ML20064G400
| ML20064G400 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley |
| Issue date: | 03/04/1994 |
| From: | Freeland L DUQUESNE LIGHT CO. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9403160175 | |
| Download: ML20064G400 (4) | |
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M 7S AP Telephorn. 1412) 393 Ro)
Nudeat Group P O Box 4 3% pit 9po<1 PA IMJt74034 March 4,1994 ND3MNO:3547 Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No.1 Docket No. 50-334, License No. DPR-66 Incore Detector Traceability Special Report United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 This Special Report is being submitted to provide additional information concerning the unaccountability of Special Nuclear Material at the Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS). On February 2,1994 at 2024 hours0.0234 days <br />0.562 hours <br />0.00335 weeks <br />7.70132e-4 months <br />, a 1 hour1.157407e-5 days <br />2.777778e-4 hours <br />1.653439e-6 weeks <br />3.805e-7 months <br /> notification was made in accordance with 10 CFR 70.52 via the Emergency Notification System that five (5) moveable incore detectors could not he traced from receipt to their final disposition. Using a conservative assumption, this represents a total of 0.0205 grams of Uranium 235. This report contains information regarding the investigation that was undertaken in an attempt to locate the unaccounted detectors.
Each Beaver Valle), ;t utilizes five (5) moveable incere fission chamber detectors to flux during reactor operations. Purchasing receipt records periodically monitor the nc-indicate that a total of fifty.he (55) detectors were purchased and received onsite. Fifty-one l
(51) detectors were purchased from a Westinghouse Electric subsidiary, Imaging and Sensing Technology, and four (4) were purchased from Reuter Stokes. Records indicate that each Westinghouse detector contained 0.0041 grams of Uranium 235, and each Reuter Stokes detector contained 0.0008 grams of Uranium 235. Of the fifty-five (55) detectors that are r
known to have been received, fifty (50) have been positively accounted for as follows:
32 llave been shipped offsite for burial as radioactive waste.
10 Are in service (5 at each unit in the Flux Drive Room).
2 Are new and are in storage in the Unit 1 New Fuel Room, and 6
Have been removed from service and are in storage at BVPS.
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9403160175 940304
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March 4,1994 ND3MNO;3547 Page 2 The above accounting summary was the result of an audit that was performed to retrospectively verify the receipt, use, and disposition of all incore detectors purchased for use at BVPS. The record review dated back to the initial startup of Unit 1 in 1976. The involved site groups have researched purchasing records, nuclear material accountability records, maintenance work requests, and radioactive material shipping records in an attempt to determine the Onal disposition of the unaccounted detectors.
The station was physically searched, including the shielded temnorary irradiated incore detector storage locations in both reactor containment buildings.
After extensive investigation, it was concluded that the Sve unaccounted detectors were removed from the flux drive room, drummed, and shipped as radioactive waste, but tracking the detectors as Special Nuclear Material was not performed. Using a conservative assumption that the unaccounted detectors were all procured from Westinghouse, a total of 0.0205 grams j
of Uranium 235 cannot be positively traceo.
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Based on the investigation and knowledge of previous practices, it was also concluded that the unaccounted detectors were used early in the operating history of Beaver Valley Unit 1 and disposed of as radioactive waste When inservie: detectors were replaced, they were temporarily stored in the flux drive room in the reactor containment building until they were removed and drummed for storage or shipped as radioactive waste.
However, review of documentation for radioactive waste shipments prior to 1986 did not specifically identify any shipping containers as containing an incore detector.
The unaccounted Special Nuclear Material in the detectors is not considered to be a i
I hazard to the health and safety of the general public, as the investigation concluded the detectors were most likely removed from service, drummed, and disposed of as radioactive waste in accordance with approved shipping procedures. Also, there is no indication of any theft or willful diversion of the detectors.
Utility practices in the 1970's and early 1980's, including BVPS, did not treat incore detectors as Special Nuclear Material, as it was not believed the detectors met the regulatory dennition, because of the extremely low Uranium 235 content.
Since 1986, upgraded procedural requirements have been in place at BVPS to ensure proper control and accountability of incore detectors, and in 1990, the procedures were furtl-refined. The i
upgraded procedural requirements are adequate to prevent a recurrence of this event. No additional actions are planned, as the unaccounted detectors are believed te have been properly disposed of early in the operating history of Unit 1, when incore detectors were not controlled and accounted for as Special Nuclear Material.
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March 4,1994 ND3MNO:3547 Page 3 Should you have any further questions regarding this ' matter, please contact D. E. Faller at (412) 393-5201.
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1 L, R. Freeland General Manager Nuclear Operations i
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i March 4,1994 ND3MNO:3547 Page 4 cc:
Mr. T. T. Martin, Regional Administrator United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission i
Region 1 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. G. E. Edison, BVPS Licensing Project Manager United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
-l Washington, DC 20555 Larry Rossbach, Nuclear Regulatoiy Commission, BVPS Senior Resident inspector J. A. Ilultz, Ohio Edison 76 S. Main Street Akron,01144308 Mark Burns Centerior Energy 6200 Oak Tree Blvd, independence, Oli 44101-4661 INPO Records Center 700 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339-5957 s
Mr. Robert IL..aanic Depaitment of Environmental Resources P.O. Box 2063 16th Floor, Fulton Building Ilarrisburg, PA 17120 Director, Safety Evaluation & Control Virginia Electric & Power Co.
P.O Box 26666 One James River Plaza Richmond, VA 23261
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