by a member of the team alarmed. The |
| employees immediately left the area according to plant procedures." |
| |
| "The seven employees were transported to the hospital after complaining of |
| dizziness and trouble breathing. Three were quickly released Monday, and |
| the other four were admitted for observation and released by 8:30 p.m. [CDT] |
| Monday night." |
| |
| "An investigation showed that fumes from an anti-corrosive agent in piping |
| connected to the condenser had flowed into the condenser, causing the |
| symptoms" |
| |
| "The pipes have been vented and drained to remove the residual fumes. There |
| are no other sources of chemicals that would affect the air quality inside |
| the condenser." |
| |
| "The work area has been determined to be safe. It remains well ventilated, |
| and monitoring equipment will continue to verify safe atmospheric conditions |
| in the condenser." |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector, OSHA, and the media. The |
| NRC operations officer notified the R3DO (Geoffrey Wright). |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 37902 |
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| FACILITY: CRYSTAL RIVER REGION: 2 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/09/2001|
| UNIT: [3] [] [] STATE: FL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 11:08[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [3] B&W-L-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/09/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 09:54[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: RICHARD SWEENEY |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/10/2001|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: STEVE SANDIN +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |CAUDLE JULIAN R2 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|*PRE 50.72(b)(2)(xi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|3 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| OFFSITE NOTIFICATION TO NATIONAL MARINE AND FISHERIES SERVICE REGARDING A |
| LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE |
| |
| "On April 09, 2001 at 0940 the 40th non-lethal sea turtle take in the |
| biennial period occurred. |
| |
| "In accordance with Crystal River Unit #3 Operating License, Appendix B, |
| Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological), 'Endangered or threatened |
| sea turtles shall be protected in accordance with the Incidental Take |
| Statement issued by the National Marine and Fisheries Service (NMFS).' The |
| NMFS has established numerical limits on live takes, lethal takes causally |
| related to plant operation, and lethal takes not related to plant |
| operations. |
| |
| "The NMFS must be notified within five days whenever: |
| |
| a. The 40th non-lethal take occurs in the biennial period, or |
| b. The third causally related mortality occurs in the biennial period, or |
| c. The sixth non-causally related mortality occurs in the biennial |
| period. |
| |
| "The current biennial period for monitoring sea turtle takes began January |
| 1, 2001. |
| |
| "Thus, in accordance with Crystal Unit #3 Administrative Instruction 571, |
| Sea Turtle Rescue and Handling Guidance, the NMFS must be notified within |
| five days. |
| |
| "In accordance with Crystal River Unit #3 Compliance Procedure 151, External |
| Reporting Requirements, this 40th non-lethal sea turtle take is Reportable |
| as a 4-Hour Report under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) as this event is related to |
| the protection of the environment for which a notification to other |
| government agencies has been or will be made." |
| |
| The licensee will inform the NRC resident inspector. |
| |
| * * * UPDATE 0944EDT ON 4/10/01 FROM R. SWEENEY TO S. SANDIN * * * |
| |
| "On April 10, 2001 at 0859 the 41st non-lethal sea turtle take in the |
| biennial period occurred." |
| |
| The licensee informed the NRC resident inspector. Notified R2DO(Julian). |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 37904 |
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| REP ORG: MARYLAND DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/10/2001|
|LICENSEE: CAMPBELL & NOLAN ASSOCIATES |NOTIFICATION TIME: 08:38[EDT]|
| CITY: FALLSTON REGION: 1 |EVENT DATE: 04/09/2001|
| COUNTY: HARFORD STATE: MD |EVENT TIME: [EDT]|
|LICENSE#: MD-25-030-01 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/10/2001|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |JAMES LINVILLE R1 |
| |DON COOL NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: ALAN JACOBSON | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: STEVE SANDIN | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A LOST TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE |
| |
| "Baltimore, MD (April 9,2001)-The Maryland Department of the Environment |
| (MDE) has received a report that a moisture density gauge containing nuclear |
| material is missing from a contractor in Fallston, Harford County, Maryland. |
| Engineering consultants Campbell and Nolan Associates, Inc. reported that |
| the device apparently fell from the back of a pick-up truck as it was |
| leaving a construction site in Harford County on the morning of April 9, |
| 2001. |
| |
| "The gauge is believed to have been lost between Monmouth Meadows on Singer |
| Road and the offices of Campbell and Nolan Associates located at 2813 Bel |
| Air Road in Fallston, Maryland. |
| |
| "The portable device is used to measure the moisture and density of soil. |
| The gauge, a Troxler, model 3430 [S/N 26218], is yellow in color and |
| approximately 3' X 2' X 2'. The device contains radioactive material |
| identified as Cesium-137 on an extendable rod and Americium-241 encased in |
| the device. Campbell and Nolan personnel reported that the device was |
| secured with a padlock to prevent inadvertent exposure of the radioactive |
| source. The radioactive material is not a threat to public health and safety |
| as long as it remains intact within the device's shielded enclosure." |
| |
| Call the Operations Center for contact information. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 37905 |
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| FACILITY: ROBINSON REGION: 2 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/10/2001|
