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Event Notification Report for September 20, 2001

                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                              Operations Center

                              Event Reports For
                           09/19/2001 - 09/20/2001

                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **

38295  38296  38297  38298  38299  

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   38295       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT   |NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/19/2001|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:00[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        09/19/2001|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        08:13[EDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  09/19/2001|
|    CITY:  PIKETON                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  PIKE                      STATE:  OH |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-2                 AGREEMENT:  N  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707002                              |SUSAN FRANT          NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  MIKE RICHIE                  |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  LEIGH TROCINE                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NONR                     OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| OFFSITE NOTIFICATION REGARDING AN OPACITY VIOLATION (4-hour Report)          |
|                                                                              |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from Portsmouth      |
| personnel:                                                                   |
|                                                                              |
| "At 0813 hours [on] 09/19/01, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency       |
| (OEPA) was notified per Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-15-06(B) that an |
| opacity exceedance had occurred at the X-600 Steam Plant.  The opacity       |
| violation occurred on [the] #2 Boiler when our #2A Precipitator voltages     |
| began to fluctuate.  Operators adjusted load/air requirements on the #2      |
| Boiler in an effort to prevent further exceedances.  [The] cause of the      |
| voltage fluctuations has not been determined at this time."                  |
|                                                                              |
| "This is reportable as a 4-hour NRC Event due to notification to an outside  |
| agency (OEPA) being made per Nuclear Regulatory Reporting Procedure          |
| UE2-PAE1030, Appendix D, Criteria P (Miscellaneous)."                        |
|                                                                              |
| Portsmouth personnel notified the NRC resident inspector.                    |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   38296       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.        |NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/19/2001|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE PRODUCTION      |NOTIFICATION TIME: 10:16[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: UF6 CONVERSION (DRY PROCESS)         |EVENT DATE:        09/19/2001|
|                                                |EVENT TIME:        09:05[CDT]|
|                                                |LAST UPDATE DATE:  09/19/2001|
|    CITY:  METROPOLIS               REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  MASSAC                    STATE:  IL |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  SUB-526               AGREEMENT:  Y  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  04003392                             |SUSAN FRANT          NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  HUGH ROBERTS                 |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  FANGIE JONES                 |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|JBBE 40.60(b)(2)         SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILUR|                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| STANDBY DIESEL GENERATOR FAILED TO START AND IS UNAVAILABLE                  |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee reported that a standby diesel generator failed to start in     |
| manual and automatic during a test.  The generator is unavailable as         |
| redundant for required safety function.  The generator is being worked on.   |
| The plant is shutting down their processing until repairs are made.          |
|                                                                              |
| The licensee will submit a 30-day written report and is notifying NRC Region |
| 3.                                                                           |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   38297       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT   |NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/19/2001|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:04[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        09/19/2001|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        12:45[EDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  09/19/2001|
|    CITY:  PIKETON                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  PIKE                      STATE:  OH |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-2                 AGREEMENT:  N  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707002                              |BRIAN SMITH          NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  MCCLEERY                     |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  JOHN MacKINNON               |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NONR                     OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT    |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| AUTOCLAVE ISOLATION                                                          |
|                                                                              |
| OTHER NON-CFR REQUIREMENT - 24 HOUR NOTIFICATION                             |
|                                                                              |
| At 1245 hours on 09/19/01, both the "A" and "B" High Level Condensate probes |
| activated on Autoclave # 3 in the X-334 uranium hexafluoride Sampling        |
| Facility causing a High Condensate Alarm.  The activation of either of these |
| probes will cause the autoclave steam supply valves ("Q" components) to      |
| actuate (close).  The steam supply valves closed, as designed, autoclave # 3 |
| was in TSR Mode 2 (Heating) at the time of the alarm activation.  Operations |
| personnel immediately responded to the alarm in accordance with the approved |
| Alarm Response Procedures.  The alarm reset when operations personnel        |
| drained excess condensate from autoclave drain line, and then acknowledged   |
| the alarm at the local autoclave control panel.  All autoclave (and          |
| cylinder) operating parameters were determined to be within normal ranges.   |
| Autoclave # 3 was placed in TSR mode 7 (Shutdown) by operations personnel    |
| and declared inoperable by the Plant Shift Superintendent.  Based on the     |
| actuation of both High Level Condensate probes, this event is being reported |
| as a valid safety system actuation, a 24-hour NRC event.  An Engineering     |
| Evaluation has been requested to investigate the circumstances surrounding   |
| this safety system actuation.                                                |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the certificate     |
| holder.                                                                      |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Fuel Cycle Facility                              |Event Number:   38298       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT   |NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/19/2001|
|   RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY          |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:36[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER                   |EVENT DATE:        09/19/2001|
|           6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE                 |EVENT TIME:        10:06[EDT]|
|           BETHESDA, MD 20817    (301)564-3200  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  09/19/2001|
|    CITY:  PIKETON                  REGION:  3  +-----------------------------+
|  COUNTY:  PIKE                      STATE:  OH |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#:  GDP-2                 AGREEMENT:  N  |JOHN MADERA          R3      |
