ML13165A322
| ML13165A322 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 06/13/2013 |
| From: | Henderson K Duke Energy Carolinas |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| LER 13-S01-00 | |
| Download: ML13165A322 (8) | |
Text
~DUKE ENERGY.
Kelvin Henderson Vice President Catawba Nuclear Station 803-701-4251 Duke Energy CNO1VP I 4800 Concord Rd.
York, SC 29745 June 13, 2013 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555
Subject:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy)
Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Docket No. 50-413 Special Report 413/2013-SO1-0 Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.73(d), attached is the subject Special Report entitled, "Special Report -
Radioactive Source Discovered Missing During Source Inventory".
This report is being submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 20.2201(b)(2)(i).
There are no regulatory commitments contained in this letter or its attachment.
This event is considered to be of no significance with respect to the health and safety of the public.
If there are any questions on this report, please contact L.J. Rudy at (803) 701-3084.
Sincerely, Kelvin Henderson LJR/s Attachment
- e Ue-www.duke-energy com
Document Control Desk Page 2 June 13, 2013 xc (with attachment):
V.M. McCree Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 J.S. Kim (addressee only)
NRC Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 8 C2 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 G.A. Hutto, III NRC Senior Resident Inspector Catawba Nuclear Station INPO Records Center 700 Galleria Place Atlanta, GA 30339-5957
NRC FORM 366 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION APPROVED BY OMB: NO. 3150-0104 EXPIRES: 10/31/2013 (10-2010)
Estimated burden per response to comply with this mandatory collection request: 80 hours9.259259e-4 days <br />0.0222 hours <br />1.322751e-4 weeks <br />3.044e-5 months <br />. Reported lessons learned are incorporated into the licensing process and fed hack to industry. Send comments LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) regarding burden estimate to the Records and FOIA/Privacy Service Branch (T-5 F53). U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by internet e-mail to infocollects.resource@nrc.gov, and to the Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, (See reverse for required number of NEOB-10202, (3150-0104), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Ifa means used digits/characters for each block) to impose an information collection does not display a currently valid OMB control number, the NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, the information collection.
- 1. FACILITY NAME
- 2. DOCKET NUMBER
- 3. PAGE Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 05000413 1 OF 6
- 4. TITLE Special Report - Radioactive Source Discovered Missing During Source Inventory
- 5. EVENT DATE
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 7. REPORT DATE
- 8. OTHER FACILITIES INVOLVED I
I FACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER MONTH DAY YEAR YEAR NUMBER NO MONTH DAY YEAR FACILITY NAMEDOCKETNUMBER
___IFACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER 04 16 2013 2013 -
S01 0
06 13 2013
- 9. OPERATING MODE 1
- 11. THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR §: (Check all that apply) 1 20.2201(b)
[-
20.2203(a)(3)(i)
[L 50.73(a)(2)(i)(C)
El 50.73(a)(2)(vii)
[_1 20.2201 (d)
El 20.2203(a)(3)(ii)
F] 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(A)
[:1 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(A)
[]
20.2203(a)(1)
E] 20.2203(a)(4)
[] 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(B)
F1 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(B) 20.2203(a)(2)(i)
El 50.36(c)(1)(i)(A)
[I 50.73(a)(2)(iii)
[I 50.73(a)(2)(ix)(A)
- 10. POWER LEVEL
[
20.2203(a)(2)(ii)
F] 50.36(c)(1)(ii)(A)
L] 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A)
F1 50.73(a)(2)(x) 100%
[
20.2203(a)(2)(iii)
[L 50.36(c)(2)
Ej 50.73(a)(2)(v)(A) [] 73.71(a)(4)
LI 20.2203(a)(2)(iv)
EL 50.46(a)(3)(ii)
[] 50.73(a)(2)(v)(B)
[j 73.71(a)(5)
E] 20.2203(a)(2)(v)
E] 50.73(a)(2)(i)(A)
E] 50.73(a)(2)(v)(C) [: OTHER
[
20.2203(a)(2)(vi)
Ej 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B)
[
50.73(a)(2)(v)(D)
Specify in Abstract below or in NRC Form 366A
- 12. LICENSEE CONTACT FOR THIS LER FACILITY NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)
L.J. Rudy, Regulatory Affairs (803) 701-3084
- 13. COMPLETE ONE LINE FOR EACH COMPONENT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT MANU-REPORTABLE MANU-REPORTABLE CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT FACTURER TO EPIX CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT FACTURER TO EPIX
- 14. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT EXPECTED
- 15. EXPECTED MONTH DAY YEAR Y
SUBMISSION I
YES (If yes, complete EXPECTED SUBMISSION DATE)
NO DATE
- 16. ABSTRACT (Limit to 1400 spaces, i.e., approximately 15 single-spaced typewritten lines)
On 04/16/2013, Radiation Protection personnel performed the semi-annual source leak check and inventory. While performing the inventory in Room 250 of the Auxiliary Building (Unit 1 Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Room), personnel could not locate the source label tag or cable for source RMC-0169 on abandoned radiation monitor 1EMF44H. Supervision was contacted to provide notification of a missing source. Various searches and personnel interviews were conducted in an effort to locate the source. The source could not be located.
