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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 57013 | 7 March 2024 00:35:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification | The following information was provided by the licensee via email: On March 6, 2024, at 1635 PST, with Columbia Generating Station operating at 100 percent power in Mode 1, there was a malfunction in the halogenation/dehalogenation system. This system is used for continuous control of the biological growth in the circulating water and plant service water systems as well as to prevent discharge of halogens to the Columbia River during continuous blowdown. The result of this malfunction was exceeding the established limits of 0.1 milligrams/liter (mg/L) for total residual halogen (TRH) in the station's national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit. At the time of discovery, the local indication for TRH was 3.20 mg/L. This was confirmed via a local grab sample. This maximum daily effluent limit is the highest allowable daily discharge, measured during a calendar day. The station NPDES permit requires notification to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC). The automatic isolation function of the system failed to isolate the continuous blowdown line as did the emergency trip push button. The system was manually secured, and the continuous blowdown line to the Columbia River was isolated. The cause of the issue is under investigation. Notification was made to EFSEC on March 6, 2024, at 2303 PST. This event is being reported as a four hour report made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) due to a "News Release or Notification of Other Government Agency" related to protection of the environment. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified. | Service water | |
| ENS 56572 | 14 June 2023 01:42:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification - Oil Release | The following information was provided by the licensee via email: On 6/13/23 at approximately 1030 PDT, testing was being conducted on a lubricating oil system which interfaces with a cooling water system that has a pathway to the Columbia River. Due to an equipment failure, an indeterminate amount of oil leaked into the cooling water system, with a maximum potential loss of 300 gallons of oil. At 1230 PDT, an oil sheen was identified on the water basin which is the suction and discharge for this cooling system. The discharge pathway to the river was isolated at 1235 PDT. Investigation at the Columbia River showed no signs of oil sheen. This is being reported to offsite agencies under the Columbia Generating Station NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Permit section S3.E.b. l and RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 90.56.280 due to the discharge of oil which has the potential to cause a sheen on the surface of the river. This condition is being reported pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) for news release or notification of other government agencies related to health and safety of the public or protection of the environment. Notifications to off-site agencies were performed at 1842 PDT on 6/13/2023. United States Coast Guard National Response Center Incident Report# 1369989. Washington State Emergency Management Division Report# 23-2245. Discharge pathway will remain secured until on-site cooling water system has been remediated. The NRC resident has been informed. | ||
| ENS 55425 | 22 August 2021 15:30:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification of Potential Oil Discharge | On August 22, 2021, Columbia Generating Station determined that no more than approximately eight (8) gallons of silicone oil was inadvertently released into a plant service water system due to a failed heat exchanger on a plant installed air compressor. The plant service water system returns water to a water basin that contains at a minimum 300,000 gallons of water. The water basin is connected to the Columbia River via a blowdown line. Although not confirmed, it is suspected that an unknown quantity of silicone oil may have been released to the Columbia River. A visual inspection of the basin did not identify any oil sheen or film, and there are no additional actions needed to mitigate this issue. It does not appear the oil release poses a threat to human health or the environment, however because there could have been a discharge of an unknown quantity of silicone oil into the Columbia River this matter is immediately reportable under RCW 90.56.280 to the US Coast Guard National Response Center and Washington State Department of Ecology. This condition is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) for news release or notification of other government agencies concerning an event related to the health and safety of the public or protection of the environment. Notifications to off-site agencies were performed at 1825 PDT on 8/23/2021. The NRC resident has been informed. | Service water | |
| ENS 51562 | 24 November 2015 21:30:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification of Fuel Defects | At approximately 1100 PST, Columbia Generating Station (CGS) planned to make a non-required notification to Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) regarding indications of two fuel defects. This condition has not affected full power operation at CGS, and there is no impact to the health and safety of the public or to the environment. CGS plans on making this notification to EFSEC on November 24, 2015 at 1330 PST. This condition is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(xi). The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | ||
| ENS 49019 | 10 May 2013 01:00:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Inlet/Outlet Turbidity Flocculator Not Recording Data | The following is a non-emergency notification in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) due to the notification requirement to other government agencies that will be made within 48 hours. At 1800, May 9, 2013, the Columbia Generating Station main control room received notification that PWC-XR-1 had been found to be not recording data. A review of the stored data indicated that the data collection had been stopped since 5/2/2013 at 0934. The screen does show real time data, although that data is not being stored. Some of the data is recorded manually by chemistry technicians and operators during rounds that may be used for reporting purposes. Automatic functions for high turbidity shutdown and low chlorine setpoints remain active when the data is not being stored. The data collected by PWC-XR-1 includes inlet and outlet flocculator turbidity, water temperature, flow rate and free residual chlorine. Washington Administrative Code, WAC, 246-290-664 outlines the requirements for monitoring filtered systems. WAC 246-290-480 section 2.a requires this failure to be reported as a failure to comply with monitoring requirements to the Washington Department of Health within 48 hours. PWC-XR-1 data storage has been re-initiated and is working as expected. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | ||
