ENS 40152
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
14:32 Sep 12, 2003 | |
| Title | Improper Scanning of Lead Rods for the Product Engineering Laboratory |
| Event Description | NRC BULLETIN 91-01 24 HOUR NOTIFICATION
FACILITY: Westinghouse Electric Company, Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia SC, low enriched (<5.0 wt,% U-235) PWR fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors. License: SNM-1107. TIME AND DATE OF EVENT: April 4, 2001 - -- September 5, 2003 REASON FOR NOTIFICATION: Lead-filled rods in a small number of replica fuel assemblies were scanned using an improper instrument. The rods were to be verified as free of uranium prior to delivery to the Product Engineering Lab. The verification is accomplished by either scanning each individual rod with a hand-held instrument or scanning an assembly with a combination of a thimble tube probe and an external hand-held instrument. A few of the hand-held scans were performed with a marginal instrument. DOUBLE CONTINGENCY PROTECTION: Double contingency protection for the VIPER test loop vessel is assured by preventing uranium with greater than 1.0 weight percent uranium-235 from entering the Product Engineering (PE) Lab and preventing that uranium from entering the VIPER test loop vessel. Although lead-filled rods are not tested in the VIPER test loop, the improper scans left less than previously documented double contingency protection for the system. In accordance with Westinghouse Operating License (SNM-1107), paragraph 3.7.3 (c.5), this event satisfies the criteria for a 24-hour notification. AS FOUND CONDITION: See "Reason for Notification" above. NCS detected the absence of a procedure number listing during a normal special routing review. Inquiries led to the discovery that the incorrect instrument was being used to scan lead-filled rods. It was subsequently determined that the response of the instrument used was inadequate to reliably detect a single uranium rod mixed with lead-tilled rods. The initial investigation revealed a weakness in the procedure structure for scanning lead-filled rods. The procedure steps for scanning lead-filled rods are contained in a procedure for transfer and release of potentially contaminated equipment or materials and not addressed in the instrument procedures. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY: 1). An improved procedure is now in place requiring that all lead-filled rods be individually scanned with the appropriate instrument. 2). All health physics personnel have been trained on the new procedure and proper instrument. CONCLUSIONS: 1). Loss of double contingency protection occurred. 2). At no time was the health or safety to any employee or member of the public in jeopardy. No exposure to hazardous material was involved. 3). The Incident Review Committee (IRC) determined that this is a safety significant incident in accordance with governing procedures. 4). Notification was the result of a weakness in the procedure structure, not a deficient NCS analysis. 5). A causal analysis will be performed. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Westinghouse Electric Corporation Columbia, South Carolina (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | SNM-1107 |
| Reporting | |
| Response | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1 h0.0417 days <br />0.00595 weeks <br />0.00137 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Ed Steck 15:32 Sep 12, 2003 |
| NRC Officer: | John Mackinnon |
| Last Updated: | Sep 12, 2003 |
| 40152 - NRC Website | |
Westinghouse Electric Corporation with Response | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 419332005-08-19T19:30:00019 August 2005 19:30:00
[Table view]Response Nrc Bulletin 91-01 Violation of Criticality Spacing Requirements ENS 417232005-05-20T22:40:00020 May 2005 22:40:00 Response, Part 70 App A (B)(5) Deviation from Integrated Safety Analysis, and a 24 Hour Notification - Bulletin 91-01 Criticality Control ENS 414182005-02-17T17:00:00017 February 2005 17:00:00 Response, Part 70 App A (B)(1) 24 Hour 91-01 Response Bulletin and Part 70 App a Unanalyzed Condition ENS 413722005-02-04T14:00:0004 February 2005 14:00:00 Response 24-Hour Notification-Bulletin 91-01 Criticality Control ENS 409852004-08-24T14:05:00024 August 2004 14:05:00 Response 24 Hour 91-01 Response Bulletin ENS 408882004-07-21T13:00:00021 July 2004 13:00:00 Response 4-Hour 91-01 Nrc Bulletin Notification Due to Adu in Non-Favorable Geometry Nitrogen Accumulator Tank ENS 408552004-07-07T21:00:0007 July 2004 21:00:00 Response Nrc Bulletin 91-01 - 4 Hour Report ENS 407932004-06-04T22:00:0004 June 2004 22:00:00 Response Licensee Reported a 4 Hour 91-01 Response Bulletin ENS 405672004-03-04T20:00:0004 March 2004 20:00:00 Response 24-Hour Notification - Bulletin 91-01 Criticality Control ENS 404402004-01-12T20:45:00012 January 2004 20:45:00 Response 24 Hour Notification Bulletin 91-01 Criticality Control ENS 402552003-10-16T19:30:00016 October 2003 19:30:00 Response 24 Hour Bulletin 91-01 Notification from Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Facility ENS 402462003-10-14T11:30:00014 October 2003 11:30:00 Response 24-Hour Nrc 91-01 Bulletin Report Involving Improper Mass Control ENS 401522003-09-12T14:32:00012 September 2003 14:32:00 Response Improper Scanning of Lead Rods for the Product Engineering Laboratory 2005-08-19T19:30:00 | |