| UNIT: [2] [] [] STATE: SC |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:49[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [2] W-3-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/10/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 13:30[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: HAROLD CHERNOFF |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/10/2001|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: LEIGH TROCINE +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |MIKE ERNSTES R2 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|*DEG 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) DEGRAD COND DURING OP | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|2 N N 0 Cold Shutdown |0 Cold Shutdown |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| DISCOVERY OF REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE BOUNDARY LEAKAGE POSSIBLY VIA A |
| CONTROL ROD DRIVE MECHANISM ASSEMBLY SEAL WELD |
| |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee: |
| |
| "On 4/10/01, during the removal of mirror insulation from the reactor vessel |
| head while shut down, deposits of residual boric acid were found on the |
| periphery of the Reactor Pressure Vessel Head outside of the Control Rod |
| Drive Mechanism (CRDM) Shroud. Subsequent investigation, by visual |
| inspection of the area within the shroud, revealed additional amounts of |
| boric acid. The source of the leak, based on initial observation, appears |
| to be a CRDM assembly seal-weld leak about 18 inches above the vessel head |
| insulation. A leak from this location would constitute Reactor Coolant |
| System Pressure Boundary leakage. Initial inspection of the reactor vessel |
| head areas, in the vicinity of the boric acid deposits outside of the |
| shroud, revealed no damage to the reactor vessel head." |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 37906 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/10/2001|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 23:55[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 04/06/2001|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 22:30[CDT]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/10/2001|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |GEOFFREY WRIGHT R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 |ERIC LEEDS NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: J. M. UNDERWOOD | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|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 |
| |
| The following is from a faxed report: |
| |
| On 4/6/01, R-114 evacuation from C-337 Unit 1 Cell 8 was performed as a |
| non-fissile operation without independent verification documentation that |
| the cell was less than 1.0 wt. % U235 in violation of NCSA CAS.011. Since |
| documentation to determine the assay was not reviewed prior to removing the |
| R-114 vapor pressure, an NCS administrative requirement was not met. |
| |
| SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS: |
| Double contingency was not maintained. Although the required documentation |
| was not verified at the time tile R-114 vapor pressure was removed from the |
| cell, the assay of the cell was well known through historical process |
| knowledge. Upon discovery, the historical cascade gradient was reviewed and |
| it was determined that the cell was less than 1.0 wt. % U235. |
| |
| POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED (BRIEF SCENARIO(S) OF HOW |
| CRITICALITY COULD OCCUR: |
| In order for criticality to be possible, the shutdown cell would need to |
| have an unsafe mass of moderated uranium with an enrichment greater than 1.0 |
| wt. % U235. |
| |
| CONTROLLED PARAMETERS (MASS, MODERATION. GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION, ETC.): |
| Double contingency for this scenario is established by implementing two |
| controls on assay. |
| |
| ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS |
| LIMIT AND % WORST CASE CRITICAL MASS): |
| 0.7183 wt. % U235 |
| |
| NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES: |
| The first leg of double contingency is based on verification that the |
| equipment contains uranium enriched to less than 1.0 wt. %. The verification |
| of assay was not performed. Therefore, the control was violated and the |
| first leg of double contingency was lost. |
| |
| The second leg of double contingency is based on independent verification |
| that the equipment contains uranium enriched to less than 1.0 wt. % U235. |
| This independent verification was not performed. Therefore, the control was |
| violated and the second leg of double contingency was lost. |
| |
| Since double contingency is based on two controls on assay, double |
| contingency was not maintained. |
| |
| CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED: |
| |
| An independent assay verification was performed and documented, which |
| indicated that the assay was less than 1.0 wt. % U235. |
| |
| Crew briefings have been held to remind them of the requirements of the |
| NCSA. |
| |
| The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and intends to notify the |
| DOE representative. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 37907 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| FACILITY: CALLAWAY REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 04/11/2001|
| UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: MO |NOTIFICATION TIME: 05:55[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 04/10/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 19:50[CDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: SCOT MAGLIO |LAST UPDATE DATE: 04/11/2001|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A |MARK SHAFFER 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 N 0 Cold Shutdown |0 Cold Shutdown |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
EVENT TEXT
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| SECURITY REPORT |
| |
| Safeguards system degradation related to monitoring. Immediate compensatory |
| measures taken upon discovery. |
| |
| The licensee intends to notify the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| |
| Refer to the HOO Log for additional details. |
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