Event Notification Report for September 07, 2016
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/06/2016 - 09/07/2016
Power Reactor
Event Number: 52226
Facility: PALO VERDE
Region: 4 State: AZ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: MIKE JONES
HQ OPS Officer: DANIEL MILLS
Region: 4 State: AZ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: MIKE JONES
HQ OPS Officer: DANIEL MILLS
Notification Date: 09/08/2016
Notification Time: 04:27 [ET]
Event Date: 09/07/2016
Event Time: 21:31 [MST]
Last Update Date: 09/08/2016
Notification Time: 04:27 [ET]
Event Date: 09/07/2016
Event Time: 21:31 [MST]
Last Update Date: 09/08/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
Person (Organization):
THOMAS HIPSCHMAN (R4DO)
THOMAS HIPSCHMAN (R4DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M/R | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Standby |
MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO STUCK OPEN PRESSURIZER MAIN SPRAY VALVE
"On September 7th, 2016 at approximately 2131 Mountain Standard Time (MST), Palo Verde Unit 1 was manually tripped due to a stuck open main spray valve. Unit 1 was operating at 100 percent power at normal operating temperature and pressure prior to the event. A 120 VAC non-class instrument distribution panel was being transferred to its alternate power supply to establish maintenance conditions. The distribution panel failed to transfer. The panel remained energized from its normal power supply; however, multiple components powered from the distribution panel began to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior. At this time, it was noted that a reactor coolant system main spray valve was open. The alarm response procedure was followed; however, the actions taken were unsuccessful at closing the main spray valve. The plant was then manually tripped due to pressurizer pressure continuing to lower. The reactor coolant pumps were turned off to terminate main pressurizer spray flow to control pressurizer pressure due to the inability to close the main spray valve. No ESF [Engineered Safety Features] actuations occurred and none were required. No emergency classification was required per the emergency plan. 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. Limiting condition for operation 3.4.1 was entered due to low pressurizer pressure. No major equipment was inoperable prior to the event that contributed to the event.
"Unit 1 is stable at normal operating temperature and pressure in Mode 3. Reactor coolant pumps are secured and natural circulation has been verified. Primary pressure is being maintained at its normal operating pressure manually with pressurizer heaters and auxiliary spray, from the charging system. 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 minimum RCS pressure was approximately 2070 psia (normal 2250). The event did not adversely affect the safe operation of the plant or the health and safety of the public."
All rods inserted and the trip was uncomplicated. Units 2 and 3 were not affected and continue to run at full power.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
"On September 7th, 2016 at approximately 2131 Mountain Standard Time (MST), Palo Verde Unit 1 was manually tripped due to a stuck open main spray valve. Unit 1 was operating at 100 percent power at normal operating temperature and pressure prior to the event. A 120 VAC non-class instrument distribution panel was being transferred to its alternate power supply to establish maintenance conditions. The distribution panel failed to transfer. The panel remained energized from its normal power supply; however, multiple components powered from the distribution panel began to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior. At this time, it was noted that a reactor coolant system main spray valve was open. The alarm response procedure was followed; however, the actions taken were unsuccessful at closing the main spray valve. The plant was then manually tripped due to pressurizer pressure continuing to lower. The reactor coolant pumps were turned off to terminate main pressurizer spray flow to control pressurizer pressure due to the inability to close the main spray valve. No ESF [Engineered Safety Features] actuations occurred and none were required. No emergency classification was required per the emergency plan. 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. Limiting condition for operation 3.4.1 was entered due to low pressurizer pressure. No major equipment was inoperable prior to the event that contributed to the event.
"Unit 1 is stable at normal operating temperature and pressure in Mode 3. Reactor coolant pumps are secured and natural circulation has been verified. Primary pressure is being maintained at its normal operating pressure manually with pressurizer heaters and auxiliary spray, from the charging system. 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 minimum RCS pressure was approximately 2070 psia (normal 2250). The event did not adversely affect the safe operation of the plant or the health and safety of the public."
All rods inserted and the trip was uncomplicated. Units 2 and 3 were not affected and continue to run at full power.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Agreement State
Event Number: 52250
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: G.E. HEALTHCARE DBA/MEDI+PHYSICS
Region: 3
City: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01109-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAREN PERRERO
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Licensee: G.E. HEALTHCARE DBA/MEDI+PHYSICS
Region: 3
City: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01109-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAREN PERRERO
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 09/19/2016
Notification Time: 13:33 [ET]
Event Date: 09/07/2016
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2016
Notification Time: 13:33 [ET]
Event Date: 09/07/2016
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
STEVE ORTH (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)
STEVE ORTH (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVE SEED PACKAGE FAILED TO REACH FINAL DESTINATION
The following information was received from the State of Illinois by email:
"The radiation safety officer, (RSO) at GE Healthcare, called to advise that a package of I-125 seeds which had been given to [a common carrier] to deliver to Sydney, Australia had not reached their destination by the desired date. The package is 6x6x6 inches box of 'excepted package - limited quantity' which contains 10 sealed sources with a total activity of 6.8 milliCi (actual) in a box calibrated for Saturday, 8/27/16, at noon. The RSO has been in touch with [common carrier] since September 3, 2016 when GE's customer service became concerned while routinely performing package tracking. [The common carrier] last had positive tracking for this package in San Francisco, CA on August 28th. [The common carrier] is still conducting visual surveys in San Francisco and Sydney in an attempt to locate the box and has no evidence to indicate the materials have been delivered to an outside entity. Surveys conducted at O'Hare Airport in Chicago where the package was initially offered for transport were negative. [The common carrier] reports that it is still conducting searches and has put a 'world wide tracer' into effect to locate the material as it still believes it is within their delivery system."
Illinois Event: IL 16007
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 information was received from the State of Illinois by email:
"The radiation safety officer, (RSO) at GE Healthcare, called to advise that a package of I-125 seeds which had been given to [a common carrier] to deliver to Sydney, Australia had not reached their destination by the desired date. The package is 6x6x6 inches box of 'excepted package - limited quantity' which contains 10 sealed sources with a total activity of 6.8 milliCi (actual) in a box calibrated for Saturday, 8/27/16, at noon. The RSO has been in touch with [common carrier] since September 3, 2016 when GE's customer service became concerned while routinely performing package tracking. [The common carrier] last had positive tracking for this package in San Francisco, CA on August 28th. [The common carrier] is still conducting visual surveys in San Francisco and Sydney in an attempt to locate the box and has no evidence to indicate the materials have been delivered to an outside entity. Surveys conducted at O'Hare Airport in Chicago where the package was initially offered for transport were negative. [The common carrier] reports that it is still conducting searches and has put a 'world wide tracer' into effect to locate the material as it still believes it is within their delivery system."
Illinois Event: IL 16007
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