This is a non-emergency notification regarding a very small amount of
Special Nuclear Material (
SNM) which is unaccounted for. On May 30, 2014, a discrepancy was found in the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station
SNM inventory. After extensive review, it was determined on June 19, 2014 that one nuclear instrumentation incore detector could not be located at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. Detectors of this type are used to measure incore neutron flux (intensity of neutron radiation) inside the reactor vessel. This is being reported under
10 CFR 20.2201 (a)(1)(ii) Reports of Theft or Loss of Licensed Material.
According to V.C. Summer documentation, there should be 42 such detectors in storage. Only 41 detectors could be physically located. There is no evidence of theft or diversion of the detector. Detectors of this type contain very small amounts of Uranium-235 (.0041 grams/detector), which qualifies them as SNM. The detector is believed to be located in a storage location in the Reactor Building (RB). The RB storage location will be inspected during the next refueling outage.
This event had no effect on plant operations. No impact on public health and safety has been identified. A written report will be made in accordance with 10 CFR 20.2201(b)(1)(i-vi).
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified by the licensee.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf