Headquarters Daily report JULY 29, 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 - HEADQUARTERS JULY 29, 1994 MR Number: H-94-0068 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH/EVENTS ASSESSMENT BRANCH DIVISION OF OPERATING REACTOR SUPPORT OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Subject: N/A NRC Information Notice 94-54, "Failures of General Electric Magne-Blast Circuit Breakers to Latch Closed," will be issued August 1, 1994. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to a condition in which certain General Electric (GE) medium-voltage Magne-Blast circuit breakers may begin to randomly fail to latch closed. Technical contacts: Stephen Alexander, NRR (301) 504-2995 Kamalakar Naidu, NRR Sikindra Mitra, NRR (301) 504-2980 (301) 504-2783 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION I JULY 29, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Northeast Utilities MR Number: 1-94-0086 Millstone 2 Date: 07/28/94 Waterford,Connecticut RI PC Dockets: 50-336 PWR/CE Subject: PLANT SHUTDOWN DUE TO REACTOR COOLANT PUMP OIL LEAK Reportable Event Number: 27590 Discussion: On July 27, 1994, at 6:00 a.m., the licensee commenced a controlled plant shutdown of Unit 2 due to the potential for a fire in containment, and to evaluate the adequacy of the reactor coolant pump (RCP) oil collection system. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on July 26, three separate control room alarms indicated potential abnormal conditions in the `A' RCP lube oil upper bearing area. Operators increased flow to the upper bearing area and cleared the alarms. At approximately 5:00 a.m. on July 27, the `A' RCP lube oil low flow alarm annunciated and operators commenced a controlled shutdown in accordance with procedures. The licensee performed two on-line visual inspections of all RCPs on the morning of July 27, and found that leaking oil had dripped from the tops of the `A' and `D' RCP motors, coating the sides of the motors. Most of the leakage was contained by the oil collection drip plans. However, a small amount (less than one-half gallon) of leaked oil had not been collected by the `A' RCP oil collection system, as required by 10 CFR 50 Appendix R. This stray leakage flowed from the motor surface to attached pipes and cables leading away from the motor. It dripped from these sources onto reactor coolant system (RCS) mirror insulation. Based on the observed fire hazard inside containment, the licensee decided to shutdown the unit. The licensee was also concerned with the adequacy of the RCP oil collection system due to the lack of detailed information on the approved design criteria for this system, and the similarity of the design to that which failed to prevent a RCP oil fire in the containment of the licensee's Haddam Neck plant earlier in July 1994. At approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 27, the licensee notified local and state officials and the NRC that the RCP oil collection system did not meet the design requirements of 10 CFR 50 Appendix R. The licensee plans to evaluate the effectiveness and compliance of the RCP oil collection system and make repairs/modifications as necessary. During this planned 20-day outage, the licensee will also conduct 18-month surveillances that will come due before the scheduled refueling outage on September 16, 1994. Regional Action: A team of inspectors is reviewing the RCP oil collection problems at Haddam Neck. The results of that effort will be factored into the followup of the Millstone Unit 2 problems. The resident inspectors are following licensee activities on site. The region is also reviewing the status of previous inspections of Appendix R. Section III.0 implementation at all sites. NRR is preparing an Information Notice on the Haddam Neck event. Contact: Lawrence Doerflein (610)337-5378 Paul Swetland (203)447-3179 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III JULY 29, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Department Of The Army MR Number: 3-94-0134 Rock Island Arsenal Date: 07/21/94 Rock Island,Illinois INCOMING TELEPHONE CALL Dockets: 03013027 License No: 12-00722-06 Subject: RELEASE OF TRITIUM GAS AND PERSONNEL EXPOSURE Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: The licensee telephoned Region III to report that two workers were exposed to tritium gas when one of the individuals opened a sealed plastic bag that contained foam packing material and a muzzle reference sensor (MRS). A sealed glass ampule that contains a nominal 10 curies of tritium gas is a component of the MRS. An area tritium air monitor alarmed after opening the plastic bag. The workers immediately exited the area; washed their hands, arms, and faces; and notified the site Radiation Protection Officer (RPO). The RPO determined low levels of tritium contamination on the workers' clothing, and higher levels of tritium contamination, up to 2 million dpm/100cm2 on the work table surface, within the