Event Notification Report for August 22, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/21/2023 - 08/22/2023
Power Reactor
Event Number: 56692
Facility: Vogtle 1/2
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Michael Walden
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Michael Walden
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood
Notification Date: 08/22/2023
Notification Time: 21:05 [ET]
Event Date: 08/22/2023
Event Time: 17:24 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2023
Notification Time: 21:05 [ET]
Event Date: 08/22/2023
Event Time: 17:24 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - Offsite Notification 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)(2)(xi) - Offsite Notification 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
| 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 AND AUTOMATIC ACTUATION OF AUXILIARY FEEDWATER SYSTEM
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 1724 EDT, on August 22, 2023, with Unit 1 in Mode 1 at 100 percent power, the reactor was manually tripped due to a failure of the non-safety heater drain pump 'B' and the failure of the non-safety condensate pump 'A' to automatically or manually start. At 1735 EDT, a fire was identified on heater drain pump 'B' and was extinguished by the onsite fire brigade at 1807 EDT. Operations responded and stabilized the plant. The trip was not complex, with all safety systems responding normally post-trip. Decay heat is being removed by the main steam system to the main condenser using the steam dumps. There was no impact to Units 2, 3, or 4.
"An automatic actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system (AFW) also occurred, as expected, due to lo-lo steam generator levels resulting from the reactor trip. AFW is currently controlling all steam generator levels at their normal levels. Due to the reactor protection system actuation while critical, this event is being reported as a four-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B). Due to the notification of another government agency, the Burke County Fire Department, this event is being reported as a four-hour, non-emergency notification under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi). The Burke County Fire Department was not needed to extinguish the fire. This event is also being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that resulted in a valid actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system.
"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 1724 EDT, on August 22, 2023, with Unit 1 in Mode 1 at 100 percent power, the reactor was manually tripped due to a failure of the non-safety heater drain pump 'B' and the failure of the non-safety condensate pump 'A' to automatically or manually start. At 1735 EDT, a fire was identified on heater drain pump 'B' and was extinguished by the onsite fire brigade at 1807 EDT. Operations responded and stabilized the plant. The trip was not complex, with all safety systems responding normally post-trip. Decay heat is being removed by the main steam system to the main condenser using the steam dumps. There was no impact to Units 2, 3, or 4.
"An automatic actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system (AFW) also occurred, as expected, due to lo-lo steam generator levels resulting from the reactor trip. AFW is currently controlling all steam generator levels at their normal levels. Due to the reactor protection system actuation while critical, this event is being reported as a four-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B). Due to the notification of another government agency, the Burke County Fire Department, this event is being reported as a four-hour, non-emergency notification under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi). The Burke County Fire Department was not needed to extinguish the fire. This event is also being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that resulted in a valid actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system.
"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
Agreement State
Event Number: 56690
Rep Org: Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency
Licensee: Combined Metals of Chicago, LLC
Region: 3
City: Elgin State: IL
County:
License #: IL-02397-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Robin Muzzalupo
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood
Licensee: Combined Metals of Chicago, LLC
Region: 3
City: Elgin State: IL
County:
License #: IL-02397-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Robin Muzzalupo
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood
Notification Date: 08/22/2023
Notification Time: 14:41 [ET]
Event Date: 08/22/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2023
Notification Time: 14:41 [ET]
Event Date: 08/22/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Skokowski, Richard (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Skokowski, Richard (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK OPEN SHUTTER
The following information was received via email from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency):
"The Agency was contacted on August 22, 2023, by Combined Metals of Chicago, LLC in Elgin IL to advise of a stuck open shutter on a 100 mCi Sr-90 fixed gauge. The reportable equipment failure was discovered by the maintenance team during the morning hours on August 22, 2023. The Radiation Safety Officer [RSO] was promptly advised and took appropriate steps to ensure adequate control of the gauge and area until the shutter is repaired. No personnel exposures occurred as a result. The incident was reported to the Agency within 24 hours as required under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 340.1220(c)(2). Agency staff will perform a combined reactionary/routine inspection next week to review the event and confirm that appropriate corrective actions were taken.
