ENS 50023
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
21:05 Sep 10, 2013 | |
| Title | Uf6 Present in the Small Component Decontamination Train |
| Event Description | (1) Radiological or chemical hazards involved, including isotopes, quantities, and chemical and physical form of any material released Uranium-hexafluoride (UF6):
3.1 grams of solid UF6 was present in the Small Component Decontamination Train (SCT) and was assumed to be enriched to 5 weight percent U235. Thus 0.16 grams of U235 were present. Neither criticality nor chemical release occurred. (2) Actual or potential health and safety consequences to the workers, the public, and the environment, including relevant chemical and radiation data for actual personnel exposures to radiation or radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals produced from licensed materials (e.g. level of radiation exposure, concentration of chemicals, and duration of exposure): None; the administrative limit to ensure criticality is prevented is 730 grams of U235. The mass present was about two ten-thousandths of the administrative mass limit. This administrative mass limit is less than one half of the analyzed 0.95 keff safe mass. (3) The sequence of occurrences leading to the event, including degradation or failure of structures, systems, equipment, components, and activities of personnel relied on to prevent potential accidents or mitigate their consequences: The IROFS prevent the accumulation of U235 above the administrative mass limit of 730 grams U235 in the SCT. The IROFS determine a net weight of residual material in a container by comparing the initial, prior to first use, tare weight to the empty weight, after outgassing. It was discovered that upon cleaning, the technicians were determining a net weight using the most recent empty weight, not the prior to first use tare weight. This resulted in the potential to nullify the weight of remaining trace quantities of residual material. This represents a failure of management measures such that no IROFS, as documented in the ISA summary, remain available and reliable, in an accident sequence evaluated in the ISA, to perform their function. Therefore, this one hour event report being completed in accordance with 10 CFR 70 Appendix A (a)(4). (4) Whether the remaining structures, systems, equipment, components, and activities of personnel relied on to prevent potential accidents or mitigate their consequences are available and reliable to perform their function: All structures, systems, equipment, components, or activities of personnel remain available and reliable to perform their safety functions. (5) External conditions affecting the event; There were no external conditions that affected this event. (6) Additional actions taken by the licensee in response to the event: The area was isolated, operations in the SCDT were halted and a criticality anomalous condition was declared per Operating Requirement Manual. An immediate reconciliation of the IROFS54a and 54b mass record logs was completed and it was determined that the mass present in the SCDT, 0.155 grams U235, was well below the administrative mass limit of 730 grams. (7) Status of the event (e.g., whether the event is on-going or was terminated); No event occurred; there was insufficient material present for criticality to be possible. No release of licensed material occurred. This event was the discovery of a failed management measures related to an IROFS. (8) Current and planned site status, including any declared emergency class; Plant is running at full capacity. This event did not warrant any change in plant status. No declared emergency occurred nor are any planned. (9) Notifications, related to the event, that were made or are planned to any local, State, or other Federal agencies; No notifications other than this report have been made nor are any planned. (10) Status of any press releases, related to the event that were made or are planned. No press releases have occurred nor are any planned. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Energy Services Eunice, New Mexico (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | SNM-2010 |
| Reporting | |
| Part 70 App A (A)(4) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+5082.58 h211.774 days <br />30.253 weeks <br />6.962 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Jack Britt 15:40 Apr 10, 2014 |
| NRC Officer: | Charles Teal |
| Last Updated: | Apr 10, 2014 |
| 50023 - NRC Website | |
Louisiana Energy Services with Part 70 App A (A)(4) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 570612024-04-02T05:45:0002 April 2024 05:45:00
[Table view]Part 70 App A (A)(4) Item Relied on for Safety (Irofs) Inoperable ENS 563022023-01-05T21:45:0005 January 2023 21:45:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) Safety Item Unavailable ENS 559302022-06-08T01:00:0008 June 2022 01:00:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) UF6 Leakage Inside Autoclave ENS 557702022-03-07T17:45:0007 March 2022 17:45:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) Item Relied on for Safety (IROFS) Inoperable ENS 544922020-01-22T23:23:00022 January 2020 23:23:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) Required Procedural Controls Were Not Followed ENS 528862017-08-03T21:00:0003 August 2017 21:00:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) Administrative Criticality Controls Not Used ENS 517762016-03-07T23:15:0007 March 2016 23:15:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) Administrative Items Relied on for Safety (Irofs) Not Performed ENS 500232013-09-10T21:05:00010 September 2013 21:05:00 Part 70 App A (A)(4) Uf6 Present in the Small Component Decontamination Train 2024-04-02T05:45:00 | |