Morning Report for March 24, 1999

                       Headquarters Daily Report

                         MARCH 24, 1999

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                    REPORT             NEGATIVE            NO INPUT
                    ATTACHED           INPUT RECEIVED      RECEIVED

HEADQUARTERS                           X
REGION I            X
REGION II           X
REGION III          X
REGION IV                              X
PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED  MORNING REPORT - REGION I  MARCH 24, 1999

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

                                       MR Number: 1-99-0012
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center    Date: 03/23/99
Bennington,Vermont
Dockets: 03008027 License No: 44-11345-02

Subject: MISSING IODINE-125 SEED FROM SHIPMENT

Discussion:

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center reported that on March 16, 1999, they
received two packages containing iodine 125 seeds for implant procedures.
The first package contained 115 seeds (0.34 millicurie each) instead of
the 120 that were ordered.  The second package contained the correct
number of seeds (106 seeds of 0.31 millicurie each) inside a lead
container, however, they found four additional seeds in the second
package, inside the outer plastic package that contained the lead pig.
These four seeds had the same activity (0.34 mCi) as those in the first
package.  One seed is still missing from the first package.  The
physicist stated that neither of the packages indicated any damage.
Although there were four seeds outside the lead shield, no radiation dose
rates above 0.04 mR/hr were observed at the surface of the package.  The
seals of the inside containers were intact.  Licensee is following up
with the supplier, Mentor Corporation, a California company licensed by
the State of California.  Licensee is continuing its efforts to locate
the missing seed (0.34 mCi).

Regional Action:

Region I will review licensee's action during the next routine inspection
of the facility.  Region I notified the State of California of this
event.

Contact:  S. Lodhi                   (610)337-5364
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REGION I  MORNING REPORT     PAGE  2          MARCH 24, 1999

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

                                       MR Number: 1-99-0013
Hospital Center At Orange              Date: 02/25/99
Orange,New Jersey
Dockets: 03000347 License No: 29-03038-02

Subject: SOURCE DRIVE MECHANISM FAILURE OF COBALT-60 TELETHERAPY UNIT

Discussion:

On February 25, 1999, an authorized user (AU) reported to the NRC Region
I that the Advanced Medical Systems Cobalt-60 teletherapy source failed
to return to the "Off" position after taking a treatment simulation film
for a patient.  After safely pulling the patient out of the treatment
room, the RT informed the service company and the source returned to the
"OFF" position when the unit was returned to its vertical position.  All
patient treatments were cancelled, pending the inspection, and any needed
repairs of the unit as determined by the service company.

The service company engineers indicated that the jamming of the source
drive mechanism may be attributable to a system design problem.  In that,
when a new source is placed in these units, the heat generated by a high
activity source tends to cause some "swelling" of the source housing
which causes the source wheel to rub against the internal surface of the
unit head causing restriction of the source assembly movement.  This is
corrected by replacing the source wheel.

Regional Action:

On March 10, 1999, a safety inspection was conducted at Hospital Center
at Orange.  The licensee showed the patient film to the inspector
indicating that the source must have been stuck in a partially shielded
position, because the film did not show any radiation exposure.  The
licensee followed its emergency procedures and no personnel radiation
exposure occurred.

Contact:  Neelam Bhalla              (610)337-5188
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REGION II  MORNING REPORT     PAGE  3          MARCH 24, 1999

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Duke Power Co.                         MR Number: 2-99-0005
Mc Guire 1                             Date: 03/24/99
Cornelius,North Carolina
Dockets: 50-369
PWR/W-4-LP

Subject: AUXILIARY FEEDWATER PUMP ROOM GROUND WATER SUMP OVERFLOW

Discussion:

On March 21, 1999, McGuire Unit 1 experienced an overflow of the "A"
groundwater sump in the Unit 1 auxiliary feedwater (AFW) pump room. The
overflow occurred during a planned drain-down of a portion of the Unit 2
train A nuclear service water system. (The train A service water systems
for Units 1 & 2 drain to the "A" ground water sump in Unit 1; the train B
service water systems in Units 1 & 2 drain to the "B" groundwater sump in
Unit 2.) The overflow occurred when an operator inadvertently moved a
butterfly isolation valve past its closed seat while attempting to ensure
that the service water boundary valves for the drain-down evolution were
properly shut. Two safety-related sump pumps in the "A" groundwater sump
tripped after operating approximately twenty minutes while submerged. The
"A" groundwater sump overflowed and approximately two inches of water
accumulated on the AFW pump room floor before the drain path was
isolated. No other safety-related equipment was impacted.

Regional Action:

Resident inspector followup of the event is ongoing.

Contact:  EDWIN LEA                  (404)552-4567
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REGION III  MORNING REPORT     PAGE  4          MARCH 24, 1999

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Commonwealth Edison Co.                MR Number: 3-99-0020
Byron 1 2                              Date: 03/24/99
Byron,Illinois                         Licensee and SRI/RI via Telecon
Dockets: 50-454,50-455
PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP

Subject: BYRON STATION SENIOR MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Discussion:

On 3/24/99, Mr. William Levis assumed the responsibilities as site vice
president replacing Mr. Ken Graesser. Mr. Levis was the station manager
and is being replaced by Mr. Richard Lopriore.

Mr. Graesser will continue with the ComEd corporate Nuclear Generation
Group until some time in the summer of 1999 when he plans to retire.

Mr. Lopriore is coming to Byron station from Ontario Hydro where he was
assistant vice president for Pickering Station Units 5 through 8. He also
held previous positions with Carolina Power and Light's Brunswick Nuclear
Power Plant and Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant.

Regional Action:

This is for information.

Contact:  Michael Jordan             (630)829-9637
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