05000352/LER-2005-001, Re Loss of Licensed Material in the Form of a Radiation Detector Calibration Source
| ML050680366 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 03/08/2005 |
| From: | Degregorio R Exelon Nuclear |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| LER 05-001-00 | |
| Download: ML050680366 (7) | |
| Event date: | |
|---|---|
| Report date: | |
| Reporting criterion: | 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(vii), Common Cause Inoperability 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(A), Seriously Degraded 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(A) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(B), Unanalyzed Condition 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(B) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iii) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(ix)(A) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A), System Actuation 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(x) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(v)(A), Loss of Safety Function - Shutdown the Reactor 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(v)(B), Loss of Safety Function - Remove Residual Heat 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i)(A), Completion of TS Shutdown 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(v), Loss of Safety Function 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B), Prohibited by Technical Specifications |
| 3522005001R00 - NRC Website | |
text
10CFR20.2201 March 8, 2005 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-39 and NPF-85 NRC Docket No. 50-352 and 50-353 Subject: Report 1-05-001, Loss of Licensed Material This report addresses the loss of licensed material in a quantity 10 times greater than the quantity specified in Appendix C to Part 20. Specifically, a 0.0154 microcurie Thorium-230 source has been determined to be lost. The limit in Appendix C to Part 20 is 0.001 microcuries and the reporting threshold is 0.01 microcuries.
Report Number:
1-05-001 Revision:
00 Event Date:
January 21, 2005 Discovered Date:
January 22, 2005 Report Date:
March 8, 2005 This report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of 10CFR20.2201(b)(1) which requires that within 30 days after making the telephone report the licensee make a 30-day written report in accordance with the procedures described in 10CFR50.73(b), (c), (d), (e), and (g).
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely, Original signed by Ron J. DeGregorio Vice President - Limerick cc: S. J. Collins, Administrator Region I, USNRC S. L. Hansell, USNRC Senior Resident Inspector, LGS
SUMMARY OF EXELON NUCLEAR COMMITMENTS LS-AA-117-1003 Rev.2 The following table identifies commitments made in this document.
(Any other actions discussed in the submittal represent intended or planned actions. They are described to the NRC for the NRC's information and are not regulatory commitments.)
Commitment #1 Committed date (or "outage"): None None
NRC FORM 366 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (6-2004)
LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
(See reverse for required number of digits/characters for each block)
APPROVED BY OMB: NO. 3150-0104 EXPIRES: 06/30/2007
, the NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, the information collection.
- 1. FACILITY NAME Limerick Generating Station, Unit 1
- 2. DOCKET NUMBER 05000352
- 3. PAGE 1 OF 5
- 4. TITLE Loss Of Licensed Material In The Form Of A Radiation Detector Calibration Source
- 5. EVENT DATE
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 7. REPORT DATE
- 8. OTHER FACILITIES INVOLVED MONTH DAY YEAR YEAR SEQUENTIAL NUMBER REV NO.