"Details: Radioactive Materials Staff were contacted via email at 0955 EDT on August 22, 2023 by the RSO at Combined Metals of Chicago, LLC (IL-02397-01) regarding a reportable equipment failure. The stuck open shutter on a Radiometrie thickness gauge containing 100 mCi of Sr-90 was identified by the maintenance team during typical operations early this same morning. The RSO confirmed that the gauge will remain in its mounted condition and that a 1 inch Lexon polycarbonate shield/guard (used during typical running operations) was placed on the gauge. Exposure readings reported during a 2019 inspection by the Agency reported a maximum exposure rate of 600 microrem/hr at contact with the gauge (shutter open). Operators/maintenance staff were immediately advised of the inoperable shutter and per the RSO remained at least 6 feet from the gauge during typical operations. Currently no product is running through the affected line. Agency staff will verify reported actions taken by the RSO during a reactionary/routine inspection to be performed next week. The manufacturer was notified and is scheduled to be on site Thursday, August 24, 2023 to repair the shutter. No personnel exposures were reported and actions taken by the RSO appear adequate to ensure the safety of plant personnel pending repair of the shutter."
Illinois Item Number: IL230020
The following information was received via email from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency):
"The Agency was contacted on August 22, 2023, by Combined Metals of Chicago, LLC in Elgin IL to advise of a stuck open shutter on a 100 mCi Sr-90 fixed gauge. The reportable equipment failure was discovered by the maintenance team during the morning hours on August 22, 2023. The Radiation Safety Officer [RSO] was promptly advised and took appropriate steps to ensure adequate control of the gauge and area until the shutter is repaired. No personnel exposures occurred as a result. The incident was reported to the Agency within 24 hours as required under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 340.1220(c)(2). Agency staff will perform a combined reactionary/routine inspection next week to review the event and confirm that appropriate corrective actions were taken.
"Details: Radioactive Materials Staff were contacted via email at 0955 EDT on August 22, 2023 by the RSO at Combined Metals of Chicago, LLC (IL-02397-01) regarding a reportable equipment failure. The stuck open shutter on a Radiometrie thickness gauge containing 100 mCi of Sr-90 was identified by the maintenance team during typical operations early this same morning. The RSO confirmed that the gauge will remain in its mounted condition and that a 1 inch Lexon polycarbonate shield/guard (used during typical running operations) was placed on the gauge. Exposure readings reported during a 2019 inspection by the Agency reported a maximum exposure rate of 600 microrem/hr at contact with the gauge (shutter open). Operators/maintenance staff were immediately advised of the inoperable shutter and per the RSO remained at least 6 feet from the gauge during typical operations. Currently no product is running through the affected line. Agency staff will verify reported actions taken by the RSO during a reactionary/routine inspection to be performed next week. The manufacturer was notified and is scheduled to be on site Thursday, August 24, 2023 to repair the shutter. No personnel exposures were reported and actions taken by the RSO appear adequate to ensure the safety of plant personnel pending repair of the shutter."
Illinois Item Number: IL230020
Agreement State
Event Number: 56691
Rep Org: NC Div of Radiation Protection
Licensee: ECS, Limited
Region: 1
City: Dunn State: NC
County:
License #: 026-0253-7
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Travis Cartoski
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood
Licensee: ECS, Limited
Region: 1
City: Dunn State: NC
County:
License #: 026-0253-7
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Travis Cartoski
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood
Notification Date: 08/22/2023
Notification Time: 16:53 [ET]
Event Date: 08/22/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2023
Notification Time: 16:53 [ET]
Event Date: 08/22/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was received via email from the North Carolina Radioactive Material Branch:
"The Licensee Authorized User was on a construction site in Dunn performing compaction testing with the referenced nuclear gauge. The area was an open fill section with dump trucks back dumping upon arrival. The contractor requested a test for the current fill layer and the field technician randomly picked a location. There were no dump trucks onsite at the time of the testing. After taking the density test with Gauge 1029, the field technician properly placed the source rod back in the safe position prior to the incident. The technician turned to tell the contractor the test results, then took a few steps (about 12 feet) away from the gauge due to the equipment noise. When he turned around to get the gauge, a dump truck was about twenty feet away heading towards the gauge. The technician immediately started flagging and yelling for the truck to stop due to the proximity of the work area. The driver's attention was in another direction, so he didn't hear or see the field technician's efforts to prevent the accident. The driver ran over the gauge and stopped to see what happened. After a brief conversation, the truck driver left the site. The field technician notified the local Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Office Manager of the incident. The RSO instructed the employee to secure the area and to prevent access until he could get there. The local RSO, Office Manager, and Director of Subsidiary Safety responded and arrived at the incident location within 1 hour of the notification. ECS called the North Carolina Emergency Management telephone number and informed them that a nuclear moisture - density gauge had been run over by construction equipment, that the source rod had come out of the gauge but had been placed back into the shielded position.
"Upon arrival, the field technician and grading contractor employees were interviewed by the RSO. The gauge and test location were surveyed using a calibrated survey meter (Model Radalert, Serial No.: 7326, last calibrated March 26, 2023) by the RSO while approaching the gauge to ensure that the source was in the shielded position and that the transport index was within the acceptable range. The source rod was bent about 6 inches up and the guide rod was broken. The source was confirmed to be in the secured safe position and after the survey was placed in the transport case. Due to the bend handle, the case lid would not close fully on the gauge transport case, so it was pulled tightly to within 2 inches of closing and secured with a python cable and locked.
"A nuclear safety stand down occurred with all parties involved in the incident upon securing the gauge. The field technician was immediately reinstructed in proper gauge handling requirements. The licensee also scheduled a formal retraining session for the field technician for the following day.
"All ECS Authorized Users at the licensee's other North Carolina location will receive retraining in gauge security and situational awareness within the next 2 weeks.
"A leak test was performed on gauge 1029 and the test specimen was transported to Instrotek. No leakage was detected.
"Gauge Manufacturer: Instrotek
Model Number: 3500
Serial Number: 1029
"Cs-137 Source
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler
Model Number: Cs-137
Serial Number: cz-2185
Activity: 10 mCi
"Am-241 Source
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler
Model Number: AmBe-241
Serial Number: 127/09
Activity: 40 mCi"
The following information was received via email from the North Carolina Radioactive Material Branch:
"The Licensee Authorized User was on a construction site in Dunn performing compaction testing with the referenced nuclear gauge. The area was an open fill section with dump trucks back dumping upon arrival. The contractor requested a test for the current fill layer and the field technician randomly picked a location. There were no dump trucks onsite at the time of the testing. After taking the density test with Gauge 1029, the field technician properly placed the source rod back in the safe position prior to the incident. The technician turned to tell the contractor the test results, then took a few steps (about 12 feet) away from the gauge due to the equipment noise. When he turned around to get the gauge, a dump truck was about twenty feet away heading towards the gauge. The technician immediately started flagging and yelling for the truck to stop due to the proximity of the work area. The driver's attention was in another direction, so he didn't hear or see the field technician's efforts to prevent the accident. The driver ran over the gauge and stopped to see what happened. After a brief conversation, the truck driver left the site. The field technician notified the local Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Office Manager of the incident. The RSO instructed the employee to secure the area and to prevent access until he could get there. The local RSO, Office Manager, and Director of Subsidiary Safety responded and arrived at the incident location within 1 hour of the notification. ECS called the North Carolina Emergency Management telephone number and informed them that a nuclear moisture - density gauge had been run over by construction equipment, that the source rod had come out of the gauge but had been placed back into the shielded position.
"Upon arrival, the field technician and grading contractor employees were interviewed by the RSO. The gauge and test location were surveyed using a calibrated survey meter (Model Radalert, Serial No.: 7326, last calibrated March 26, 2023) by the RSO while approaching the gauge to ensure that the source was in the shielded position and that the transport index was within the acceptable range. The source rod was bent about 6 inches up and the guide rod was broken. The source was confirmed to be in the secured safe position and after the survey was placed in the transport case. Due to the bend handle, the case lid would not close fully on the gauge transport case, so it was pulled tightly to within 2 inches of closing and secured with a python cable and locked.
"A nuclear safety stand down occurred with all parties involved in the incident upon securing the gauge. The field technician was immediately reinstructed in proper gauge handling requirements. The licensee also scheduled a formal retraining session for the field technician for the following day.
"All ECS Authorized Users at the licensee's other North Carolina location will receive retraining in gauge security and situational awareness within the next 2 weeks.
"A leak test was performed on gauge 1029 and the test specimen was transported to Instrotek. No leakage was detected.
"Gauge Manufacturer: Instrotek
Model Number: 3500
Serial Number: 1029
"Cs-137 Source
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler
Model Number: Cs-137
Serial Number: cz-2185
Activity: 10 mCi
"Am-241 Source
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler
Model Number: AmBe-241
Serial Number: 127/09
Activity: 40 mCi"