Headquarters Daily report MARCH 21, 1995 *************************************************************************** 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 MARCH 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Part 21 Database MR Number: H-95-0077 Nupro Company Date: 03/21/95 Subject: Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: VENDOR: NUPRO CO. PT21 FILE NO: 95062 DATE OF DOCUMENT: 03/08/95 ACCESSION NUMBER: SOURCE DOCUMENT: Part 21 REVIEWER: OECB: T. GREENE CONSOLIDATED EDISON/INDIAN POINT 2 REPORTS INCORRECT MARKING OF FLOW DIRECTION ON NUPRO MODEL SS-53S4 1/4" LIFT CHECK VALVES. TEN VALVES IDENT AS IN ERROR. VENDOR BELIEVES ERROR IS AN ISOLATED HUMAN ERROR. PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION II MARCH 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Babcock & Wilcox Co. MR Number: 2-95-0033 Babcock & Wilcox Co. Date: 03/21/95 Lynchburg,Virginia Dockets: 07000027 License No: SNM-42 URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION Subject: Excessive Material Found in Ventilation Duct Work Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: During a routine ventilation duct work cleanout in the Uranium Recovery facility on March 19, 1995, the licensee discovered material containing more Uranium-235 (U-235) than normally found during the routine cleanout. The material removed as of March 20, 1995 was placed in 2.5-liter bottles for storage until the exact amount of U-235 can be determined. Based on the location of the material in the duct work, the licensee concluded that the source was the high-level dissolvers and believes that the cause was the clogging of the drain line from the duct used to drain any liquid that carried over into or condensed in the duct work. The licensee has shut down the high-level dissolver operation until causes have been determined and adequate corrective actions have been implemented. The licensee has established an investigation team. Preliminary non-destructive assay (NDA) results indicated approximately 1270 grams of U-235 were removed from the ducting. Historically, the licensee's NDA values for duct clean out materials have overstated the amount of U-235 by approximately 50 percent. The NRC licensee limit for the duct work is 630 grams U-235, and this may have been exceeded. The licensee plans to process the cleanout material through the low-level dissolvers to accurately determine the amount of U-235. Regional Action: The NRC Resident Inspector informed the Region II Office on March 20, 1995. Subsequently, Region II discussed the issue with the licensee on March 20, 1995 and is drafting a letter to confirm licensee actions. The resident inspector is following the licensee's actions and a region-based inspector is being sent to the site to provide additional assistance. The Region and NMSS have discussed the matter and a conference call is planned with the licensee on March 21, 1995. Contact: E. J. McAlpine (404)331-5547 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION II MARCH 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Florida Power & Light Co. MR Number: 2-95-0034 Turkey Point 3 Date: 03/21/95 Miami,Florida Dockets: 50-250 PWR/W-3-LP Subject: CONTAMINATED AQUATIC GRASSES Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: The strainers of the Unit 3 Intake Cooling Water/Component Cooling Water (ICW/CCW) System, which are located inside the Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA), were found to contain material with low levels of Manganese-54. The licensee sampled grass residue from the strainers following an event on March 9, 1995, after travelling screens of the ICW, which are located outside the RCA, had been fouled by aquatic grasses requiring the unit to reduce power production to approximately 60 percent. Backwashing of the screens generally resolves this problem and the aquatic grasses are removed and disposed of at the local municipal landfill. Previous monitoring at the landfill by the licensee using survey instruments did not identify any radioactivity. The licensee sampled the aquatic grasses from the traveling screens and identified activity levels of between 0.3 to 1.0 picoCuries per gram (pCi/g). The licensee continues to evaluate the situation with regard to what total activity might have been disposed of at the landfill. The State of Florida plans to take samples for analysis on Wednesday, March 22, 1995, during the licensee's emergency exercise. The licensee contacted the State of Florida and the NRC. The NRC contacted the State to offer assistance. Regional Action: The Region will continue to monitor the situation. Contact: T. Decker (404)331-2559 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III MARCH 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Syncor Corporation MR Number: 3-95-0038 Syncor Corporation Date: 03/21/95 Swartz Creek,Michigan telecon from syncor corporation Dockets: 03019823 License No: 21-21141-01md Subject: radiopharmacy fume hood failure Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: Syncor Corporation reported, as required by 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2), that the Swartz Creek, Michigan radiopharmacy fume hood had failed. The hood contains approximately 300 millicuries of iodine-131 and 52 millicuries of xenon-133 in sealed vials. No facility contamination or significant effluent releases were detected by the air monitoring system. The hood failed at some time over the weekend and was discovered at 2:00 a.m.(EST) on Monday, March 20, 1995. The hood does not have an alarm to indicate loss of function. It is expected to be repaired on March 21, 1995. Syncor also reported the failure to the NRC Operations Center. Regional Action: A 30-day follow-up report will be submitted. NMSS was notified of this failure. This incident will be reviewed during the next routine inspection. Contact: j. l. lynch (708)829-9818 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III MARCH 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Non-Licensee MR Number: 3-95-0039 City Incinerator Date: 03/21/95 Indianapolis,Indiana tlecon from rep. of st. of in r.c.p Subject: RADIATION ALARM ON INCOMING WASTE SHIPMENTS (UPDATE) Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On March 17, 1995, Region III reported that three trucks containing primarily residential waste caused the radiation monitoring system to alarm at the city incinerator located in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 7, March 15, and March 16. Representatives of the State of Indiana Radiation Control Program responded to each of the alarms and notified EPA's Region V office (Chicago) in accordance with the draft Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan. The contaminant in the two Public Works Department trucks was identified as iodine-131. The contaminant in the BFI truck was not specifically identified, but appeared to be a relatively low energy gamma emitter with an energy peak of approximately 90 kev. Radiation levels near the surface of the trucks ranged from 250 microR/hr to 2 mR/hr. The trucks and their contents were segregated and roped off at a facility operated by the Public Works Department. On March 17, 1995, a health physicist of the State radiation control program accompanied a Public Works Department driver on the garbage pick-up route where the contaminated waste was found. One 300 gallon waste container was found in a residential area containing toddler underpants contaminated with iodine-131. The waste container was moved to the Public Works Department and segregated with the trucks containing contaminated waste. On March 20, 1995, the waste material in the container and the Public Works Department trucks was unloaded in roll-off boxes and set aside for decay of the iodine-131. The BFI truck was resurveyed by State representatives using a microR meter and no radiation levels in excess of background were found. All three trucks were run through the remote radiation monitoring system and no abnormal radiation levels were indicated. The State of Indiana conferred with the Region V EPA office on this incident. Regional Action: On March 17, 1995, the Region V EPA office set up a telephone conference call with the State and Region III to discuss the State's findings and plans for handling the contaminated waste. NMSS was informed. Contact: B. J. HOLT (708)829-9836