Event Notification Report for July 12, 2007

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
07/11/2007 - 07/12/2007

** EVENT NUMBERS **


43429 43475 43476 43477

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Fuel Cycle Facility Event Number: 43429
Facility: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RX Type: URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE PRODUCTION
Comments: UF6 CONVERSION (DRY PROCESS)
Region: 2
City: METROPOLIS State: IL
County: MASSAC
License #: SUB-526
Agreement: Y
Docket: 04003392
NRC Notified By: LARRY PARSCALE
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 06/18/2007
Notification Time: 14:31 [ET]
Event Date: 06/18/2007
Event Time: 08:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/11/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
INFORMATION ONLY
Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2)
GREG MORELL (FSME)

Event Text

DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASON

"At approximately 0800, lost all FMB control room monitors associated with Digital Control System (DCS). Several valves in UF6 process failed in unexpected position. No release and no exposures. System immediately put in a safe configuration. Root cause has begun and system will be kept in safe configuration for now (not restarted) until cause determined and corrected. This is a Courtesy Notification."

The NRC Resident Inspector and the NRC Regional Project Manager (Pelchat) were informed of this information call by the licensee.

* * * UPDATE FROM PARSCALE TO HUFFMAN AT 1146 EDT ON 7/11/07 * * *

"The cause has been determined to be attributable to a UPS failure. This UPS failure resulted in a re-initialization of system configuration which, upon power restoration, caused process valves to move to the system's default configuration for the subsequent re-start mode. This default configuration was not correct for the state the system was in at the time of the re-initialization. The programming logic for valve alignment in the event of a re-initialization has since been corrected. There was no release and no exposure, and the system was immediately put in a safe configuration. The root cause is continuing. This is an update to the Courtesy Notification made on 6/18/07."

Notified R2DO (Hopper), FSME (Burgess).

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Power Reactor Event Number: 43475
Facility: CRYSTAL RIVER
Region: 2 State: FL
Unit: [3] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [3] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: RICHARD SWEENEY
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 07/07/2007
Notification Time: 11:51 [ET]
Event Date: 07/07/2007
Event Time: 11:03 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/11/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
JAY HENSON (R2)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
3 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

LOSS OF SAFETY PARAMETER DISPLAY SYSTEM (SPDS) DUE TO PLANNED MODIFICATION

"At 11:03 hours EST, on July 7, 2007, the Plant Information Computer System (PICS) was removed from service to perform a planned modification to install and test a Standard Digital I&C System Platform (DICSP) infrastructure and to update the network configuration of PICS. The expected duration of PICS inoperability is approximately 24 to 36 hours. PICS provides monitoring and communications capability for plant data systems including the Emergency Response Data System (ERDS), Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS), Plant Process Computer System (PPCS), Emergency Response Computer Logger (ERCO-1), Meteorological Data link system and the Inadequate Core Cooling Monitor (ICCM). The loss of PICS requires alternate methods, as described in plant procedures, to be used for the above described functions. Therefore, appropriate assessment of plant conditions, notifications and communications can still be made, if required, during the time that PICS is inoperable. This report is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) which is any event that results in a major loss of emergency assessment capability, offsite response capability or offsite communications capability. As previously stated, alternate means remain available to assess plant conditions, make notifications and accomplish required communications, as necessary. An additional notification will be provided when PICS operability is restored.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * UPDATE FROM RICHARD SWEENEY TO JOE O'HARA AT 1653 ON 7/8/07 * * *

"Engineering change (EC) of PICS continues. Testing of the installed modifications is now in progress. As stated above, alternate means remain available to assess plant conditions, make notifications, and accomplish required communications, as necessary. Testing of the EC and EC turnover is expected to be completed on 07/09/2007. The plant computers, including SPDS, are presently running providing plant data thus are available but not operable."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified R2DO(Henson)


* * * UPDATE FROM RICKY RAWLS TO JOHN KNOKE AT 2043 ON 7/10/07 * * *

"Crystal River Unit 3 initially reported removal of its Plant computer systems from service for planned modification on 07/07/07 at 11:51 and made the required notification in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii). The Engineering change associated with the Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS) and the Plant Information Computer System (PICS) has been completed and the systems are currently running providing data. Modification testing has been completed and the systems are considered operable. The compensatory measures put in place to assure appropriate assessment of plant conditions, notifications and communications have been terminated."

Licensee also stated that the ERDS system is now operable.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R2DO (Hopper)

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General Information or Other Event Number: 43476
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: ENGEN CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: RIVERSIDE State: CA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: D. AQUINO
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 07/09/2007
Notification Time: 14:07 [ET]
Event Date: 07/31/2002
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/09/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED NUCLEAR GAUGE

The licensee provided the following information via facsimile:

"During the routine license inspection on 5/15/07, the inspector learned that one of the licensee's nuclear gauges (Humboldt, SM 486) was run over by a water truck at a jobsite in Menifee, Riverside on 7/31/02. The licensee did not report the incident to the Department [California Department of Public Health]. An incident report was generated by the licensee, dated 7/31/02, and filed. According to the incident report, the gauge was immediately inspected for damage by the ARSO. The sources and shielding were found to be undamaged and completely intact. The casing and electronic parts were badly damaged. The gauge was transported to their office for further evaluation and a leak test was performed. The results of the leak test were received August 12, 2002, and the gauge was not leaking.

"The nuclear gauge still has not been repaired, and is not being used by the licensee, although the leak test is being done on the required frequency. As part of the routine inspection, a Notice of Violation was issued on 5/30/07 for failure to report/notify the Department, within 24 hours of the incident and failure to submit a written report within 30 days after the incident."

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General Information or Other Event Number: 43477
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES, INC
Region: 4
City: DALLAS State: TX
County:
License #: L04940-00
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 07/09/2007
Notification Time: 15:38 [ET]
Event Date: 07/07/2007
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/09/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
JOE GIITTER (FSME)
JIM WHITNEY EMAIL (TAB)
MEXICAN GOV'T EMAIL ()

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The licensee provided the following information via email:

"On July 9, 2007, Corporate RSO for Professional Service Industries, called to report a moisture density gauge missing during quarterly inventory. The RSO reported that Troxler model 3430 S/N 30189 was missing when inventory was conducted on 07/07/07. The gauge contains two radioactive sources; an 8 mCi Cs-137 source S/N 750-2295, and a 40 mCi Am-241 source S/N 47-27166. The sources were leak tested on 03/14/07. The last known use of the device was on 06/09/07. The employee assigned the moisture density gauge returned the truck and keys to the office and did not return to work. It was assumed the gauge had been placed back into storage. It is possible the employee stole the gauge. The RSO reported that a list of about 20 pawnbrokers in the area were contacted and informed that there was a $500.00 reward offered for the return of the gauge. The RSO reported that the employee was wanted in California for back child support. Company representatives searched his former residence, but didn't find evidence of the gauge there. I [State] told the RSO that we would place a notice to the State Pawnbrokers Association. I [State] also suggested that, if they will accept it, he [RSO] should file a theft report with Dallas Police Department. The RSO asked that we notify the Pawnbrokers' Association of the reward offer and that it is a 'no questions asked' offer."

Texas Incident # I-8424

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.

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