Headquarters Daily Report DECEMBER 08, 1995 *************************************************************************** REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED HEADQUARTERS û REGION I û REGION II û REGION III û REGION IV û PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - HEADQUARTERS DEC. 08, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Rochester Gas & Electric Corp. MR Number: H-95-0144 Ginna 1 Date: 12/08/95 Ontario,New York Dockets: 50-244 PWR/W-2-LP Discussion: NRC Information Notice 95-56, "Shielding Deficiency in Spent Fuel Transfer Canal at a Boiling-Water Reactor," dated December 11, 1995. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to an event at a boiling-water reactor where the mishandling of highly activated materials in the flooded spent fuel transfer canal caused unexpectedly high radiation fields in a hallway under the canal. Technical contacts: Jim Wigginton, NRR (301) 415-1059 Roger Pedersen, NRR (301) 415-3162 Wade Loo, RII (404) 331-2831 NRC Administrative Letter 95-06, "Relocation of Technical Specification Administrative Controls Related to Quality Assurance," dated December 12, 1995. The NRC is issuing this administrative letter to inform licensees about recent experiences involving the relocation of technical specification administrative controls related to quality assurance. Contact: William Reckley, NRR (301) 415-1314 _ REGION II MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 DECEMBER 8, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 2-95-0103 Atlanta Geotechnical Services, Inc. Date: 12/08/95 Ashland,Virginia Subject: RECOVERED STOLEN GAUGE - UPDATE TO PNO-II-95-067 Discussion: On November 28, 1995, the licensee reported that a Campbel-Pacific Model MC-3 portable moisture/density gauge belonging to Atlantic Geotechnical Services had been stolen. The gauge was chained and locked to the bed of a pickup truck parked in Hopewell, Virginia during the night of November 27, 1995. Local print and electronic media provided press coverage on the lost radioactive device. On December 7, 1995, the licensee notified Region II that the Hopewell Police Department reported that the gauge and its transportation case had been found along a road near Hopewell. The licensee surveyed the gauge, which showed minor damage, and found no abnormal radiation levels. The gauge has been returned to the licensee's control. A leak test has been performed and is being submitted for analysis. Regional Action: The Commonwealth of Virginia has been informed. Contact: J. D. ENNIS (404)331-5787 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 DECEMBER 8, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-95-0180 George S. Parker Senior High School Date: 12/06/95 Janesville,Wisconsin & 12/07/95 BY TELEPHONE Dockets: 03014783 License No: 48-18283-01 Subject: STATE RESPONSE TO NRC LICENSED FACILITY Discussion: In preparation for disposal of hazardous chemical wastes in the school Science Department, the licensee discovered a large shielded container labeled "Caution Radioactive Material," which was inside a locked storage room in the department. Inquires were made among the teaching staff as to who was responsible for the device. After no one claimed responsibility for the device, the licensee contacted the Wisconsin Department of Health and Hazardous Material Response Team. An inspector from the State Radiation Protection Unit determined that the device was a self-shielded, self-contained irradiator containing approximately 200 curies of cesium-137. The State inspector conducted a leak test which indicated no leakage. The State inspector's direct radiation measurements were consistent with NRC findings during the last inspection of the licensee in 1993. Upon notification by the State of the confusion regarding the irradiator, Region III contacted the licensee management (school district administrator) and learned that the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for this licensee had been ill for an extended period of time, and therefore not available to resolve the concerns. Region III provided the licensee with current license documents. The licensee is in the process of disposing of the device by transfer to an authorized recipient and will amend its license to add a new RSO if the device is not disposed within the next 60 days. Contact: DARREL WIDEDMAN (708)829-9808 B. J. HOLT (708)829-9836 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 DECEMBER 8, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-95-0181 Bfi Landfill Date: 12/07/95 Lamar,Missouri VIA INCOMING TELEPHONE CALL Subject: RADIATION DETECTED AT A LANDFILL