Semantic search
| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 48393 | 9 October 2012 16:47:00 | The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event, additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time, a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10CFR50.73. On August 26, 2012, at approximately 1231 Mountain Standard Time (MST), some Auxiliary Operators located in the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) Operations Support Buildings reported to the control room that they had felt an earthquake. The US Geological Survey (USGS) internet web page recorded several small earthquakes in the Salton Sea area of Southern California. The earthquake was not felt by the control room staff and no Seismic Monitoring System alarms were received. The event was evaluated and a determination was made at that time that the event did not meet the classification criteria for declaration of an Unusual Event per the PVNGS Emergency Plan. Similarly, at 1358, personnel again reported they felt motion in the Operations Support Buildings and the USGS reported an aftershock in Southern California. The event was similarly determined to not meet the classification criteria for declaration of an Unusual Event. There were no indications of any impact to plant equipment or site operations other than being felt by personnel in the Operations Support Buildings. During post event reviews, it has been determined that these events met the classification criteria for declaration of an Unusual Event for a seismic event as specified by the PVNGS Emergency Plan. No emergency situation exists at this time. The NRC Resident Inspector was informed of this notification. The licensee notified Maricopa County and the State of Arizona. |
| ENS 47268 | 14 September 2011 18:15:00 | On September 12, 2011, the Palo Verde Emergency Preparedness Department discovered that public warning system siren 1 was not responding and was out of service. The loss of this siren did not constitute a loss of capability to alert a large segment of the population for greater than one hour and was therefore, not reported. Troubleshooting had commenced but was not completed. On September 14, 2011, at 1023 Mountain Standard Time, the Palo Verde Emergency Preparedness Department was notified by Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) that siren 6 had failed. Since siren 1 remains out of service pending repairs, and siren 6 is now out of service, the loss of the two sirens constitutes a loss of capability to alert a large segment of the population for greater than one hour and is reportable. This is a reportable event as a loss of communication and assessment capability that could potentially impact a population of greater than 10 percent of the people in the 10-mile emergency planning zone (approximately 750 people affected). Therefore, this notification is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii). If an event occurs while the sirens are out of service, the Palo Verde Emergency Plan has a contingency for dispatching MCSO vehicles with loudspeakers to alert persons within the affected area. The MCSO is prepared to implement this contingency should it become necessary. Troubleshooting to determine the cause of the failure of siren 6 has also commenced. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of the out of service sirens and this ENS call. |
| ENS 45448 | 20 October 2009 17:36:00 | A non-licensed contract supervisor had a confirmed positive for illegal drugs during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employees access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| ENS 45305 | 27 August 2009 18:20:00 | A non-licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for illegal drugs during a random fitness for duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details. |
| ENS 44865 | 19 February 2009 18:40:00 | The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event, additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time, a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10CFR50.73. On February 19, 2009, at approximately 11:20 Mountain Standard Time (MST), an employee of Arizona Public Service (APS) was injured while working at the Palo Verde Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) which is considered to be a radiologically controlled area (RCA). The ISFSI is located within the owner controlled area but outside the plant's protected area. The ISFSI has been evaluated as having a very low probability for contamination, so administrative controls are used to allow workers access into the ISFSI and return to the appropriate Unit RCA egress point located in the protected area where personnel monitoring for contamination is performed prior to leaving the site. Upon exiting the ISFSI area, the individual was initially transported to the Palo Verde Medical Clinic to attend to the injury. Subsequently, the individual was transported to an offsite medical facility for further evaluation. The individual was not monitored for contamination prior to being transported offsite. The individual and the transporting vehicle were frisked offsite and found to be free of contamination. There were no exposures from licensed material and no consequence to the public or environment." Injured person was an employee of licensee. Employee was transported to the hospital via private owned vehicle. The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. |
| ENS 44127 | 8 April 2008 19:10:00 | At approximately 1100 Mountain Standard Time on April 8, 2008 at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, a non-licensed supervisor tested positive for alcohol during a random 'Fitness for Duty' test. The person's access authorization has been placed on hold in accordance with station procedures. This event is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 26.73(a)(2)(ii). The NRC resident inspector has been notified of the event. |