| ENS 47002 | 30 June 2011 21:25:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification Due to Inadvertent Siren Actuation | On June 30th, 2011 at 1425 PDT, a public evacuation siren was inadvertently activated for ~ 40 seconds. Preventative maintenance was being performed on the siren at the time of actuation. The licensee has notified Benton County, Franklin County, and the Department of Energy. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified. | ||
| ENS 45903 | 5 May 2010 22:10:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Injured Individual Hospitalized | On May 5, 2010 at approximately 1510 PDT, a notification was made to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries regarding an in-patient hospitalization of an Energy Northwest employee as required by Washington Administrative Code. On May 3, 2010 high wind conditions were occurring at the plant site. While this individual was outside, a high gust of wind occurred resulting in the individual falling and injuring himself. The individual received treatment from a local medical facility and was released that day. On May 5, the individual identified additional symptoms and was admitted to a local hospital which resulted in in-patient hospitalization and treatment. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | ||
| ENS 43771 | 5 November 2007 07:00:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Transportation of Radioactive Material Without Proper Labeling | Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Energy Northwest hereby informs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of an intent to report a undeclared shipment of hazardous material to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Energy Northwest recently discovered that on January 23, 2007 an NCS Model LMP-10 Freon monitor, containing a 300 mCi Tritium source, was transferred to NCS Corporation for calibration without designating the shipment as Radioactive Material, Excepted Package, Limited Quantity of Material, 7, UN2910 as required by 49 CFR 173.421(a). The monitor was shipped from Richland, WA on January 23, 2007 via UPS and received in Columbus, OH on January 24, 2007. The return shipment of the instrument to Energy Northwest was received on February 12, 2007 and was designated as containing radioactive material. There were no consequences associated with this incident and the potential for radioactive exposure of any individual as a result of this shipment was negligible. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | ||
| ENS 43574 | 17 August 2007 15:00:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification to the United States Department of Transportation | Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Energy Northwest hereby informs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of an intent to report a undeclared shipment of hazardous material to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Energy Northwest recently discovered that two EntryScan Explosive Detectors, each containing a 10 mCi (millicurie) Nickel-63 source, were transferred to PPL Susquehanna, LLC without designating the shipment as Radioactive Material, Excepted Package, Instruments or Articles, 7, UN2911 and received in Berwick, PA on April 17, 2007. Energy Northwest has confirmed that the devices are under the control of an entity licensed to possess such material. There were no consequences associated with this incident and the potential for radioactive exposure of any individual as a result of this shipment was negligible. The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee. | ||
| ENS 41739 | 1 June 2005 15:08:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xii), Transport of a Contaminated Person Offsite | Contaminated Injured Person Taken to Offsite Hospital | During the R-17 refueling outage, a contract worker fell approximately 15 feet in the condenser. The individual was conscious but unable to egress from the main condenser due to injuries sustained from the fall. A response team was used to bring the worker out of the plant. Health Physics (HP) technicians accompanied the worker to the hospital. The individual has been transported to Kadlec Medical Center by the Hanford Fire Department. The HP technicians surveyed the individual at the hospital and discovered contamination. The ENS notification is being made because of the transport of a potentially radioactive contaminated person to an offsite medical facility for treatment. FEMA, State of Washington and local representatives have been notified." A press release will be issued. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | Main Condenser | |
| ENS 40661 | 9 April 2004 19:30:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification of Chemical Spill | On 419/04 at 1230 hours, Energy Northwest contacted Washington State Emergency Management Division (1-800-258-5990) to report a spill of pHreeGuard-4500 (a water treatment scale inhibitor) at the Columbia Generating Station Circulating Water Pump House. Washington State Emergency Management Division assigned Incident No. 04-0721 to this report. It is estimated as much as 60 gallons of the water treatment chemical could have been released to the concrete tank pedestal, asphalt apron, and adjoining soil over a period of several hours from a leaking expansion joint at the tank outlet. The leak was detected at about 0830 hrs. The leaking material is captured and redirected to the Circulating water basin. Washington State Emergency Management Division is relaying the information to the on-call responder in the Washington State Department of Ecology's Central Region Office. This event is being reported under 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(xi), any event or situation, related to the health and safety of the public or on-site personnel, or protection if the environment, for which a news release is planned or notification to other government agencies has been or will be made. The Licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | ||
| ENS 40580 | 10 March 2004 16:35:00 | 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification to Government Agency or News Release | Offsite Notification Due to a Fatality Onsite | This notification is being made to report an onsite fatality due to a personal medical condition. During the incident, plant First Responder personnel responded to a Control Room notification of a man down. First Responder personnel initiated CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and continued until the Hanford Fire Department ambulance paramedics responded. The individual was taken via ambulance to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Washington where the individual was pronounced dead at 0835 PST. The fatality occurred in the Protected Area (PA) and was not associated with any work inside a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA). The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector and will inform both state/local agencies. |