MONTH DAY YEAR FACILITY NAME Limerick Unit 2 DOCKET NUMBER 05000353 01 21 2005 2005 - 001 -
0 03 08 2005 FACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER 05000
- 9. OPERATING MODE 1
- 10. POWER LEVEL 100
- 11. THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR§: (Check all that apply) 20.2201(b) 20.2203(a)(3)(i) 50.73(a)(2)(i)(C) 50.73(a)(2)(vii) 20.2201(d) 20.2203(a)(3)(ii) 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(A) 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(A) 20.2203(a)(1) 20.2203(a)(4) 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(B) 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(B) 20.2203(a)(2)(i) 50.36(c)(1)(i)(A) 50.73(a)(2)(iii) 50.73(a)(2)(ix)(A) 20.2203(a)(2)(ii) 50.36(c)(1)(ii)(A) 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) 50.73(a)(2)(x) 20.2203(a)(2)(iii) 50.36(c)(2) 50.73(a)(2)(v)(A) 73.71(a)(4) 20.2203(a)(2)(iv) 50.46(a)(3)(ii) 50.73(a)(2)(v)(B) 73.71(a)(5) 20.2203(a)(2)(v) 50.73(a)(2)(i)(A) 50.73(a)(2)(v)(C)
OTHER 20.2203(a)(2)(vi) 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B) 50.73(a)(2)(v)(D)
Specify in Abstract below or in NRC Form 366A
- 12. LICENSEE CONTACT FOR THIS LER FACILITY NAME Keith S. Kemper, Manager - Regulatory Assurance TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code) 610-718-3400 CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT MANU-FACTURER REPORTABLE TO EPIX
CAUSE
SYSTEM COMPONENT MANU-FACTURER REPORTABLE TO EPIX MONTH DAY YEAR
- 14. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT EXPECTED YES (If yes, complete 15. EXPECTED SUBMISSION DATE)
NO
- 15. EXPECTED SUBMISSION DATE ABSTRACT (Limit to 1400 spaces, i.e., approximately 15 single-spaced typewritten lines)
A 0.0154 microcurie Thorium-230 source that is used to calibrate alpha counters was discovered missing from its storage box in a locked cabinet. The activity of this source exceeded the reporting threshold of 10 times the limit in 10CFR20 Appendix C. The Appendix C limit is 0.001 microcuries resulting in a reporting threshold of 0.01 microcuries. The source has not been located despite an extensive search. A peer check of restoration to within the locked cabinet has been added for handling sources.
NRC FORM 366 (6-2004)
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER (1-2001)
LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
FACILITY NAME (1)
DOCKET (2)
LER NUMBER (6)
PAGE (3)
YEAR SEQUENTIAL NUMBER REVISION NUMBER Limerick Generating Station, Unit 1 05000352 2005 001 00 2
OF 5
NARRATIV (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A) (17)
E Unit Conditions Prior to the Event Unit 1 was in Operational Condition (OPCON) 1 (Power Operation) at approximately 100% power. Unit 2 was in Operational Condition (OPCON) 1 (Power Operation) at approximately 100% power. There were no structures, systems or components out of service that contributed to this event.
Description of the Event On January 22, 2005, at 0600 hours0.00694 days <br />0.167 hours <br />9.920635e-4 weeks <br />2.283e-4 months <br />, a radiation protection technician identified that a calibration source, LGS 1093, was missing from its storage location inside a locked cabinet. The technician reported the missing source to radiation protection supervision. An investigation was initiated but the source has not been located at this time.
The following information is required by 10CFR20.2201(b)(1):
(i) A description of the licensed material involved, including kind, quantity, and chemical and physical form Manufacturer:
The Source Inc.
Model Number:
Thorium 230 alpha source Part Number:
LGS Source 1093 Kind:
Thorium-230 Quantity:
0.0154 microcuries Chemical form:
metal Physical form:
2-inch diameter disc Labeling:
Standard radiation symbol and site identification number (ii) A description of the circumstances under which the loss or theft occurred Limerick radioactive source number LGS 1093 is used to perform source checks on SAC-4 alpha counters. Prior to initiating a SAC-4 source check on January 22, 2005, a Radiation Protection Technician (RPT) attempted to obtain the source from its normal storage location, which is a source cabinet located in the Shepard Calibrator Room. The Shepard Calibrator Room is a locked room located in the In-Plant Tool Room. The RPT identified that the source was not in its storage location. (1-2001)
LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
FACILITY NAME (1)
DOCKET (2)
LER NUMBER (6)
PAGE (3)
YEAR SEQUENTIAL NUMBER REVISION NUMBER Limerick Generating Station, Unit 1 05000352 2005 001 00 3
OF 5
NARRATIV (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A) (17)
E The apparent cause of the event is ineffective self-check on the part of a radiation protection technician when returning the source to its storage location after performing instrument source checks.
(iii) A statement of disposition, or probable disposition, of the licensed material involved The most probable disposition of the source is that it is still located within the Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) at Limerick Generating Station. Laundry, trash, and radwaste were searched prior to being shipped offsite. Additionally, all offsite facilities were alerted to the loss of the source and asked to contact Limerick if they locate the source. The source is labeled as radioactive and is only used in the RCA.
The travel path in which the source was used has been thoroughly searched.
(iv) Exposures of individuals to radiation, circumstances under which the exposures occurred, and the possible total effective dose equivalent to persons in unrestricted areas The source is electroplated and was intact at the time when it was lost. The activity is low and the source is a pure alpha emitting isotope. Since the source is electroplated and emits alpha type radiation, it poses no external radiation hazard.
As a result, there is no radiation dose associated with this event. The probability of external contamination is minimal because the source is electroplated.
(v) Actions that have been taken, or will be taken, to recover the material A thorough search of the plant was conducted.
All source boxes in every drawer of the cabinet were searched.
The canvas tool bag used to carry the sources in was searched.
The Shepard Room where the source cabinet is stored was thoroughly searched. The source cabinet was disassembled and searched. A thorough search was conducted of the station.
Most areas of the station were searched at least twice. (1-2001)
LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
FACILITY NAME (1)
DOCKET (2)
LER NUMBER (6)
PAGE (3)
YEAR SEQUENTIAL NUMBER REVISION NUMBER Limerick Generating Station, Unit 1 05000352 2005 001 00 4
OF 5
NARRATIV (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A) (17)
E The travel path of the technician known to have last used the source was walked down and searched.
All the bags of scrubs in the Graham M. Lietch Building (Administrative Building) basement were pulled and put through the security x-ray machines in the Technical Support Center (TSC) (the technician changed in the basement at the end of shift). A quarter in a scrub bag was used as a visual reference in the x-ray machine.
The SAC-4's in the plant were disassembled to verify the source was not left inside them.
The Chemistry Source Cabinet in the chemistry count room was checked to verify the Radiation Protection source did not get stored with Chemistry sources.
Searched radioactive trash in the In-Plant Tool Room, outside the In-Plant tool room, and Chemistry Count Room, The Chemistry Labs, Radwaste HP Control Point, and HP Field Office and the 5 and 41 Line plant exits were searched.
(vi) Procedures or measures that have been, or will be, adopted to ensure against a recurrence of the loss or theft of licensed material A thorough search of the plant was conducted as described above.
The sign in sheet for handling sources was revised to require a peer check when returning sources to their storage locations.
A stand-down with RP Department personnel was conducted to review source-handling requirements.
Management observations were performed to ensure source administrative controls are adequate.
An evaluation will be performed to determine if higher activity sources can be replaced with the lowest activity necessary. This evaluation will be complete by 5/31/05. (1-2001)
LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
FACILITY NAME (1)
DOCKET (2)
LER NUMBER (6)
PAGE (3)
YEAR SEQUENTIAL NUMBER REVISION NUMBER Limerick Generating Station, Unit 1 05000352 2005 001 00 5
OF 5
NARRATIV (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A) (17)
E A comprehensive self-assessment of the source control program will be conducted to ensure standards are in place to ensure no similar lost source incidents occur. This self-assessment will be complete by 4/30/05.
This event involved loss of licensed material in a quantity that exceeded 10 times the limit specified in Appendix C to Part 20.
10CFR20.2201(a)(ii) requires reporting of this event by ENS within 30 days after the occurrence. A written report is required by 10CFR20.2201(b)(1) within 30 days after making the telephone report. The report must be in accordance with the procedures described in 10CFR50.73(b), (c), (d), (e), and (g).
The ENS notification (EN 41415) was completed on February 17, 2005 at 10:28 hours. This report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of 10CFR20.2201(b)(1).
Previous Similar Occurrences There were no previous occurrences where a calibration source was lost.