|  DOCKET:  0707002                              |ERIC LEEDS           NMSS    |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  MCCLEERY                     |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  JOHN MacKINNON               |                             |
+------------------------------------------------+                             |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NBNL                     RESPONSE-BULLETIN      |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NRC BULLETIN 91-01 24 NOTIFICATION                                           |
|                                                                              |
| During a meeting to discuss compensatory actions for PR-PTS-01-04202,        |
| additional concerns were raised regarding compliance with the requirements   |
| of NCSA-705-076. Specifically, exterior walls have openings (windows and     |
| gaps) which could allow uranium bearing solution to spray outside the        |
| facility and collect in an unfavorable geometry inadvertent container.  A    |
| walk down was performed.  The findings resulted in a violation of control #  |
| 3 of NCSA 705-76, inadvertent containers.  Compliance with NCSA was          |
| reestablished with the closure of windows, caulking of identified openings   |
| and continued shutdown of system involved.                                   |
|                                                                              |
| SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS:                                               |
|                                                                              |
| The safety significance is low because there was no leak of uranium bearing  |
| material! near the identified openings in the walls of the X-705. The two    |
| areas in question are designated as "Inadvertent Container Area" due to the  |
| presence of the Recovery System and Microfiltration, neither of which are    |
| currently in operation due to a stand down of all X-705 operations. The      |
| presence of an inadvertent container in the area is a violation of NCS       |
| controls and one leg of the double contingency principle as described in     |
| NCSE-0705 _076.E.03.                                                         |
|                                                                              |
| POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED (BRIEF SCENARIO[S] OF HOW            |
| CRITICALITY COULD OCCUR):                                                    |
|                                                                              |
| For a criticality to occur, the following events would be required: The      |
| recovery system or Microfiltration would have to be operating and processing |
| uranium bearing liquid with a high concentration of uranium. Then a leak in  |
| this system must occur such that an unsafe amount of liquid sprays from the  |
| system directly through an open window or through another penetration in the |
| building wall. The liquid would then have to flow or drip into a potentially |
| unfavorable geometry that may be present immediately adjacent to the outside |
| building wall.  Depending on the volume collected, some reflection would     |
| also be required to sustain a critical chain reaction The Recovery and       |
| Microfiltration systems are not currently in operation.                      |
|                                                                              |
| CONTROLLED PARAMETERS (MASS, MODERATION, GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION. ETC.):     |
|                                                                              |
| Inadvertent containers are controlled based upon volume (2.5 liters maximum) |
| or geometry (1.5 inches in depth or 4 inches in diameter). The exact         |
| potential collection volume for this event is unknown.  Although analyzed    |
| for 100% enriched materials, the Recovery System would Currently process     |
| materiel with less than or equal to 5% enrichment                            |
|                                                                              |
| ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS     |
| LIMIT AND % WORST CASE OF CRITICAL MASS):                                    |
|                                                                              |
| No uranium bearing material was involved in this event. There were no leaks  |
| of uranium bearing materiel in the area during this event. The event         |
| involves the presence of an unsafe geometry (via an opening in the building  |
| block wall) that could collect solution in the event of a spill.             |
|                                                                              |
| NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION   |
| OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES:                                             |
|                                                                              |
| The presence of holes in the exterior building walls could lead to the       |
| collection of a spill or leak in the unfavorable geometry space. This is a   |
| violation of control #3 of NCSA-0705_076, Inadvertent Containers, which      |
| specifically evaluates this event.  Compliance with inadvertent container    |
| controls was reestablished for a shutdown Recovery system and for the        |
| Microfiltration system (running or shutdown) within four hours of            |
| discovery.                                                                   |
|                                                                              |
| CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEM AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED:   |
|                                                                              |
| Compliance with the NCSA was reestablished with the closure of windows,      |
| caulking of identified openings and continued shutdown of Systems involved.  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   38299       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FACILITY: CATAWBA                  REGION:  2  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/19/2001|
|    UNIT:  [] [2] []                 STATE:  SC |NOTIFICATION TIME: 22:12[EDT]|
|   RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP                |EVENT DATE:        09/19/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        20:15[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  P. MCINTYRE                  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  09/19/2001|
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  JOHN MacKINNON               +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |SCOTT SPARKS         R2      |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|ADEG 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A)  DEGRADED CONDITION     |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
|                                                |                             |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|                                                   |                          |
|2     N          N       0        Refueling        |0        Refueling        |
|                                                   |                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   EVENT TEXT                                   
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| BORIC RESIDUE BUILDUP                                                        |
|                                                                              |
| Visual inspection of the Unit 2 Steam Generator 2B (SG 2B) lower head bowl   |
| drain during the current refueling outage indicated boron residue buildup on |
| the 0.5" piping immediately below the SG.  The total volume of residue was   |
| approximately 1 cubic inch.  The origin appears to be the partial            |
| penetration of a weld between the reducing coupling and the lower head       |
| shell.  Exact location could not be conclusively determined at this time and |
| additional inspection using NDE will be conducted.  Visual inspection of the |
| other three SG's was also conducted and no indications of leakage were       |
| identified.  State and Local officials will be given a courtesy call.        |
|                                                                              |
|                                                                              |
| The NRC Resident Inspector will be notified by the licensee.                 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


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