Based on the searches, interviews, and the as-found condition of 1EMF44H, it appears that RMC-0169 was taken out of the EMF housing as part of removing the pre-amplifier. The section of cable that was found did not contain the source and the physical appearance of the cable suggested that it no longer had any further use. Given the location where the remainder of the cable was found, it is likely that housekeeping personnel picked up the source with other trash in the area and disposed of it in the radioactive trash. On 05/15/2013, Catawba notified the NRC via the Event Notification System concerning the lost source. The cause of the missing source could not be conclusively determined. The procedure for operational response to acts directed against plant equipment was referred to and was determined to be not applicable. Remaining radioactive sources will be removed from abandoned EMFs and returned to Radiation Protection. Applicable maintenance procedure(s) will be revised to require maintenance personnel to contact Radiation Protection when performing work involving a radioactive source. There was no safety significance to this event, as the source contains an extremely small quantity of U-234 and poses no significant safety concern. No inadvertent radiation exposure to plant personnel or the general public would have occurred as a result of this event. Therefore, this event is considered to be of no significance with respect to the health and safety of the public.
NRC FORM 366 (10-2010)
NRC FORM 366A LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (10-2010)
CONTINUATION SHEET
- 1. FACILITY NAME
- 2. DOCKET
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 3. PAGE SEQUENTIAL REV YEAR NUMBER NO Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 05000413 12013 S01 0
2 of 6
NARRATIVE BACKGROUND This event is being reported under the following criterion:
10 CFR 20.2201(b)(1), Reports of theft or loss of licensed material, Written reports.
Catawba Nuclear Station Unit 1 is a Westinghouse four-loop Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) [EIIS: RCT].
The Catawba Process and Area Radiation Monitoring System (EMF) [EIIS: IL] performs the following functions:
Provides the operators with information to indicate a breach of the reactor coolant pressure boundary (one of the fission product release barriers);
Monitors containment radiation for use in determining the magnitude of the release of radioactive materials and continually assessing such releases; Assures that radiation exposures and releases of radioactive materials in effluents to unrestricted areas are as low as reasonably achievable; Monitors airborne and liquid activity in selected locations and effluent discharge paths during normal operation, anticipated operational occurrences, and postulated accidents; Automatically terminates discharge from waste systems at preset activity levels; Monitors radiation levels in various plant locations to aid in assuring that station personnel exposure remains as low as reasonably achievable; and Aids in accident assessment and emergency plan actuation.
1 EMF44 and 2EMF44, Ventilation Unit Condensate Drain Tank Monitors (both high (H) and low (L) ranges), were abandoned in place in 1995.
When the licensed material was discovered to be missing on 04/16/2013, Unit 1 was in Mode 1 at 100% power.
No structures, systems, or components were out of service that had any effect on the event.
EVENT DESCRIPTION Date/Time Event (Some event times are approximate.)
