ENS 45090
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
19:00 May 20, 2009 | |
| Title | License Condition Report Involving Snm Accountability |
| Event Description | Facility: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (WEC), Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia SC,
low enriched (less than or equal to 5.0 wt.% U-235) fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors. License: SNM-1107. Time and Date of Event: May 20, 2009, approximately 1500. Reason for Notification & Sequence of Events: Notification made based on Materials License Number SNM-1107, Safeguards Conditions Section 1.0 Material Control and Accounting, SG-1.1 which states in part; 'The licensee shall follow Chapters 1.0 through 9.0 of its 'Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan for the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility.' The Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan, Section 2.2.2 contains specific requirements for notification for issues related to resolving item and/or material control anomalies. The Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) Department was informed that a small scrap fuel pellet container containing uranium, which is Special Nuclear Material (SNM), could not be readily located. The anomaly was identified by operations personnel conducting a routine weekly audit of SNM-bearing items. Initial investigation and search efforts did not locate the SNM, which was in a small container (approximately 8 inches in diameter x 8 inches tall) used for routine processing, commonly called a 'polypak.' Personnel independent of the affected area conducted a Material Balance Inventory, which concluded that the SNM did not leave the area. The Material Balance results and findings were reviewed by an independent contractor, a Material Control and Accounting expert who agreed with the conclusion and methodology used. Based on this material balance and other investigative actions conducted by WEC, there is no indication that the material left the affected area, and the SNM was processed through the normal scrap process flow. Safety Basis: There are no actual or potential health or safety consequences to the workers, the public or the environment. As Found Condition: See Reason for Notification. Summary of Activity - Operations in the affected manufacturing area were halted and the area was extensively and systematically searched by Operations, Management and EH&S personnel. - The empty container was located within the affected manufacturing area. - Retraining on item control requirements for production personnel was completed prior to restart of production activities. - Enhanced accountability and control measures for item control of scrap containers was completed prior to restart of production activities. - An investigative review team was assembled and interviewed personnel in the affected manufacturing areas to determine the cause of the item control discrepancy. - The event was entered into the WEC Corrective Action Process and a formal Root Cause Analysis was completed. - Interim corrective actions have been completed and longer term corrective actions have been initiated to reduce the likelihood of a repeat occurrence based on the results and recommendations of the Root Cause Analysis. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Westinghouse Electric Corporation Columbia, South Carolina (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | SNM-1107 |
| Reporting | |
| Other Unspec Reqmnt | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+41.7 h1.738 days <br />0.248 weeks <br />0.0571 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Gerard Couture 12:42 May 22, 2009 |
| NRC Officer: | Donald Norwood |
| Last Updated: | Sep 16, 2009 |
| 45090 - NRC Website | |
Westinghouse Electric Corporation with Other Unspec Reqmnt | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 450902009-05-20T19:00:00020 May 2009 19:00:00
[Table view]Other Unspec Reqmnt License Condition Report Involving Snm Accountability 2009-05-20T19:00:00 | |