Headquarters Daily report APRIL 13, 1994 *************************************************************************** REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED HEADQUARTERS X REGION I X REGION II X REGION III X REGION IV X *************************************************************************** PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION I APRIL 13, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Public Service Electric & Gas Co. MR Number: 1-94-0045 Salem 1 Date: 04/13/94 Hancocks Bridge,New Jersey SRI PC Dockets: 50-272 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: REACTOR VESSEL LEVEL INDICATION (RVLIS) LESS THAN 100 PER CENT Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On 4-12-94, at 6:45 a.m., the Senior Resident Inspector noted that RVLIS channel A indicated 93% reactor vessel level. Salem unit 1 was in cold shutdown, RCS temperature 173 degrees F, RCS pressure 22 psig with all reactor coolant pumps (RCPs) off and one train of RHR operating at 3000 gpm flow. Control room operators found that full range and upper range on both channels indicated 93% level (four indications total). Although operators initially suspected instrument calibration problems, they subsequently concluded that the indication was accurate, that non-condensable gases had accumulated in the vessel head, and that the space occupied by the gases extended approximately 18 inches from the top of the reactor vessel head. They also found that reactor vessel level had trended downward very slowly since Saturday, when the RCPs were secured. As a result of identification of the gas bubble, operators began hourly logging of RVLIS indication, core exit thermocouple readings, RHR flow and pump amps, RCS temperature and pressure, charging flow and letdown flow. In addition, they opened the PORVs to vent the pressurizer, and reduced Volume Control Tank nitrogen over gas pressure from 40 psig to 15 psig. Water level (RVLIS) has been constant at about 90% since reducing VCT pressure, and the licensee does not perceive any immediate threat to safety. The licensee currently believes that the bubble in the head is nitrogen pumped in through the charging pumps. The licensee is developing a procedure to sample the gas for analysis. Once the gas sample is analyzed, a decision will be made where to vent the reactor pressure vessel head space. Regional Action: The resident inspector is onsite monitoring licensee activities. Contact: John White (610)337-5114 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION II APRIL 13, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Virginia Power Co. MR Number: 2-94-0029 North Anna 1 2 Date: 04/13/94 Richmond,Virginia Dockets: 50-338,50-339 PWR/W-3-LP,PWR/W-3-LP Subject: MANAGEMENT CHANGES AT NORTH ANNA Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: Virginia Electric and Power Company announced that the following personnel changes at North Anna would become effective June 1, 1994: Greg Kane, Station Manager, will retire; J. A. (Art) Stall, Assistant Station Manager - Nuclear Safety and Licensing, will replace Mr. Kane; D. (Dave) A. Heacock, Superintendent - Station Engineering, will replace Mr. Stall; and B. (Bryce) L. Shriver, Director, Corporate Nuclear Safety, will replace Mr. Heacock. Mr. Shriver's replacement has not been announced. Regional Action: None. Contact: A. BELISLE (404)331-4196 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION II APRIL 13, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Tennessee Valley Authority MR Number: 2-94-0028 Sequoyah 1 Date: 04/13/94 Soddy-Daisy,Tennessee Dockets: 50-327 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: CRITICALITY OF PROLONGED SHUTDOWN Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: Unit 1 commenced startup 1:53 a.m. on April 13, 1994, and declared criticality at 11:23 a.m. The licensee is proceeding with low power physics tests. The Region is maintaining 24-hour inspection coverage of the startup. Unit 1 has been shutdown since March 1993. Contact: J. JAUDON (404)331-5179 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III APRIL 13, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation MR Number: 3-94-0074 Cypress Foote Mineral Date: 04/11/94 Cambridge,Ohio INSPECTION FINDINGS Subject: IDENTIFICATION OF OFFSITE RADIOACTIVE SLAG Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: During an April 5-11, 1994 inspection of SMC's Cambridge facility (formerly Foote Mineral) NRC inspectors determined that radioactive slag had been used offsite. The slag had been used as construction fill material by contractors and private citizens during the late 1970's and early 1980's. The inspectors surveyed two homes, two driveways, and one parking lot where slag was used as fill. One home, one driveway, and the parking lot did not have radiation levels above ambiant background. The fill under one home exceeded the NRC soil guideline limits for release for unrestricted use [10 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) for natural uranium and natural thorium]. The slag from a commercial driveway measured approximately 250 microRoentgens per hour (64.5 nanocoulombs per kilogram per hour) on contact. Gamma spectrometry indicated concentrations ranging up to 70 pCi/g (2.59 Becquerels per gram - Bq/g) of radium-226 and 1170 pCi/g (43.3 Bq/g) of thorium-232. This slag does not pose an immediate health and safety concern. Regional Action: Meet with Cypress Foote Mineral representatives within 30 days regarding the characterization/remediation of the offsite slag. Facilitate discussions between the current owners of property containing slag above NRC release limits and Cypress Foote Mineral regarding the possible remediation of these sites. NMSS has been notified. The State of Ohio has been notified. Contact: RAY GLINSKI (708)829-9813 MIKE MCCANN (708)829-9856