Event Notification Report for April 10, 2015
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/09/2015 - 04/10/2015
Agreement State
Event Number: 50972
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: LYNN State: MA
County:
License #: NA
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSHUA E. DAEHLER
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: LYNN State: MA
County:
License #: NA
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSHUA E. DAEHLER
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Notification Date: 04/10/2015
Notification Time: 14:39 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2015
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/10/2015
Notification Time: 14:39 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2015
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/10/2015
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIUM-226 SOURCE FOUND IN LOAD OF SCRAP METAL
The following report was provided by the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program via email:
"The Agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] provided an on-site response to Turner, Inc., Lynn, MA, a scrap metal facility that had previously received a source back from Prolerized, another scrap metal facility in Everett, MA.
"The source was originally detected by a radiation detector at the Prolerized site where the dose rate of the source, shielded by scrap metal in a truck, was measured to be 0.1 mrem/hr inclusive of a background of 0.05 mrem/hr.
"The Agency surveyed the source at the Turner, Inc. site with a multi-channel analyzer and identified the source to contain radium-226 with a contact dose rate of 113 mrem/hr. The detector of the analyzer was approximately 1 cm from the source. Based upon the survey performed, the source contains approximately 15 microCuries of radium-226 and therefore is immediately reportable in accordance with 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1).
"The source is rectangular and measures approximately 7.5 mm length by 2.5 mm width and height and is without any observed marking or serialization. The source might be of type used for calibration of a liquid scintillation counter.
"The source is in a plastic bag, inside a container that is segregated, secured and shielded from workers at the scrap metal facility.
"Turner, Inc. had obtained the services of a radiation safety consultant who had originally isolated the source from the truck and secured the source at Turner, Inc. Exposures, if any, to the public and workers from the source are negligible due to the storage location and interposed shielding.
"The Agency continues to investigate and considers this event to be open."
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
The following report was provided by the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program via email:
"The Agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] provided an on-site response to Turner, Inc., Lynn, MA, a scrap metal facility that had previously received a source back from Prolerized, another scrap metal facility in Everett, MA.
"The source was originally detected by a radiation detector at the Prolerized site where the dose rate of the source, shielded by scrap metal in a truck, was measured to be 0.1 mrem/hr inclusive of a background of 0.05 mrem/hr.
"The Agency surveyed the source at the Turner, Inc. site with a multi-channel analyzer and identified the source to contain radium-226 with a contact dose rate of 113 mrem/hr. The detector of the analyzer was approximately 1 cm from the source. Based upon the survey performed, the source contains approximately 15 microCuries of radium-226 and therefore is immediately reportable in accordance with 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1).
"The source is rectangular and measures approximately 7.5 mm length by 2.5 mm width and height and is without any observed marking or serialization. The source might be of type used for calibration of a liquid scintillation counter.
"The source is in a plastic bag, inside a container that is segregated, secured and shielded from workers at the scrap metal facility.
"Turner, Inc. had obtained the services of a radiation safety consultant who had originally isolated the source from the truck and secured the source at Turner, Inc. Exposures, if any, to the public and workers from the source are negligible due to the storage location and interposed shielding.
"The Agency continues to investigate and considers this event to be open."
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
Power Reactor
Event Number: 50973
Facility: SUSQUEHANNA
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: RON FRY
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: RON FRY
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Notification Date: 04/11/2015
Notification Time: 01:52 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2015
Event Time: 23:46 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/11/2015
Notification Time: 01:52 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2015
Event Time: 23:46 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/11/2015
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | A/R | Y | 37 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Shutdown |
AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM CAUSED BY MAIN TURBINE TRIP DUE TO DEGRADING MAIN CONDENSER VACUUM
"At 2346 EDT on April 10, 2015, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Unit 2 reactor automatically scrammed due to a main turbine trip caused by loss of turbine steam seals and degrading main condenser vacuum.
"Unit 2 reactor was being shutdown for a refueling outage. At approximately 37 percent power, turbine steam seals were lost resulting in a degrading vacuum. The vacuum degraded quickly, resulting in a main turbine trip before the reactor operator could insert a manual scram. At 37 percent power, the turbine trip caused an automatic scram. This occurred during a transfer from normal steam seal supply to the auxiliary boiler supply. All control rods [fully] inserted. Reactor water level lowered to +2 inches causing Level 3 (+13 inches) isolation. No ECCS actuations occurred. The Operations crew subsequently maintained reactor water level at the normal operating band using RCIC [Reactor Core Isolation Cooling]. No steam relief valves opened. The reactor recirculation pumps tripped on EOC-RPT due to the turbine trip at power.
"The reactor is currently stable in Mode 3. Investigation into the cause of the loss of turbine steam seals is underway.
"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. A voluntary notification to PEMA [Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency] and press release will occur."
Unit 2 is in a normal shutdown electrical lineup. Turbine steam seals were restored to the normal steam supply and condenser vacuum was restored. Decay heat is being removed via the steam bypass valves to the condenser. Unit 2 is proceeding with their cooldown to support the scheduled refueling outage.
"At 2346 EDT on April 10, 2015, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Unit 2 reactor automatically scrammed due to a main turbine trip caused by loss of turbine steam seals and degrading main condenser vacuum.
"Unit 2 reactor was being shutdown for a refueling outage. At approximately 37 percent power, turbine steam seals were lost resulting in a degrading vacuum. The vacuum degraded quickly, resulting in a main turbine trip before the reactor operator could insert a manual scram. At 37 percent power, the turbine trip caused an automatic scram. This occurred during a transfer from normal steam seal supply to the auxiliary boiler supply. All control rods [fully] inserted. Reactor water level lowered to +2 inches causing Level 3 (+13 inches) isolation. No ECCS actuations occurred. The Operations crew subsequently maintained reactor water level at the normal operating band using RCIC [Reactor Core Isolation Cooling]. No steam relief valves opened. The reactor recirculation pumps tripped on EOC-RPT due to the turbine trip at power.
"The reactor is currently stable in Mode 3. Investigation into the cause of the loss of turbine steam seals is underway.
"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. A voluntary notification to PEMA [Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency] and press release will occur."
Unit 2 is in a normal shutdown electrical lineup. Turbine steam seals were restored to the normal steam supply and condenser vacuum was restored. Decay heat is being removed via the steam bypass valves to the condenser. Unit 2 is proceeding with their cooldown to support the scheduled refueling outage.