10/04/2012/----
The semi-annual source leak check and inventory was performed. Radiation Protection personnel verified that source RMC-0169 was in its designated location, 1EMF44H, as indicated on the Catawba source index.
NRC FORM 366A (10-2010)
NRC FORM 366A LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (10-2010)
CONTINUATION SHEET
- 1. FACILITY NAME
- 2. DOCKET
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 3. PAGE SEQUENTIAL REV YEAR NUMBER INO Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 05000413 2013 S01 0
3 of 6
NARRATIVE 12/04/2012/0300 Instrumentation and Electrical personnel notified Radiation Protection personnel that an item was found which was described as the "source" in the vicinity of 1 EMF44H on the floor in Room 250 of the Auxiliary Building (Unit 1 Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Room).
0330 Radiation Protection personnel responded to the call. The person described finding a severed piece of cable lying on top of the EMF, but stated that a source was not present.
The person contacted supervision to turn over the item that was found.
Radiation Protection supervision retrieved the item and described it as two feet of coaxial cable with a connector on one end with an appearance of having been cut. A source identification tag was attached. The cable was frisked and cleared through the small article monitor. No activity was identified. The item was disposed of in the trash. The source identification tag was initially retained, but it was disposed of several weeks later.
04/16/2013/----
Radiation Protection personnel performed the semi-annual source leak check and inventory. While performing the inventory in Room 250 of the Auxiliary Building (Unit 1 Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Room), personnel could not locate the source label tag or cable for source RMC-0169 on 1EMF44H. The person contacted supervision to provide notification of a missing source.
It was determined that the lost source was reportable based on the activity of U-234 present (the U-234 reportable activity is 0.01 pCi; the U-234 source activity is 0.03 pCi).
Various searches and personnel interviews were conducted in an effort to locate the source. The source could not be located. Based on the searches, interviews, and the as-found condition of 1EMF44H, it appears that RMC-0169 was taken out of the EMF housing as part of removing the pre-amplifier. The section of cable that was found did not contain the source and the physical appearance of the cable suggested that it no longer had any further use. Given the location where the remainder of the cable was found, it is likely that housekeeping personnel picked up the source with other trash in the area and disposed of it in the radioactive trash.
05/15/2013/1445 Catawba made Event Notification System (ENS) Number 49036 concerning the lost source.
CAUSAL FACTORS The cause of the missing source could not be conclusively determined. The procedure for operational response to acts directed against plant equipment was referred to and was determined to be not applicable.
Work on abandoned equipment is not required to be performed under a work order. Therefore, this work had no traceability. This resulted in the removal of source RMC-0169 from 1EMF44H without notification to Radiation Protection personnel for proper source control and accountability.
NRC FORM 366A (10-2010)
NRC FORM 366A LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (10-2010)
CONTINUATION SHEET
- 1. FACILITY NAME
- 2. DOCKET
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 3. PAGE SEQUENTIAL REV YEAR NUMBER NNO Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 05000413 2013 S01 0
4 of 6
NARRATIVE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Immediate/Subsequent:
- 1.
The procedure for operational response to acts directed against plant equipment was referred to and was determined to be not applicable.
- 2.
Various searches and personnel interviews were conducted in an effort to locate the source. The source could not be located.
Planned:
- 1.
The remaining low range and high range radioactive check sources will be removed from abandoned radiation monitors 1EMF44 and 2EMF44 and will be returned to Radiation Protection.
- 2.
Instrumentation and Electrical will provide written guidance in applicable procedure(s) to contact Radiation Protection when performing work involving a radioactive source.
There are no NRC commitments contained in this LER.
SAFETY ANALYSIS There was no safety significance to this event. The source contains an extremely small quantity of U-234 and poses no significant safety concern. It is believed that the source was disposed of in the radioactive trash. No inadvertent radiation exposure to plant personnel or the general public would have occurred as a result of this event. Therefore, this event is considered to be of no significance with respect to the health and safety of the public.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Within the previous three years, there was one other event at Catawba involving a report under 10 CFR 20.2201(b)(1). Special Report 413/2012-S01-0, "Special Report - Small Amount of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) in Nuclear Instrumentation Detectors Unaccounted For", was submitted on 07/31/2012. The corrective actions taken for that event were specific to that event and would not have prevented this event from occurring. Therefore, this event is considered to be non-recurring.
