ENS 46725
ENS Event | |
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15:49 Apr 5, 2011 | |
Title | Alert Declared Due to Acid Leak Greater than the 40 Cfr Limit |
Event Description | The licensee secured their process after an acid leak greater that the 40 CFR limit developed at a piping joint. The leak consisted of a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acid. A licensee response team was dispatched to the site of the leak to evaluate the condition.
No injuries resulted and there were no evacuations nor health and safety consequences at the site. Additionally notified USDA (R. Jones), HHS (J. Dennis) and Fuels OUO Group. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
The licensee exited the emergency condition at 1237 EDT on 4/5/11. The spill is contained and no longer poses any threat to employees or the environment.
On April 5, 2011 during a line inspection at B&W NOG-L, a leak was discovered coming from a 6 inch waste acid line. The leak was in a location that the technician could visually inspect but with limited accessibility because of its proximity to an embankment obstruction. After finding a way to safely determine that waste was leaking from the line at a pH <2, the site Emergency Operation Center was activated and Emergency Team was notified to respond. It was determined that a Reportable Quantity (RQ) of an acidic waste solution (D002) had been released. Notifications were made to EPA Region III, VA DEQ, National Response Center, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other Emergency Response organizations as required by the site Emergency Plan. Efforts were taken to ensure the spill was contained to the immediate paved and soil areas. The accumulating liquid was contained with absorbent booms and neutralized with soda ash . It is estimated that 200 gallons of waste solution leaked onto the ground. Approximately seven 55 gallon drums (@ 1500 Pounds) of clean up waste were generated and will be disposed of appropriately. There were no injuries during the spill or during the cleanup operations. The threat to the environment and human health was minimal due to the leak's isolated location . Access to the area was limited and air monitoring in the area did not show any concerns. All released material was contained to the spill area or the cleanup zone. Plant operations draining to this line were halted until the repair was completed . Restart of operations was authorized on April 6, 2011. An investigation of the incident to determine the root cause is in progress and corrective actions will be implemented to prevent reoccurrence . The licensee submitted a follow-up notification to the Virginia Department of Environmental Health, EPA Region III, and will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified NMSS (Easton), R2DO (Bartley), and Fuels OUO Group. |
Where | |
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B&W Nuclear Operating Group, Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia (NRC Region 2) | |
License number: | SNM-42 |
Reporting | |
Emergency class: | Alert |
10 CFR 70.32(i) Part 70 App A (C) | |
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+-3.8 h-0.158 days <br />-0.0226 weeks <br />-0.00521 months <br />) | |
Opened: | Barry Cole 12:01 Apr 5, 2011 |
NRC Officer: | Pete Snyder |
Last Updated: | Apr 21, 2011 |
46725 - NRC Website | |
B&W Nuclear Operating Group, Inc. with Part 70 App A (C), 10 CFR 70.32(i) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 509702015-04-09T09:40:0009 April 2015 09:40:00
[Table view]Part 70 App A (C) Offsite Notification Due to On-Site Employee Fatality ENS 467252011-04-05T15:49:0005 April 2011 15:49:00 Part 70 App A (C), 10 CFR 70.32(i) Alert Declared Due to Acid Leak Greater than the 40 Cfr Limit ENS 452072009-07-15T23:45:00015 July 2009 23:45:00 10 CFR 70.32(i) Loss of Criticality Safety Controls for Material Found in an Unexpected Location ENS 450532009-05-11T12:30:00011 May 2009 12:30:00 Part 70 App A (C) Concurrent Report - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Notified of Waste Treatment Release ENS 449692009-04-03T20:00:0003 April 2009 20:00:00 Part 70 App A (C) Media Release Due to Acid Spill 2015-04-09T09:40:00 | |