ENS 40265
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
14:00 Oct 17, 2003 | |
| Title | Loss of Current Knowledge of Location of Fuel Rod |
| Event Description | Westinghouse provided the following information via facsimile pending resolution as to whether material has been lost:
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. Reason for Notification: The Westinghouse Columbia Site Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan requires NRC notification of unresolved indications of missing uranium. Current knowledge of the location of Fuel Rod Id #18768319, has been lost. The fuel rod in question contains 85 grams U-235. Description of Event: Columbia Site Rod Manufacturing employees could not locate fuel rod ID # 18768319 when verifying locations of items that showed up on a listing of items that had not moved through any process stages on the item control tracking system within the previous 7 days of when the report was generated. The last transaction recorded for the item was on 8:31 am on October 2, 2003 indicating that the fuel rod was seal welded in the Chemical area after having been loaded with fuel pellets. No additional transactions were recorded for the fuel rod after this time. The next step in the process would have been an over check of the weld by the production line operator who would record the status of the weld via a transaction in the tracking system. The operator would apply a defect code to the rod in the system if a problem were noted with the weld. If the weld passed the overcheck inspection, it would have been transferred to the mechanical manufacturing area of the facility and be weighed and undergo a series of quality assurance inspections. No evidence was found to indicate that the fuel rod was transferred out of the chemical area of the facility. It is believed at this time that the rod most likely was scrapped [fuel removed and reused] and the necessary transactions were inadvertently not performed. The manager of EH&S and the safeguards co-ordinator were notified of the on-going situation at approximately 10:00 am on October 17, 2003 and the investigation and search activities were intensified and are on-going. Summary of Investigation/Search Activity - Rod area manufacturing employees searched for the fuel rod in the rod scrap areas of the facility and examined every fuel rod in the area. - Fuel rods in the storage areas of the facility were examined. - Containers of Low Level Radioactive Waste that may contain traceable portions of the fuel rod have been searched and continue to be searched. - Areas previously checked were re-checked and those areas not checked are in the process of being examined.
Current knowledge of the location of Fuel Rod ID #18768319 was re-established on October 21, 2003 at approximately 19:30 hours, when a fuel rod manufacturing employee located the item. The fuel rod was found under a fuel rod handling conveyer in a position that was not readily visible to individuals performing search activities. The cause of how the fuel rod came to be in the location it was found is currently being investigated. Because the fuel rod remained in controlled areas of the facility, this event is not considered safety significant and health and safety has not been compromised. Notified R2DO (J. Munday), NMSS EO (D. Broaddus), DIRO (D. Weaver), TAS (M. Kormann), DHS (R. Dasilva) |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Westinghouse Electric Corporation Columbia, South Carolina (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | SNM-1107 |
| Reporting | |
| Information Only | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+92.45 h3.852 days <br />0.55 weeks <br />0.127 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Rod Likes 10:27 Oct 21, 2003 |
| NRC Officer: | Mike Ripley |
| Last Updated: | Oct 22, 2003 |
| 40265 - NRC Website | |
Westinghouse Electric Corporation with Information Only | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 437092007-10-11T01:00:00011 October 2007 01:00:00
[Table view]Information Only Planned Shutdown Due to Water Main Break ENS 402652003-10-17T14:00:00017 October 2003 14:00:00 Information Only Loss of Current Knowledge of Location of Fuel Rod 2007-10-11T01:00:00 | |