Event Notification Report for August 05, 2021
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/04/2021 - 08/05/2021
Power Reactor
Event Number: 55398
Facility: South Texas
Region: 4 State: TX
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Michael Samuels
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Kendzia
Region: 4 State: TX
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Michael Samuels
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Kendzia
Notification Date: 08/05/2021
Notification Time: 17:30 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2021
Event Time: 17:42 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/05/2021
Notification Time: 17:30 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2021
Event Time: 17:42 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/05/2021
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - Fitness For Duty
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - Fitness For Duty
Person (Organization):
GEPFORD, HEATHER (R4)
FFD GROUP, (EMAIL)
GEPFORD, HEATHER (R4)
FFD GROUP, (EMAIL)
| 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 | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
EN Revision Imported Date: 9/3/2021
EN Revision Text: NON-LICENSED SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL VIOLATED FFD POLICY
A non-licensed supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
EN Revision Text: NON-LICENSED SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL VIOLATED FFD POLICY
A non-licensed supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Non-Power Reactor
Event Number: 55399
Rep Org: Univ Of Utah
Licensee: University Of Utah
Region: 4
City: Salt Lake City State: UT
County: Salt Lake
License #: R-126
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000407
NRC Notified By: Glenn Sjoden
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Licensee: University Of Utah
Region: 4
City: Salt Lake City State: UT
County: Salt Lake
License #: R-126
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000407
NRC Notified By: Glenn Sjoden
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 08/06/2021
Notification Time: 15:22 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2021
Event Time: 17:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 08/06/2021
Notification Time: 15:22 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2021
Event Time: 17:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 08/06/2021
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
XIAOSONG YIN (NPR PM)
MICHAEL TAKACS (NPR ENC)
WILLIAM SCHUSTER (NPR ENC)
XIAOSONG YIN (NPR PM)
MICHAEL TAKACS (NPR ENC)
WILLIAM SCHUSTER (NPR ENC)
EN Revision Imported Date: 9/3/2021
EN Revision Text: REACTOR WATER OUT OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
"On Thursday, August 5, 2021, during a routine University of Utah Training Reactor (UUTR) operation, an 'out of Technical Specification' indicator reading by water quality sensors for pH and conductivity occurred following shutdown. No other issues were noted, and the reactor and facility are secure.
"Description of Event: At the end of the reactor run, UUTR operators recorded sensor pH as 5.15, pre-demineralizer conductivity was 6.444 micro-mhos/cm, and post-demineralizer conductivity was 0.054 micro-mhos/cm. UUTR Technical Specifications state that the Limiting Condition of Operation (LCO) for pH must fall between 5.5 and 7.5, with a conductivity less than 5.000 micro-mhos/cm. During the start-up procedure, the pH was recorded as 5.6, and pre-demineralizer conductivity was 4.247 micro-mhos/cm, with post-demineralizer conductivity of 0.054 micro-mhos/cm, within UUTR Technical Specifications. It was noted that pH was lower than normal, and conductivity was higher than normal, and this was attributed to the addition of algaecide water treatment actions approximately 10 days prior to the reactor pool, as prolonged maintenance outages led to a need to treat pool water to mitigate algae.
"Response to this Event: Following reactor shutdown on August 5, 2021, the reactor pool clean-up loop was circulated overnight, Thursday to Friday, August 6th 2021, to enable water quality parameters to return to normal acceptable levels.
"Follow-up Actions: UUTR reactor personnel will be inspecting the pool tank on Monday, August 9, 2021, using underwater camera equipment for out of ordinary tank degradation (none is currently apparent). They will also use an external pool cleanup pump to remove any noticeable debris from the bottom of the pool tank, a process last performed June 2020. It is expected that longer run times of the pool circuit cleanup pump and cleaning actions will enable water quality parameters to return to normal operating ranges."
EN Revision Text: REACTOR WATER OUT OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
"On Thursday, August 5, 2021, during a routine University of Utah Training Reactor (UUTR) operation, an 'out of Technical Specification' indicator reading by water quality sensors for pH and conductivity occurred following shutdown. No other issues were noted, and the reactor and facility are secure.