| ENS 43824 | 4 December 2007 16:06:00 | The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event, additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time, a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10CFR50.73. On December 04, 2007 at approximately 07:00 Mountain Standard Time (MST), the Palo Verde Emergency Preparedness Department discovered sirens 17, 18 and 23 out of service. Siren #23 was restored to service at 09:34 and siren 18 was restored to service at 10:32. Siren 17 remains out of service and is estimated to impact approximately 206 members of population in the emergency planning zone (EPZ) within 5 miles. Palo Verde's reporting criterion is a loss of capability to inform greater than 5% of the population within 5 miles. This call is being placed due to the relatively large segment of the population affected (10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii)). During an event, the Palo Verde Emergency Plan has a contingency for dispatching Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) vehicles with loud speakers to alert persons within the affected areas when sirens are inoperable. In order to activate this contingency, Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management was notified of the failed siren at 12:58 (10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi)). There are no events in progress that require siren operation. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of the siren 17 being out of service and this ENS call. The utility received a pulse check report at 0700 this morning which indicated that three sirens failed the initial pulse check. After the second pulse check, two of the three sirens responded correctly. However, the third siren (No. 17) remained OSS, and the licensee has dispatched a crew to repair it. |
| ENS 42701 | 12 July 2006 16:37:00 | The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event, additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time, a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10CFR50.73. On July 12, 2006 at approximately 07:30 Mountain Standard Time (MST), the Palo Verde Emergency Preparedness Department reported siren (#23) out of service. Siren #23 is estimated to impact approximately 119 members of population in the emergency planning zone (EPZ) within 5 miles. Palo Verde's reporting criterion is a loss of capability to inform greater than 5% of the population within 5 miles. This call is being placed due to the relatively large segment of the population affected. During an event, the Palo Verde Emergency Plan has a contingency for dispatching Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) vehicles with loud speakers to alert persons within the affected area(s) when sirens are inoperable. There are no events in progress that require siren operation. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of the siren 23 being out of service and this ENS call. The total population within the 5 mile EPZ is 2120. |
| ENS 41941 | 23 August 2005 19:01:00 | The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event, additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time, a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10CFR50.73. On August 23, 2005 at approximately 13:49 Mountain Standard Time (MST), the Palo Verde Emergency Preparedness Department identified a siren (#42) inoperable due to a failed battery charger. At approximately 14:00 a faxed notice was found indicating siren #15 had failed its response check. The fax was sent approximately at 07:00 but was not noticed till later since out of service siren notifications are generally made via phone or e-mail. Upon investigation, siren #15 was found inoperable due to a circuit board failure. Siren #15 is estimated to impact approximately 144 members of population in the emergency planning zone (EPZ) within 5 miles, and siren #42 is estimated to impact 496 members of the population in the EPZ, beyond 5 miles but within 10 miles. Palo Verde's reporting criterion is a loss of capability to inform greater than 5% of the population within 5 miles and 10% of the population beyond 5 miles but within 10 miles. This call is being placed due to the relatively large segment of the population affected and the uncertainty of the length of time that will be needed to restore the siren to operable condition. The Palo Verde Emergency Plan (section 6.6.2.1) has a contingency for dispatching Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) vehicles with loud speakers to alert persons within the affected area(s) when sirens are inoperable. There are no events in progress that require siren operation. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of the siren failure and this ENS call. |
| ENS 41912 | 11 August 2005 15:56:00 | On August 11, 2005 at approximately 08:45 Mountain Standard Time (MST), the Palo Verde Emergency Preparedness Department identified an inoperable single siren (#15). While reviewing the siren monitoring computer log, an Information Services Technician received a 'no response' signal on siren #15. Upon investigation, siren #15 was found inoperable. The siren was vandalized by destroying the siren controller case and stealing the internal battery. The affected siren is estimated to impact approximately 496 members of population in the emergency planning zone (EPZ) beyond 5 miles but within 10 miles. Palo Verde's reporting criterion is a loss of capability to inform greater than 10% of the population beyond 5 miles but within 10 miles. This call is being placed due to the relatively large segment of the population affected and the uncertainty of the length of time that will be needed to restore the siren to operable condition. The Palo Verde Emergency Plan (section 6.6.2.1) has a contingency for dispatching Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) vehicles with loud speakers to alert persons within the affected area(s) when sirens are inoperable. The County was informed at 09:05 MST to implement the MCSO notification if a need arises. There are no events in progress that require siren operation. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |