ENS 48070
ENS Event | |
---|---|
20:00 Jun 21, 2012 | |
Title | Two Incore Detectors Containing U-235 Unaccounted for During Inventory |
Event Description | This is a non-emergency notification regarding an extremely small amount of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) which is unaccounted for. On 6/21/2012, it was determined that two nuclear instrumentation incore detectors could not be accounted for at Catawba. Detectors of this type are used to measure incore neutron flux (intensity of neutron radiation) inside the reactor vessel. This determination was made following the completion of a scheduled inventory of nuclear instrumentation incore detectors in storage. This is being reported under 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) (reports of theft or loss of licensed material).
According to Catawba documentation, there should be 54 such detectors in storage. Only 52 detectors could be physically located on site. There is no evidence of theft or diversion of these detectors. According to site documentation, one or both of the detectors may have been shipped to Barnwell in 1986. Detectors of this type contain very small amounts of Uranium-235 (0.0041 grams/detector), which qualifies them as SNM. The most likely location for the detectors is either in one bunker located on site and within the radiological controlled area or at Barnwell via a low level radioactive waste shipment. The search for these detectors was suspended based on a determination that the additional dose to plant workers involved in the search was not justified by an equivalent offsetting safety benefit. It is unlikely that these detectors could have left the site other than in a radioactive waste shipment as the radiation monitoring equipment in place would likely have identified the presence of the detectors. This event had no effect on plant operations and no impact on public health and safety has been identified. A written report will be made in accordance with 10 CFR 20.2201(b)(1)(i-vi). The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Usually, spent incore detectors are stored in a locked high radiation area at the facility. This was the first physical inventory of sources performed by the licensee. THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
Where | |
---|---|
Catawba South Carolina (NRC Region 2) | |
Reporting | |
10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) | |
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+330.1 h13.754 days <br />1.965 weeks <br />0.452 months <br />) | |
Opened: | Steven Andrews 14:06 Jul 5, 2012 |
NRC Officer: | Howie Crouch |
Last Updated: | Jul 5, 2012 |
48070 - NRC Website
Loading map... {"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"350px","height":"250px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":6,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EENS 48070\u003C/a\u003E - \u003Ca href=\"/Catawba\" title=\"Catawba\"\u003ECatawba\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo Incore Detectors Containing U-235 Unaccounted for During Inventory\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"ENS 48070 - Catawba\n","link":"","lat":35.05162222222222,"lon":-81.06938055555555,"icon":"/w/images/7/75/Duke_Energy_icon.png"}],"imageoverlays":null} | |
Unit 1 | |
---|---|
Reactor critical | Critical |
Scram | No |
Before | Power Operation (100 %) |
After | Power Operation (100 %) |
Unit 2 | |
---|---|
Reactor critical | Critical |
Scram | No |
Before | Power Operation (100 %) |
After | Power Operation (100 %) |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 490362013-05-15T04:00:00015 May 2013 04:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) Missing Licensed Material ENS 480702012-06-21T20:00:00021 June 2012 20:00:00 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) Two Incore Detectors Containing U-235 Unaccounted for During Inventory 2013-05-15T04:00:00 | |