work room. Urine bioassay samples were obtained and sent for tritium analysis. The entire work area was under negative air pressure and was continuously ventilated. The room atmosphere was sufficiently purged within four hours to reset the tritium air monitor alarm and allow entry into the area. The plastic bag, foam packing, and MRS components were repackaged to contain any residual tritium activity. The room was secured and decontamination efforts are being considered. Also the manufacturer of the MRS devices will be contacted by the licensee. Regional Action: NMSS and the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety were notified. Region III will update this morning report as additional information is provided by the licensee. Contact: JOHN A. GROBE (708)829-9837 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III JULY 29, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Mercy Medical Center MR Number: 3-94-0135 Mercy Medical Center Date: 07/22/94 Springfield,Ohio VIA TELEPHONE Dockets: 03007510 License No: 34-00852-03 Subject: TELETHERAPY SOURCE DID NOT FULLY RETRACT TO SHIELDED POSITION Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On July 22, 1994, the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) informed Region III that a source (approximately 6000 curies, cobalt-60) in a Picker C-9 teletherapy unit failed to fully retract into the shielded position. The event occurred on July 21, 1994, during the performance of monthly spot- checks required by 10 CFR 35.634 to determine the coincidence of the radiation field utilizing the light beam localizing device. The RSO stated that when the unit was turned on, indicator lights on the console, Prime Alert, and treatment room door appeared to function as required. After completion of the exposure (0.13 minutes) the Prime Alert red light was off, indicating the radiation level in the therapy room had decreased. The treatment door light, however, showed both red and green lights and the console lights indicated a beam-on condition. The RSO entered the room using a calibrated Victoreen 290 survey meter. Radiation levels of 1-2 mR/hr were indicated. As he continued into the room to retrieve the x-ray film, he observed maximum readings of between 5-6 mR/hr near the teletherapy unit. The RSO estimated the time spent retrieving the x-ray film to be about 3 to 5 seconds. Upon exiting the room, the RSO reset the unit timer and attempted to duplicate the event. The unit turned on and the source returned to the shielded position. According to the RSO, upon subsequent trials, the unit did not duplicate the malfunction. The unit was immediately taken out of service. Atom Therapy Services, an authorized service company, was contacted and will evaluate and perform any required maintenance on the unit on July 25, 1994. The RSO sent his film badge in for immediate processing. He also verified the functioning of the Prime Alert. Region III will be informed of the dosimetry results and the results of the maintenance and evaluation of the teletherapy unit. In addition, the licensee will provide a report of the incident within 30 days. Regional Action: Region III will evaluate all information received from the licensee and, based on the results, determine the appropriate action to take. NMSS was notified. Contact: B.J. HOLT (708)829-9836 SAM J. MULAY (708)829-9859 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III JULY 29, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Non-Licensee MR Number: 3-94-0136 Isaac Corporation Date: 07/28/94 Brookpark,Ohio TELECON FROM ISAAC CORP ON 7\28\94 Subject: RADIATION ALARM ON INCOMING SHIPMENT Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: Region III was informed by the Isaac Corporation, a scrap metal recycler, that a railcar containing 25,000 pounds of dirt, clay, and bricks caused the radiation monitoring system to alarm at its facility in Brookpark, Ohio on July 28, 1994. Radiation levels near the contents of the railcar averaged approximately 30 microR/hr which is three times the background level of 10 microR/hr. A Bicron Microanalyzer was used for the radiation measurements. The railcar had originally been loaded with scrap steel turnings positioned on top of the dirt, clay and bricks. The original load did not cause the radiation monitoring system to alarm, and according to the caller, independent radiation measurements on the unloaded steel turnings did not indicate readings in excess of background. The shipment originated from Chrysler New Venger Gear in Syracuse, New York. In accordance with the draft Federal Radiological Response Plan, Region III informed the caller that the Lead Federal Agency was the EPA and provided him with the name and phone numbers of EPA staff. The caller indicated that he would segregate the railcar, contact the EPA and await further instructions. Regional Action: The State of Ohio, NMSS, and State Programs were informed. Contact: B.J. HOLT (708)829-9836