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Event Notification Report for March 13, 2018

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR
03/12/2018 - 03/13/2018

EVENT NUMBERS
53258532595326053254

Agreement State
Event Number: 53258
Rep Org: NC DIV OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: GE HITACHI
Region: 1
City: WILMINGTON   State: NC
County:
License #: 0317-3
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TRAVIS CARTOSKI
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 03/13/2018
Notification Time: 12:27 [ET]
Event Date: 03/13/2018
Event Time: 09:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/13/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
NMSS EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
Event Text
NORTH CAROLINA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - PACKAGE EXCEEDED REGULATORY RADIATION LIMITS FOR TRANSPORTATION

The following information was received from the state of North Carolina via email:

"A North Carolina licensee reported the receipt of a package exceeding the limits as defined in 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(2) and 10 CFR 71.47; direct contact readings of the package greater than 200 mR/hr. Origination of the package was: Laguna Verde Power Station in Mexico and the final carrier: Tristate, has been notified.

"Licensee reports that the package exceeding the limits was not designated as Exclusive Use on the bill of lading. At this time, it appears to be a manifest error on the part of Laguna Verde Power Station, Radiation Protection. Licensee followed their internal procedures for the handling of packages designated as Exclusive Use when initial surveys of the received package exceeded the limits in 71.47. Licensee reports that carrier Tristate; handles all shipments to the licensee's location as Exclusive Use.

"At this time, no public health and safety issues have been identified. It was determined through initial licensee surveys that the driver for this shipment did not receive a dose exceeding the limits and no other product was being transported or offloaded with this shipment.

"NC Radiation Protection Section has initiated an investigation and will be responding on-site. Follow up details will be forwarded to the NRC as appropriate following the outcome of this investigation."


Power Reactor
Event Number: 53259
Facility: PILGRIM
Region: 1     State: MA
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-3
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL HETTWER
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 03/13/2018
Notification Time: 15:54 [ET]
Event Date: 03/13/2018
Event Time: 10:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/13/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
Person (Organization):
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
JEFFERY GRANT (IRD)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N N 0 Cold Shutdown 0 Cold Shutdown
Event Text
OFF-SITE POWER UNAVAILABLE DUE TO WINTER STORM

"On March 13, 2018 at 1000 hours [EDT], with the reactor in Cold Shutdown condition, both 345kV incoming power lines and 23 kV Shutdown Transformer became unavailable during the Northeast winter storm. Per procedures, the emergency on-site emergency power supplies (Emergency Diesel Generators) were running and providing power to essential systems. In addition, the back-up Diesel Air Compressor was in service and one Reactor Protection System bus was on the back-up power supply prior to the loss.

"With both 345kV incoming power lines and 23 kV Shutdown Transformer unavailable, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station procedures direct a report be made to the NRC per the requirements of Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations 50.72(b)(3)(v), any event that could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function. No actual loss of safety function has occurred since the on-site emergency power supplies are maintaining the reactor in a safe shutdown condition and removing residual heat.

"The loss of incoming power is under investigation.

"This event had no impact on the health and/or safety of the public.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."


Power Reactor
Event Number: 53260
Facility: SAINT LUCIE
Region: 2     State: FL
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: RICK ROTERS
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Notification Date: 03/14/2018
Notification Time: 09:34 [ET]
Event Date: 03/13/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/14/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R2DO)
FFD GROUP (EMAI)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N N 0 Cold Shutdown 0 Cold Shutdown
2 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
Event Text
FITNESS FOR DUTY - NON-LICENSED SUPERVISOR TESTED POSITIVE FFD TEST

A non-licensed contract supervisor had a confirmed positive for illegal drugs during a pre-access drug test. The individual's access has been denied.

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.


Power Reactor
Event Number: 53254
Facility: LACROSSE
Region: 3     State: WI
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] AC (ALLIS CHAMBERS)
NRC Notified By: JIM ASHLEY
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 03/12/2018
Notification Time: 11:59 [ET]
Event Date: 03/13/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/12/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
ROBERT ORLIKOWSKI (R3DO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N N 0 Decommissioned 0 Decommissioned
Event Text
PRESS RELEASE PLANNED

"LacrosseSolutions is preparing to issue a short press release related to the detection of tritium above background levels detected in site groundwater sampling wells. Following is a summary of the release:

"The LACBWR [LaCrosse Boiling Water Reactor] site contains a network of industrial groundwater monitoring wells. Analytical results from a routine sampling event on December 28, 2017, indicated above background levels of tritium in the monitoring well closest to the reactor building. All wells sampled in December were resampled on February 14, 2018. From that sampling event, one additional well resulted positive for tritium.

"The monitoring well closest to the reactor building has a tritium concentration equivalent to the EPA limit for drinking water. No other radionuclides were found in the groundwater monitoring wells. EnergySolutions is using Haley & Aldrich, a national environmental consulting firm experienced in this area, to assist EnergySolutions in further testing and development of a groundwater monitoring plan to monitor the source of the tritium.

"On March 6, 2018, Dairyland Power Cooperative directed their employees working at the coal plant next to LACBWR to switch to bottled drinking water instead of well water until more information is known about the source of tritium. This was a prudent and cautious step to address any concerns employees may have. The drinking water wells draw water from a much deeper depth than the groundwater that is approximately equal to the river height. No radionuclides were detected in the drinking water levels above background.

"The State of Wisconsin and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission were briefed and are closely following the issue."

The licensee has been communicating with NRC R3 (Edwards) and NRC HQ (Vaaler) since the initial sampling event.