Event Notification Report for November 08, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
11/7/2019 - 11/8/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **


532355425754363


!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED.THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor Event Number: 53235
Facility: QUAD CITIES
Region: 3     State: IL
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-3,[2] GE-3
NRC Notified By: PHILIP FOWLER
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 03/01/2018
Notification Time: 13:43 [ET]
Event Date: 03/01/2018
Event Time: 12:10 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/07/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
2 N Y 85 Power Operation 85 Power Operation

Event Text



EN Revision Imported Date : 11/8/2019

EN Revision Text: UNANALYZED CONDITION FOR TORNADO GENERATED MISSILES

"On March 1, 2018, during evaluation of protection for Technical Specifications (TS) equipment from the damaging effects of tornado generated missiles, Quad Cities Station identified a non-conforming condition in the plant design such that specific TS equipment is considered to not be adequately protected from tornado generated missiles. Tornado generated missiles could strike the Unit l, Unit 1/2, and Unit 2 Emergency Diesel Generator intake and exhaust stacks, day tank vents, and main fuel oil tank vents. This could result in crimping of the intake/exhaust stacks and vents, which would affect the ability of the Emergency Diesel Generators to perform their function if a tornado would occur.

"This condition is reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) as a condition that results in the nuclear power plant being in an unanalyzed condition that significantly degrades plant safety, and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) as a condition that at the time of discovery could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of structures or systems that are needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident.

"This condition is being addressed in accordance with NRC enforcement guidance provided in Enforcement Guidance Memorandum (EGM) 15-002, 'Enforcement Discretion for Tornado-Generated Missile Protection Noncompliance,' Revision 1, and DSS-ISG-2016-01, 'Clarification of Licensee Actions in Receipt of Enforcement Discretion per Enforcement Guidance Memorandum EGM 15-002, Enforcement Discretion for Tornado-Generated Missile Protection Noncompliance,' Revision 1. Compensatory measures have been implemented in accordance with these documents.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been informed of this notification."

* * * RETRACTION FROM NICK JOHNSON TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 1900 EST ON 11/7/19 * * *

"The purpose of this notification today (11/07/19) is to retract event notification #53235 made on March 1, 2018, for Quad Cities Station. Additional review determined that the current design of all three Emergency Diesel Generators and associated Day Tanks and Main Fuel Oil Storage Tanks Vents is consistent with the licensing basis for Quad Cities Station. There was no non-conformance of Quad Cities' tornado missile protection design, and the EDGs were operable at the time the event notification was made.

"Therefore, this event does not meet the criteria of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) and ENS report #53235 is being retracted.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been informed of this notification."

Notified R3DO (Peterson).


Power Reactor Event Number: 54257
Facility: SOUTH TEXAS
Region: 4     State: TX
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL CHANDLER
HQ OPS Officer: CATY NOLAN
Notification Date: 09/06/2019
Notification Time: 02:47 [ET]
Event Date: 09/05/2019
Event Time: 21:15 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/07/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text



EN Revision Imported Date : 11/8/2019

EN Revision Text: CONTAINMENT PENETRATION DISCOVERED NOT ISOLATED

"At 2115 CDT on 9/5/2019, an inside containment test connection and inoperable outside containment isolation valve were discovered to be open for a containment air sample penetration. This resulted in the containment penetration not being isolated. The inside containment test connection was closed at 2322 CDT on 9/5/2019.

"This event is being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) and (D) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B).

"There was no impact to the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * UPDATE FROM PAUL BURTON TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 1342 EST ON 11/7/19 * * *

"This event was originally reported on September 6, 2019 under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) and (D) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B). Upon completion of the investigation of the event, it was determined that the event had insignificant safety consequences because the containment breach was disconnected from the Reactor Coolant System by a series of closed valves for the duration of the event. Additionally, the lines to the inside containment connection and the outside inoperable containment isolation valve that was found to be open as well as the main line connecting and passing through the penetration were one-inch diameter lines. Analysis determined that containment breaches that are less than a three-inch diameter do not lead to a large radiation release.

"The event did not place the plant in an unanalyzed condition that significantly degrades plant safety. Therefore, 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) did not apply to this event and this notification is to retract reporting under that criterion."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R4DO (Drake).


Agreement State Event Number: 54363
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: FIRST AMERICA METAL CORP
Region: 3
City: MORRIS   State: IL
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GARY FORSEE
HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA
Notification Date: 10/31/2019
Notification Time: 17:13 [ET]
Event Date: 10/31/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/31/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
KENNETH RIEMER (R3DO)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

GENERAL LICENSEE LOST THREE PORTABLE DEVICES CONTAINING AM-241

The following was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via phone and email:

During Agency [Illinois Emergency Management Agency] efforts to pursue an annual self-inspection report from a general licensee (First America Metal Corp), it was discovered that three Niton XLp-818 XRF [x-ray fluorescence analyzer] devices containing 30 milliCuries of Am-241 each could not be accounted for. The facility is located in Morris, IL. On October 28, 2019, the Agency asked for physical verification of the devices. The devices were initially shipped from the manufacturer in 2005 and 2006. Agency staff confirmed with the manufacturer that these devices had not been received or returned (confirmation received 10/31/19). The Agency again contacted the licensee on October 31, 2019. At that point, the licensee confirmed that search activities have ceased and they were officially declaring the devices as lost. Correspondence from the US Dept. of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, dated February 16, 2010, indicates there may have been export of Niton XRF devices by this general licensee; however, it does not appear to be related to the devices missing at this time. There is no indication of theft or intentional diversion. The quantity of material present, while not presenting an immediate exposure concern to any individuals requires immediate reporting to IEMA/NRC.

By design, electronic opening of the shutter requires that the operator power on the unit and enter a password. As a precaution, the instrument will only operate for a six year period before an inspection by the manufacturer is required. Due to the fact the unit has not been serviced, the software in the instrument will not allow the instrument to be operated. In the shielded position, the radiation levels surrounding the device are indistinguishable from background. Should the tungsten source holder be manually opened, exposure rates may be up to 122 mR/hour at 5 cm.

Illinois Item Number: IL190034

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

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021