Headquarters Daily report JULY 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 - REGION I JULY 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Massachusetts Institute Of Technology MR Number: 1-95-0094 Massachusetts Institute Of Tech Date: 07/20/95 Cambridge,Massachusetts Telephone from Licensee Dockets: 05000020 License No: R-37 5000 KW TANK RESEARCH HW Subject: VIOLATION OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - POWER OPERATIONS OVER 100 KW WITH ONE SHIM ROD NOT WITHDRAWN Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor is a five megawatt (thermal) tank-type reactor. It has been in operation since 1958. During the afternoon of July 19, 1995, from approximately 12:52 p.m. to 5:20 p.m., while at power for training and for a new in-core experiment, the reactor was operated with one shim rod still fully inserted in the core. At 5:20 p.m. the oncoming second shift operator noted, while manipulating control rods, that control rod No. 4 was not working. He shut down the reactor and contacted his supervisor. The licensee removed the lid to the reactor, performed a mechanical and electrical check of the shim rod, performed a radioactive analysis of the reactor tank water, replaced two failed rod-down indicator lights, and adjusted the current to the rod pick-up magnet on rod No. 4. All checks and analysis results were normal. Chart recorder readings and indicators along with log book entries during operations exhibited no anomalies. In addition, a visual inspection of the fuel elements was performed with no damage found. An in-depth computer model evaluation of the core flux/power levels with rod No. 4 fully inserted is being performed. The reactor was restarted at 3:00 a.m., July 20, 1995. Regional Action: Region I will continue to monitor the licensee's ongoing analyses and will dispatch an inspector to the site Monday, July 24, 1995 for a reactive inspection. Contact: S. Holmes (610)337-5390 T. Dragoun (610)337-5373 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III JULY 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Hamilton Scrap MR Number: 3-95-0125 Hamilton Scrap Date: 07/20/95 Hamilton,Ohio STATE OF OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH License No: NONE Subject: DAMAGED RADIOACTIVE DEVICE FOUND IN SCRAP METAL. STATE OF OHIO DEPT. OF HEALTH NOTIFIED REGION III Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On July 20, 1995, the State of Ohio, Department of Health notified Region III that a generally licensed backscatter gauge containing approximately 30-40 millicuries (1.1-1.4 GBq) of krypton-85 was rejected from a smelting plant in Kentucky on July 18, 1995. The gauge was returned to the scrap metal dealer, Hamilton Scrap in Ohio, on July 19, 1995. Representatives from the State of Ohio conducted surveys of the gauge and found a maximum radiation level of 3.0 mR/hr (774 nC/kg/h) on contact with the gauge surface. The gauge was also found to be slightly damaged on one side. However, the inspector from the State of Ohio does not believe the source integrity has been compromised. The label on the gauge indicated that the gauge originally contained 190 millicuries (7.0 GBq) on 5/2/72. The manufacturer which is based in Illinois will dispatch a service representative next week to take possession of the gauge and determine the serial number of the source and then report back to the NRC the name of the company that originally purchased the gauge. The source is currently secured in a locked part of a building at Hamilton Scrap. Regional Action: Follow-up with the manufacturer to determine the name of the general licensee that originally purchased the gauge. NMSS has been contacted. Contact: M.M. LAFRANZO (708)829-9865 B.J. HOLT (708)829-9836 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III JULY 21, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Wisconsin Electric Power Co. MR Number: 3-95-0126 Point Beach 1 2 Date: 07/21/95 Two Rivers,Wisconsin RI VIA PC Dockets: 50-266,50-301 PWR/W-2-LP,PWR/W-2-LP Subject: FOLLOW-UP ON POINT BEACH UNIT 1 TRIP OF 7/14/95 Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On July 14, 1995, Point Beach Unit 1 tripped from 100 percent causing a severe strain on the Wisconsin Electric Power Company grid. The cause was a short circuit in the exciter due to condensation resulting from the reduced operating temperature that the licensee chose to use for the exciter. Licensee repaired the exciter, removed the condensation found in Unit 2 exciter, returned the temperature on both units to the vendor recommendation, and returned Unit 1 to full power uneventfully. The temperature was reduced several years ago to lengthen the life of electrical components in the exciter. Other plants are being checked, e.g. Kewaunee is not running their exciter temperature at lower than vendor recommendation. Prairie Island and Ginna are still being checked. Regional Action: Routine resident inspector followup. Contact: M.J. FARBER (708)829-9605