Event Notification Report for July 25, 2001
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 07/24/2001 - 07/25/2001 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** 38164 38165 38167 38168 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Power Reactor |Event Number: 38164 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FACILITY: CLINTON REGION: 3 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/24/2001| | UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: IL |NOTIFICATION TIME: 05:59[EDT]| | RXTYPE: [1] GE-6 |EVENT DATE: 07/24/2001| +------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 02:51[CDT]| | NRC NOTIFIED BY: LARRY WESTEROOK |LAST UPDATE DATE: 07/24/2001| | HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES +-----------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION | |EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |MONTE PHILLIPS R3 | |10 CFR SECTION: | | |ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) RPS ACTUATION - CRITICA| | | | | | | | | | | +-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+ |UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE | +-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+ |1 A/R Y 100 Power Operation |0 Hot Shutdown | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ EVENT TEXT +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM ON HIGH REACTOR VESSEL LEVEL | | | | The reactor scrammed at 0251 CDT on 7/24/20001 on a level 8 signal, a high | | reactor vessel level. All rods fully inserted and all systems functioned | | properly. At the time of the scram there was a surveillance being performed | | on a level transmitter that feeds the feedwater level control system. | | Exactly what happened is not known at this time, but an investigation is | | ongoing. | | | | The plant is stable using the bypass valves to the condenser and level is | | being maintained with motor driven feedwater pump. | | | | The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Power Reactor |Event Number: 38165 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FACILITY: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR REGION: 4 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/24/2001| | UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: AR |NOTIFICATION TIME: 10:00[EDT]| | RXTYPE: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE |EVENT DATE: 07/24/2001| +------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 06:39[CDT]| | NRC NOTIFIED BY: PATRICK WILLIAMS |LAST UPDATE DATE: 07/24/2001| | HQ OPS OFFICER: FANGIE JONES +-----------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION | |EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |GARY SANBORN R4 | |10 CFR SECTION: | | |ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) RPS ACTUATION - CRITICA| | | | | | | | | | | +-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+ |UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE | +-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+ |1 N Y 100 Power Operation |0 Hot Standby | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ EVENT TEXT +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP ON HIGH REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE | | | | The unit received an automatic reactor trip on high reactor coolant system | | pressure due to a problem with the main turbine control valves. There were | | no ESF actuations and all rods fully inserted. Steam generator safeties | | opened for a short period as expected. The plant is stable in hot shutdown | | with excess heat being controlled by condenser bypass valves with main | | feedwater system controlling steam generator level. | | | | The problem is being investigated and the cause is unknown at this time. | | | | The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and state agencies. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Power Reactor |Event Number: 38167 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FACILITY: SEABROOK REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/24/2001| | UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: NH |NOTIFICATION TIME: 17:35[EDT]| | RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP |EVENT DATE: 07/24/2001| +------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 15:50[EDT]| | NRC NOTIFIED BY: HUGH HAWKINS |LAST UPDATE DATE: 07/24/2001| | HQ OPS OFFICER: BOB STRANSKY +-----------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION | |EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |JOHN WHITE R1 | |10 CFR SECTION: | | |APRE 50.72(b)(2)(xi) OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | | | | | | | | | | | +-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+ |UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE | +-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+ |1 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ EVENT TEXT +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO EXCEEDING NPDES PERMIT LIMITS | | | | "The EPA and NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) were notified | | this afternoon of a daily maximum exceedence of the NPDES Permit limit for | | oil and grease at Outfall 025 (Waste Test Tank). The discharge occurred on | | July 3, 2001. The amount of the exceedence is minor but the significance is | | still being evaluated so this report is being made as a conservative | | decision." | | | | The NRC resident inspector has been informed of this notification by the | | licensee. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 38168 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FACILITY: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/25/2001| | RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 05:28[EDT]| | COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 07/24/2001| | 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 12:30[EDT]| | BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 07/25/2001| | CITY: PIKETON REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+ | COUNTY: PIKE STATE: OH |PERSON ORGANIZATION | |LICENSE#: GDP-2 AGREEMENT: N |PATRICK HILAND R3 | | DOCKET: 0707002 |C.W. (BILL) REAMER NMSS | +------------------------------------------------+ | | NRC NOTIFIED BY: SISLER | | | HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD | | +------------------------------------------------+ | |EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | | |10 CFR SECTION: | | |NBNL RESPONSE-BULLETIN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ EVENT TEXT +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 24 - HOUR 91-01 BULLETIN - LOSS OF ONE CONTROL OF THE DOUBLE CONTINGENCY | | PRINCIPLE | | | | On 7-24-01 at 1230 hours, a process operator in the X-330 Building | | discovered a NCSA-0330_004.A05 noncompliance with cell 29-4-6. Cell 29-4-6 | | is a shutdown cell at a UF6 negative and was buffered above 14 psia. Over | | time the pressure decrease to 13.96 psia. This violated NCSA-0330_004.A05 | | requirement #8 resulting in a loss of one control (moderation) of the double | | contingency principle. Mass (second control) was maintained throughout the | | event. | | | | NCSA-0330_004.A05 requirement #8 states in part, "Within 8 hours after | | cascade equipment shutdown (motor turned off) and with the system at a UF6 | | negative, the system shall be pressurized with plant air or N2 buffer at > | | 14 psia, unless the equipment is undergoing maintenance, pre and post | | maintenance troubleshooting, being evacuated or treated." | | | | Buffer pressure was increased to greater than 14 psia at 1300 hours. | | Moderation control was re-established for cell 29-4-6. | | | | The safety significance of this event is low. There is no deposit in this | | cell. The worst case would be contamination on process surfaces exposed to | | process gas prior to shutdown and buffering. | | | | This event is reportable per NRC BL 91-01 as a loss of one control of the | | double contingency principle. | | | | SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS: | | | | The safety significance of this event is low. There is no deposit in the | | cell (thus is less than a safe mass for an H/U=4 and the cell is isolated | | from the cascade. The mass in the cell is controlled by virtue of the fact | | that the shutdown cell is isolated from the cascade which is also shutdown. | | If the unbuffered condition were permitted to continue for a long period of | | time, the H/U could eventually reach a maximum of 4. However, since any | | material in the cell is less than the safe mass H/U ratio, a criticality | | would not occur even if the H/U reached the maximum through the loss of a | | buffer. | | | | POTENTIAL CRITICALITY PATHWAYS INVOLVED (BRIEF SCENARIO(S) OF HOW | | CRITICALITY COULD OCCUR): | | | | The cell would need to be unisolated and UF6 introduced to create a deposit. | | That deposit would then have to become sufficiently moderated in order for a | | criticality to occur. | | | | CONTROLLED PARAMETERS (MASS, MODERATION, GEOMETRY, CONCENTRATION, ETC.): | | | | The parameters controlled are mass and moderation. | | | | ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ENRICHMENT, FORM OF LICENSED MATERIAL (INCLUDE PROCESS | | LIMIT AND % WORST CASE OF CRITICAL MASS): | | | | There is no deposit in this cell. Worst case would be contamination on | | process surfaces exposed to process gas prior to shutdown and buffering. | | | | NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROL(S) OR CONTROL SYSTEM(S) AND DESCRIPTION | | OF THE FAILURES OR DEFICIENCIES | | | | The NCS control is a dry air buffer >14 psia. Over time the pressure | | decreased to 13.96 psia. | | | | CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESTORE SAFETY SYSTEM AND WHEN EACH WAS IMPLEMENTED: | | | | Buffer pressure was increased to greater than 14 psia at 1300 hours. | | Control was re-established. | | | | The NRC Resident Inspector was notified along with the DOE Representative. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021