"Description of Event: At the end of the reactor run, UUTR operators recorded sensor pH as 5.15, pre-demineralizer conductivity was 6.444 micro-mhos/cm, and post-demineralizer conductivity was 0.054 micro-mhos/cm. UUTR Technical Specifications state that the Limiting Condition of Operation (LCO) for pH must fall between 5.5 and 7.5, with a conductivity less than 5.000 micro-mhos/cm. During the start-up procedure, the pH was recorded as 5.6, and pre-demineralizer conductivity was 4.247 micro-mhos/cm, with post-demineralizer conductivity of 0.054 micro-mhos/cm, within UUTR Technical Specifications. It was noted that pH was lower than normal, and conductivity was higher than normal, and this was attributed to the addition of algaecide water treatment actions approximately 10 days prior to the reactor pool, as prolonged maintenance outages led to a need to treat pool water to mitigate algae.
"Response to this Event: Following reactor shutdown on August 5, 2021, the reactor pool clean-up loop was circulated overnight, Thursday to Friday, August 6th 2021, to enable water quality parameters to return to normal acceptable levels.
"Follow-up Actions: UUTR reactor personnel will be inspecting the pool tank on Monday, August 9, 2021, using underwater camera equipment for out of ordinary tank degradation (none is currently apparent). They will also use an external pool cleanup pump to remove any noticeable debris from the bottom of the pool tank, a process last performed June 2020. It is expected that longer run times of the pool circuit cleanup pump and cleaning actions will enable water quality parameters to return to normal operating ranges."
Agreement State
Event Number: 55400
Rep Org: KENTUCKY DEPT OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: East Kentucky Power/ KU
Region: 1
City: Winchester State: KY
County:
License #: 201-161-56
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Angela Wilbers
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font
Licensee: East Kentucky Power/ KU
Region: 1
City: Winchester State: KY
County:
License #: 201-161-56
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Angela Wilbers
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font
Notification Date: 08/09/2021
Notification Time: 12:26 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2021
Event Time: 09:50 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/09/2021
Notification Time: 12:26 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2021
Event Time: 09:50 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/09/2021
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
WERKHEISER, DAVE (R1)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION, (EMAIL)
WERKHEISER, DAVE (R1)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION, (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 9/9/2021
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NI-63 SURFACE CONTAMINATION
The following was received from Kentucky Radiation Health Branch (KY RHB) via email:
"At approximately 0950 EDT, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of East Kentucky Power KU [Kentucky Utility] Central Lab called the Kentucky Radiation Health Branch staff to report a Perkin Elmer [gas chromatograph] Model N61000063, s/n 2089, possible leak of the Ni-63 source. A review of the most recent leak test dated 7/29/21, with results of 1.49E-3 microCi, indicated an increase in removable activity when compared to report dated 2/20/21, which demonstrated removable activity of 2.70E-5 microCi.
"The level of activity removed reported to be 1.49E-3 microCi and did not exceed the reporting requirements of 0.005 (5.0E-3) microCi.
"The RSO made arrangements for disposition of materials and will provide that document when completed.
"KY RHB file created for documentation and historical record. These sources had a history of reports as noted in an 8-1-2001 NRC memo."
Kentucky Incident #: 2100003
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NI-63 SURFACE CONTAMINATION
The following was received from Kentucky Radiation Health Branch (KY RHB) via email:
"At approximately 0950 EDT, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of East Kentucky Power KU [Kentucky Utility] Central Lab called the Kentucky Radiation Health Branch staff to report a Perkin Elmer [gas chromatograph] Model N61000063, s/n 2089, possible leak of the Ni-63 source. A review of the most recent leak test dated 7/29/21, with results of 1.49E-3 microCi, indicated an increase in removable activity when compared to report dated 2/20/21, which demonstrated removable activity of 2.70E-5 microCi.
"The level of activity removed reported to be 1.49E-3 microCi and did not exceed the reporting requirements of 0.005 (5.0E-3) microCi.
"The RSO made arrangements for disposition of materials and will provide that document when completed.
"KY RHB file created for documentation and historical record. These sources had a history of reports as noted in an 8-1-2001 NRC memo."
Kentucky Incident #: 2100003