PNO-IV-98-017A, on 980415,licensee Conducted Conducted Briefing of Region IV & Headquarters Staff on Details of Fire.Location & Matls Involved in Fire,Described in Original Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurrence

PNO-IV-98-017A:on 980415,licensee Conducted Conducted Briefing of Region IV & Headquarters Staff on Details of Fire.Location & Matls Involved in Fire,Described in Original Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurrence

ML20216H127
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	04/16/1998
From:	Hooker C, Linda Howell, Wenslawski F NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-98-017A, PNO-IV-98-17A, NUDOCS 9804210059
Download: ML20216H127 (1)

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I April 16,1998 PRELlMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-98-017A This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is ss initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.

Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification Siemans Nuclear Power Corporation Notification of Unusual Event Siemans Nuclear Power Corporation X Alert '

Richland, Washington Site Area Emergency j Dockets: 07001257 License No: SNM-1227 General Emergency '

Not Applicable

Subject:

FIRE IN WASTE HANDLING AREA The licensee conducted a briefing of Region IV and Headquarters staff on the details of the fire at 12:00 p.m. (PDT) on April 15,1998. The location and materials involved in the fire were as described in the original Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurrence. Some collateral damage occurred to one electrical panel and the conduit to a second panel in the " Hot Waste Handling Area" of the UO2 building. Damage to the electrical panel resulted in a circuit breaker trip and loss of local lighting and the exhaust ventilation to the local area. The primary building ventilation was not affected, and negative pressure in the building was maintained throughout the event. No safety systems were compromised by the fire.

The fire involved only very minor quantities of radioactive materials contained in the wire waste basket. There were no offsite releases. The only contamination identified was a small spot (1200 disintegrations per minute over a 200 square centimeter area) on the asphalt outside the building where the bin was removed to fuiiy extinguish the fire and a spot on a fireman's boot. Both were readily decontaminated. There were no criticality implications associated with the event. The area of the fire was not a moderation exclusion zone and no criticality barriers wer.s violated. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and the licensee is working with the Richland fire department to investigate the cause. The licensee has also formed an Incident Investigation Board to review the event.

The licensee issued a press release and has had some news media inquiries, including one local television station.

Two NRC inspectors were onsite at the time of the event and are continuing to review the licensee's investigation and followup activities.

Region IV and the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards conducted a Commissioner's Assistants briefing at 4 p.m. (CDT), April 15,1998.

The FEMA Region 10 office and the state of Washington have been notified of the event.

This information is current as of 7 a.m. (CDT), April 16,1998.

Contact:

Frank A. Wenslawski (925)975-0219 ql Chuck Hooker (925)975-0248 - ')

Linda L. Howell (817)860-8213 9004210059 980416 PDR I&E PND-IV-98-017A PDR