Energy Industry Identification System (EIIS) codes are identified in the text as [EIIS: XX].
This event is not considered to constitute a Safety System Functional Failure. There was no release of radioactive material, radiation overexposure, or personnel injury associated with the event described in this report.
NRC FORM 366A (10-2010)
NRC FORM 366A LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (10-2010)
CONTINUATION SHEET
- 1. FACILITY NAME
- 2. DOCKET
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 3. PAGE SEQUENTIAL REV YEAR NUMBER NO Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 05000413 12013 S01 0
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NARRATIVE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY 10 CFR 20.2201(b)(1)
(i) A description of the licensed material involved, including kind, quantity, and chemical and physical form:
Source RMC-0169 is a 200 milligram depleted uranium source. The total original activity of the source was 9.998E-02 pCi (3.03E-02 pCi U-234, 1.98E-03 pCi U-235, 6.77E-02 pCi U-238). The reportable limit for U-234 (the shortest-lived isotope in the source is U-234 with a half-life of 2.46E+05 years) is 0.01 pCi per 10 CFR 20, Appendix C. Based on the activity of U-234 present in the source of 0.03 pCi, a written report is being made pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2201(b)(1).
(ii) A description of the circumstances under which the loss or theft occurred:
On 04/16/2013, while performing the required semi-annual source leak check and inventory, Radiation Protection personnel could not locate the source label tag or cable for source RMC-0169 on radiation monitor 1EMF44H (this monitor has been abandoned in place since 1995). The monitor's pre-amplifier box had been removed as well. 1 EMF44H was inspected and the source was not found within the housing. A search was conducted for the missing source; however, it could not be located. During the previous source leak check and inventory on 10/04/2012, the source was in its expected location.
(iii) A statement of disposition, or probable disposition, of the licensed material involved:
Based on physical searches, personnel interviews, and the as-found condition of 1 EMF44H, it appears that RMC-0169 was taken out of the EMF housing as part of removing the pre-amplifier. The section of cable that was found did not contain the source and the physical appearance of the cable suggested that it no longer had any further use. Given the location where the remainder of the cable was found, it is likely that housekeeping personnel picked up the source with other trash in the area and disposed of it in the radioactive trash.
(iv) Exposures of individuals to radiation, circumstances under which the exposures occurred, and the possible total effective dose equivalent to persons in unrestricted areas:
There is no known exposure to individuals. The potential for direct/external radiation from depleted uranium is very low since it is primarily an alpha emitter and less radioactive than natural uranium. In its given form, there is no health risk associated with the source. There is no likely impact on public health or safety due to the small quantity and low activity of the source.
(v) Actions that have been taken, or will be taken, to recover the material:
A boroscope inspection was conducted inside the detector well.
A thorough search of the Unit 1 Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Room (the location of 1 EMF44H) was performed.
An investigation of the work request backlog was conducted for 1 EMF44H, as well as for similar type radiation monitors.
Instrumentation and Electrical personnel were interviewed for additional information.
Housekeeping personnel were interviewed for additional information.
Security records for the Unit 1 Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Room door were obtained. Personnel with a potential need for EMF equipment access and who were available for interviews were contacted.
NRC FORM 366A (10-2010)
NRC FORM 366A LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (10-2010)
CONTINUATION SHEET
- 1. FACILITY NAME
- 2. DOCKET
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 3. PAGE SEQUENTIAL REV YEAR NUMBER NO Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 05000413 2013 S01 0
6 of 6
NARRATIVE No further evidence was found from the search efforts. Further attempts will not be made to find the source due to the lack of an offsetting safety benefit and no further feasible leads for potential source location.
(vi) Procedures or measures that have been, or will be, adopted to ensure against a recurrence of the loss or theft of licensed material:
Refer to the Planned Corrective Actions section of this report.
NRC FORM 366A (10-2010)