Alert

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Event Notification Report for November 25, 2003

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
11/24/2003 - 11/25/2003

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Power Reactor	Event Number: 40296
Facility: THREE MILE ISLAND Region: 1 State: PA Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] B&W-L-LP NRC Notified By: ADAM MILLER HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG	Notification Date: 11/04/2003 Notification Time: 15:50 [ET] Event Date: 11/04/2003 Event Time: 14:30 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/24/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) - DEGRADED CONDITION	Person (Organization): RICHARD BARKLEY (R1)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	N	0	Refueling	0	Refueling

Event Text

PRESSURIZER HEATER BUNDLE DIAPHRAGM PLATE DEGRADED CONDITION

"On November 4, 2003, during the TMI Unit 1 15th (T1R15) refueling outage, an inspection of the Pressurizer Heater Bundle (PHB) Diaphragm Plate was completed. This Inspection identified a leak path emanating from the lower Pressurizer Heater Bundle.

"The initial indication of a potential Reactor Coolant System (RCS) leak was boric acid residue located between the PHB Diaphragm Plate and the PHB Cover Plate. Initially the leak was believed to be from a seal weld, which is considered comparable to a gasket leak. Following disassembly of the PHB Cover Plate and performance of NDE, it was determined that the pathway was through the edge of the PHB Diaphragm Plate. This degraded condition of the PHB Diaphragm Plate is indicative of a RCS pressure boundary leak. This notification is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A)."

The licensee provided the following pre-refuel outage information:
RCS Leak Rate = less than 0.1 gallons per minute
Activity = 0.45 microcuries/milliliter
TS [Technical Specifications] Limits: No leakage (3.1.6.4)
Secondary System Activity = less than 1E-10 microcuries/milliliter

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATE ON 11/24/03 AT 0114 EST FROM JOHN SCHORK TO HOWIE CROUCH * * *

"Subsequent to the initial report made on 11/4/03, the Pressurizer Heater Bundle (PHB) Diaphragm Plate was repaired. On November 23, 2003 during performance of post-maintenance testing inspections with the plant in Hot Shutdown, steam was observed emanating from either the seal weld or the PHB diaphragm plate.

"This update is being made to EN 40296 because the observed leak is being conservatively classified as a leak from the Primary System Pressure Boundary and is being addressed in a manner consistent with TMI Technical Specifications 3.1.6.4 and 3.1.6.6. An evaluation of the safety implications of the leak has been initiated. A condition report has been generated to capture all of the actions that have been and will be taken in response to the leak.

"The plant is being taken to cold shutdown in order to perform an inspection and repair of the leak. The plant continues to be subcritical with all control rods fully inserted and the Reactor Coolant System boron concentration is at the refueling boron concentration. The plant continues to remain in the T1R15 refueling outage.

"The NRC TMI-1 Sr. Resident Inspector has been notified of the leak. No other notifications were made to the State, Local or other governmental agencies. No press release has been issued regarding the event. The cause and corrective action to repair the leak will be addressed in the licensee event report being submitted in response to EN 40296.

"The location of the leak observed on November 23, 2003 is in the immediate vicinity of the lower Pressurizer Heater Bundle. There has been no determination of the volumetric leak rate. The leak consists [of] steam wisping from the location. The start date of the leak is November 23, 2003 and the leak was initially observed during hot shutdown checks at 1930 hours on November 23, 2003. There has been no radiological release to the environment as a result of this leak."

The licensee has notified the NRC Senior Resident Inspector.

Notified R1DO (John Rogge) and NRR (William Ruland).

General Information or Other	Event Number: 40339
Rep Org: GEORGIA RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PGM Licensee: GOLDER ASSOCIATES INC Region: 1 City: MCINTYRE State: GA County: License #: GA1205-1 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: LIZ SEALE (FAX) HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD	Notification Date: 11/19/2003 Notification Time: 13:37 [ET] Event Date: 11/18/2003 Event Time: 16:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/19/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): JOHN ROGGE (R1) ROBERTO TORRES (NMSS)

Event Text

PORTABLE TROXLER GAUGE RUN OVER BY BULLDOZER

A portable Troxler Model 3411B S/N 6581, was run over by a bulldozer on 11/18/03. The probe was intact and was returned to inside of the gauge housing and moved to a secure location to be leak tested and transported back to the office awaiting recommendations from Troxler. The gauge contained 40 millicuries Am-241 and 8 millicuries Cs-137. A second licensee, Englehard #Ga178-1, was also involved.

General Information or Other	Event Number: 40341
Rep Org: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY Licensee: ATL INC Region: 4 City: PHOENIX State: AZ County: License #: AZ-07-116 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: AUBRY GODWIN HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD	Notification Date: 11/19/2003 Notification Time: 16:50 [ET] Event Date: 11/18/2003 Event Time: 13:00 [MST] Last Update Date: 11/19/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): KRISS KENNEDY (R4) TOM ESSIG (NMSS) VICTOR GONZALEZ (MEX)

Event Text

STOLEN MOISTURE-DENSITY GAUGE

The Arizona Agency was informed on 11/19/03 @ 1230 of a stolen moisture density gauge which was taken when the pickup truck it was in was stolen. The gauge was a CPN Model MC3, S/N M390404988 containing 10 millicuries of Cs-137 and 40 millicuries of Am:Be-241. Avondale, AZ police are investigating (report # 0327274) the incident. A press release will be issued and the licensee will notify the FBI, States of CA, NV, NM, CO and the Country of Mexico.

Power Reactor	Event Number: 40351
Facility: FT CALHOUN Region: 4 State: NE Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] CE NRC Notified By: ERICK MATZKE HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON	Notification Date: 11/24/2003 Notification Time: 12:21 [ET] Event Date: 11/24/2003 Event Time: 03:22 [CST] Last Update Date: 11/24/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE	Person (Organization): BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	Y	100	Power Operation	100	Power Operation

Event Text

INABILITY TO INITIATE EMERGENCY SIRENS FROM EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FACILITY

"At 0322 CST, on 11/24/2003, an alarm was received on the Alert Notification System. The system alarm is not necessarily indicative of a system fault. Normal procedure is to check the system at the start of the normal work day. When the system was tested at 0615 CST it was discovered that the emergency sirens could not be sounded from the Emergency Operations Facility (EOF).

"Troubleshooting efforts were begun. The repair crew discovered that the sirens are able to be sounded by their normal stations (the counties). The sirens were also able to be sounded by a remote unmanned alternate location [owned by the utility located in downtown Omaha]. However, the EOF could not have verified which sirens had sounded. Verification of siren actuation was possible from the unmanned alternate location. Troubleshooting continues."

The licensee has informed the NRC Resident Inspector.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021