ML20153H383
| ML20153H383 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 09/28/1998 |
| From: | Toelle S UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| To: | Ten Eyck E NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM), NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| GDP-98-0206, GDP-98-206, NUDOCS 9810020029 | |
| Download: ML20153H383 (3) | |
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SEP-28-1998 16136 USEC' 301 564 3210 P.02/03 l
1 f}U _SEC 7 6 o 7tt n 0
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1 September 28,1998 i
GDP 98-0206 L
a Ms. Elizabeth Q. TeaEyck Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards Office of Materials Safety and Safeguards United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control D 3k Washmgton, D.C. 20555-0001 W
Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) i Docket No. 70-7002 j
Discovery of Leaking Radioactive Source f
Dear Ms. TenEyck:
In accordance with the PORTS Safety Analysis Report (SAR), Section 5.3.4.2, this report describes the discovery of a scaled source that had removable contamination greater than 0.005 Ci. The source was located inside a Department of Energy (DOE) controlled storage vault at the Portsmouth i
Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS). He following information provides the source description, test
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results, extent of contamination, suspected cause of failure and actions taken.
i On Sep uber 23,1998, a Health Physics technician performing a survey of sealed radioactive sources m une DOE controlled X-345 Building discovered one source was leaking. The source was found to have transferable activity in excess of 0.005 uCi (11,100 dpm). The source is a solid Uranium-235 source with an original activity of 7.6074E7 Bq. and a mass of 4.7El grams with a 70.10% assay on August 16,1996. The vendor was Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The assigned halflife of the source material is 7.038E8 years giving it a current activity of 2.056E3 Ci. The source classification is Non-Exempt. The source material is in a solid form and appears to be uranium oxide plated to a metal disk secured between two layers of 1/4 inch plexiglass sheets.
The leak test performed on September 23,1998, indicated a total transferable contamination level of 11,500 dpm (8,000 dpm alpha activity and 3,500 dpm beta /gamnu activity). Documentation of the previous leak test performed on the source on August 31,1998, indicate <200 dpm alpha activity and <700 dpm beta / gamma activity.
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The source was located in an underground repository within a posted " Contamination Area" in the North Vault of the X-345 facility. The repository is a two foot deep concrete hole in the vnuit floor covered with a latching hatch over the access port. The source was secured in a sealed plastic zip 9810020029 980928 OOg2 3 rive. Bethesda. MD 20817-1818 telepnons m,. ~J Fax 301 564 3201 http://www.mee.com Oeices in 1.ivermore, CA Paducah. KY Pommouth. 011 Wuhington, DC
-SEP-28-1990 16:36 USEC 301 564 3210 P.03/03
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Ms. Elizabeth Q. TenEyck Septernb'er 28,1998 GDP 98-0206, Page 2 lock bag which was also inside a larger plastic bag. Surveys indicate that all contamination from the source was contained within the inner bag. No contamination was found on the exterior of the inner bag or on the interior / exterior of the outer bag. The source is used on the DYMCAS unit which is located within the north vault contamination area.
The suspected source failure was attributed to the source handlers dropping the bag into the underground repository which caused the plexiglass source holder to crack and loose its sealing capability. A secondary causal factor appears to be that additional source containers may have also been dropped into the repository on top of the source.
The leaking source has been sealed in two plastic bags and tagged "Do Not Use." He double bagged source has been secured in a repository with the sealed access hatch closed. He repository is in the same North Vault area of the X-345 facility.
There are no new commitments contained in this submittal. Should you require additional information regarding this event, please contact Scott Scholl at (740) 897 2373.
Sincerely, n
S. A.
I; Steven A. Toelle Nuclear Regulatory Assurance and Pelicy Manager Enclosure cc: NRC RegionIII Office NRC Resident Inspector - PORTS NRC Project Manager-PORTS DOE Site Office - PORTS TOTAL P.03
SEP-28-1998 16:36 lbEC 301 564 3210 P.01/03
[kJSEC A Global Enorp compsny 6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817-1818 Telephone 301-564-3200 Fax 301-564-3201 http://www.usec.com Fax Memorandum Date:
Time:
i To:
Fli=heth Ten Evek Fax:
Yawar Farn Phone:
Pat Miland Scott schn11 From:
R= Wells Fax:
301564 n10 Phone:
101564 M Number of Pages: 3 (including cover sheet)
Subject:
SAR Section 5.3.4.2 Report
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i IWPORTANT: This focalmile is intended ordy for the use of the indMduel or entdy to which it is addressed. It may conta'n informs %n that is privtieged, conAdentini, or otherwise protected from dadosure under applicable law. If the reader of this transmisd:r, ls not the intended recipient or the employee or egent responsible for delivering the transtmssion to the inter &d icopient, you are hereby notified that any disseminedon, distribution, copying or use of this transmission or als contents is stda'y prohened. If you have receNed this transmssion in error, please notify us by telephoning 301/564-3200 end retuming the oric'nel to us at the above address.
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