PNO-II-86-075, Region II Received Rept Re Five Fission Detectors,Each Containing Approx 2 G High Enriched U, Identified as Missing in Jul 1986.Matl Believed Included in 1985 Radwaste Shipment.Region II Specialist Sent to Site

PNO-II-86-075:Region II Received Rept Re Five Fission Detectors,Each Containing Approx 2 G High Enriched U, Identified as Missing in Jul 1986.Matl Believed Included in 1985 Radwaste Shipment.Region II Specialist Sent to Site

ML20211C984
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	10/15/1986
From:	Collins T, Weddington R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
References
PNO-II-86-075, PNO-II-86-75, NUDOCS 8610220068
Download: ML20211C984 (2)

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• 4 October 15, 1986 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN0-II-86-75 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verifi-cation or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by .the Region II staff on this date.

FACILITY: Tennessee Valley ~ Authority Licensee Emergency Classification:

Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3 Notification of Unusual Event J

Docket Nos. 50-259/50-260/50-296 Alert Athens, Alabama Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL (FISSION DETECTORS)

Region II has dispatched a radiation specialist to the Browns Ferry site following receipti of a report from the licensee that five fission detectors, each containing a total of approximately two grams of high enriched uranium, were identified as missing during the licensee's July 1986 annual special nuclear material inventory and cannot be found.

The detectors are about the size of a sewing thimble and are used to monitor neutron activity during startup power operations. Each source emits radioactivity at contact of l 500 millirem per hour and 100 millirem per hour at 18 inches. They are normally stored l under water in the plant's spent fuel pool.

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The licensee says its preliminary investigation of the matter thus far indicates that the detectors may have inadvertently be included in a radioactive waste shipment in the Spring l

of 1985 to Richland, Washington.

I Apparent discrepancies in a previous annual special nuclear material inventory and semi-annual source inventories are undergoing licensee review.

The licensee plans to issue a news release today.

The States of Washington and Alabama have been informed.

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The NRC (Region II) received initial notification of this event by telephone from the licensee at 10:00 p.m. (EDT) on October 14.

This information is current as of 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on October 15..

Contact:

R. Weddington, 242-2604 T. R. Collins, 242-5621 1

8610270068 861015 ]

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