| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
05/29/2008 - 05/30/2008 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! | | Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 44158 | Facility: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
Region: 2
City: PADUCAH State: KY
County: McCRACKEN
License #: GDP-1
Agreement: Y
Docket: 0707001
NRC Notified By: MATT MAURER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 04/23/2008
Notification Time: 08:45 [ET]
Event Date: 04/22/2008
Event Time: 09:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/29/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
76.120(c)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
| Person (Organization):
CHARLIE PAYNE (R2)
CHRISTOPHER REGAN (NMSS)
| Event Text IMPROPERLY INSTALLED STEEL ANGLE SUPPORTS ON FREEZER SUBLIMER VESSEL
"At 0900 CDT on 04-22-08, the Plant Shift Superintendent (PSS) was notified that the weight monitoring systems on vessels 2 on C-333 Unit 1 Cell 9, Unit 2 Cell 2, Unit 4 Cell 2 and Unit 4 Cell 9 freezer-sublimers showed weight changes when improperly installed steel angle supports welded to the vessel inlet piping were cut free. Each freezer sublimer vessel has a weight monitoring and trip system (high-high weight trip system) that prevents the over-filling of UF6 into the vessel. The high-high weight trip system is required by TSR 2.4.3.1 to prevent overfilling the freezer-sublimer vessels when in mode F/S 1 (freeze) or F/S 3 (cold standby). At the time of discovery, each freezer sublimer was in a non-applicable TSR mode F/S 6 (out-of-service). However, each freezer-sublimer has been routinely operated in TSR modes F/S 1 and F/S 3 over several years with the steel angle supports installed.
"The steel angle supports were likely installed to facilitate piping alignment during freezer-sublimer construction over fifteen years ago. The steel angle supports were not removed after construction. The presence of the steel angle supports may affect the performance the high-high weight trip system specified in TSR 2.4.3.1. All other installed freezer-sublimers were inspected and no additional steel angle supports were similarly connected. Engineering personnel are conducting a formal stress analysis to determine the stresses the steel supports may have had on the weight monitoring and trip system. There is no evidence that the weight limits specified in TSR 2.4.3.1 have been exceeded as a result of this issue.
"Pending further analysis, this event is conservatively being reported as a 24 hour event in accordance with 10 CFR 76.120(c)(2)(i). This is an event in which equipment is disabled or fails to function as designed when: a.) the equipment is required by a TSR to prevent releases, prevent exposures to radiation and radioactive materials exceeding specified limits, mitigate the consequences of an accident, or restore this facility to a pre-established safe condition after an accident; b.) the equipment is required by a TSR to be available and operable and either should have been operating or should have operated on demand, and c.) no redundant equipment is available and operable to perform the required safety function. "
PGDP Assessment and Tracking Report No. ATRC-08-l 183; PGDP Event Report No. PAD-2008-12; Worksheet No. 44158
The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event.
* * * RETRACTION ON 5/29/2008 AT 1815 FROM BILLY WALLACE TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *
"Retracted on 5/29/08, engineering calculations show that the error from the supports was less than the margin provided in the setpoint calculations."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
Notified the R2DO (Widman) and NMSS (Stablein). |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 44242 | Rep Org: OK DEQ RAD MANAGEMENT
Licensee: WALMART
Region: 4
City: ENID State: OK
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE BRODERICK
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 05/27/2008
Notification Time: 17:10 [ET]
Event Date: 05/01/2003
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/27/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JONES (R4)
TERRANCE REIS (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TRITIUM RELEASE FROM EXIT SIGNS
"Wal-Mart stores reported to Oklahoma DEQ that they had found three damaged tritium exit signs during an audit of their signage. Two of the signs released tritium, the third did not release tritium. All three signs were at the Wal-Mart in Enid, Oklahoma. It appears that the signs were damaged by a 'walkie stacker' (similar to a fork lift) at an unknown date in 2003. The radioactive content of the signs was not recognized at the time of the damage. All three signs have been sent to Isolite for disposal or recycling. The signs were manufactured by SRB Technologies, Inc. Serial numbers of the leaking signs were 290130 and 290103.
"Wipe tests revealed removable contamination of about 800 dpm/100 sq. cm on the wall directly behind one sign, and a maximum removable contamination of 82,800 dpm/100 sq. cm on the cement floor below the other sign. Both leaking signs were in the shipping and receiving area of the store. Wal-Mart has hired Dade Moeller & Associates as consultants, and this company took the measurement and conducted remediation. Dade Moeller states that they will have a technician at the store to remediate the remaining contamination by the end of this week." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44246 | Facility: PALO VERDE
Region: 4 State: AZ
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: JIM MORELAND
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 05/29/2008
Notification Time: 02:40 [ET]
Event Date: 05/28/2008
Event Time: 21:34 [MST]
Last Update Date: 05/29/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JONES (R4)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | M/R | Y | 0 | Startup | 0 | Hot Standby | Event Text MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF CEA'S
"The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event, additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time, a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10 CFR 50.73.
"On May 28, 2008, at approximately 2134 Mountain Standard Time (MST) Palo Verde Unit 2 operators manually tripped the reactor, as directed by procedures, when four Control Element Assembly (CEAs 7, 9, 11 &13) of shutdown bank A slipped to the fully inserted position while conducting low power physics testing following Unit 2's fourteenth refueling outage. Unit 2 was critical [Intermediate Range 5.0E-2]and at normal operating temperature and pressure prior to the trip. Following the manual reactor trip all remaining CEAs inserted fully into the reactor core. This was an uncomplicated reactor trip. No emergency classification was required per the Emergency Plan. No automatic ESF actuations occurred and none were required. Safety related buses remained energized during and following the reactor trip. The Emergency Diesel Generators did not start and were not required. The offsite power grid is stable. No LCOs have been entered as a result of this event. No major equipment was inoperable prior to the event that contributed to the event.
"Unit 2 is stable at normal operating temperature and pressure in Mode 3. The event did not result in any challenges to fission product barriers and there were no adverse safety consequences as a result of this event. The event did not adversely affect the safe operation of the plant or the health and safety of the public.
"The cause of the slipped CEAs is not known at this time and is under investigation.
"The Senior Resident Inspector was informed of the Unit 2 reactor trip." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44247 | Facility: SAN ONOFRE
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [ ] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: CLAY WILLIAMS
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 05/29/2008
Notification Time: 18:06 [ET]
Event Date: 05/29/2008
Event Time: 11:36 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 05/29/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JONES (R4)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 99 | Power Operation | 99 | Power Operation | | 3 | N | Y | 80 | Power Operation | 80 | Power Operation | Event Text OFFSITE POWER BELOW 59.7 HZ
"On May 29, 2008, at approximately 1136 PDT, the offsite power grid connected to San Onofre experienced a momentary system disturbance. Control Room indicators alerted Operators that the grid frequency dipped to approximately 59.6 Hz. Because frequency dipped below 59.7 Hz, SCE is reporting this event in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(D).
"The frequency dip lasted approximately 10 seconds, reportedly due to a loss of generation in the Pacific Northwest. The grid is currently operating at nominal frequency.
"At the time of the event, San Onofre Unit 2 was operating in Mode 1 at approximately 99 percent power and Unit 3 was operating in Mode 1 at approximately 80 percent power. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of this event and will be provided a copy of this report." | |