Discussion: On December 7, 1995, Gary McNutt, Missouri Department of Public Health, State of Missouri, called Region III to inform the NRC that they had a report of a landfill radiation detector alarm in Lamar, Missouri. A garbage truck loaded with household waste from a transfer station contained a source of radiation. When the truck was unloaded, the source of radiation was determined to be broken purple glass. After the glass was recovered, residual contamination slightly above background was discovered in a 10 square foot area of the refuse pile. The NRC Region III staff suggested that the landfill not cover the area with dirt, but cover it with a plastic tarp so the area could be decontaminated. The recovered glass pieces were placed in a box. According to Mr. McNutt, the box's surface radiation levels were approximately 2 Rem per hour. He then placed the box in a plastic bag and a subsequent radiation survey indicated radiation levels were approximately 200 mRem/hr on the surface of the bag. The Region III staff suggested that the bag be shielded and that access be restricted to the material. The staff also suggested that personal contamination surveys be conducted and that an attempt to determine the origin of the material should be made. Mr. McNutt was then directed to contact the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the Lead Federal Agency for this situation, in Kansas City, Kansas, for assistance. The EPA directed him to package a sample and ship it to their lab in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. McNutt indicated that the sample would arrive in Las Vegas on Friday, December 8, 1995. Regional Action: NRC Region III will continue to monitor the situation and is on standby in case further assistance is needed. Contact: THOMAS KOZAK (708)829-9866 MARK MITCHELL (708)829-9855 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 5 DECEMBER 8, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-95-0182 Cti And Associates, Inc. Date: 12/06/95 Ann Arbor,Michigan & 12/08/95 VIA INCOMING PHONE CALL Dockets: 03012040 License No: 21-17007-01 Subject: UPDATE ON THE RETURN OF A MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE STOLEN FROM THE LICENSEE'S FACILITY IN ANN ARBOR, MI (PN III-95-062) Discussion: On December 6, 1995, the licensee reported that a Troxler 3401 Series moisture density gauge containing a nominal 8 millicurie (296 MBq) cesium-137 sealed source and a 40 millicurie (1480 MBq) americium-241 sealed source, had been stolen from locked storage at the licensee's Ann Arbor, MI location. The event was documented in Preliminary Notification No. III-95-062 issued on December 7, 1995. On December 8, 1995, the Corporate Radiation Safety Officer (CRSO) telephoned Region III to report the device was discovered by a company employee in a company van at approximately 8:00 a.m. (EST) on December 8, 1995. Apparently, the gauge was returned sometime after the close of business on December 7, 1995. The licensee will submit a written report of the return of the moisture density gauge by COB December 8, 1995. The licensee submitted a written report of the theft to Region III in a letter dated December 6, 1995, which was received on December 7, 1995. Regional Action: The State of Michigan and NMSS were notified. The incident will be reviewed by RIII during the next routine inspection. Contact: SAM MULAY (708)829-9837 TOM KOZAK (708)829-9866 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 6 DECEMBER 8, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Entergy Operations, Inc MR Number: 4-95-0158 All Entergy Sites Date: 12/08/95 Licensee Subject: REDUCTION IN STAFFING LEVELS Discussion: Beginning December 1, 1995, Entergy announced at their corporate offices and, on successive days at each of their facilities, a strategy to stay competitive in the energy market. The strategy entitled, "Road Map '98," provided balanced performance targets related to safety/regulatory performance, operating performance, and cost performance. As part of the production cost improvements, Entergy Operations, Inc senior managers announced planned staff reductions across Entergy of 252 personnel, by March 1996. Specifically, the following planned staff reductions were announced: * Corporate Office - 10 personnel - announcement made on 12/1/95 * Grand Gulf Nuclear Station - 67 personnel-announcement made on 12/4/95 * Waterford 3 - 17 personnel - announcement made on 12/5/95 * Arkansas Nuclear One - 93 personnel - announcement made on 12/6/95 * River Bend Station - 65 personnel - announcement made on 12/7/95 On December 11, 1995, Entergy will announce to all the facilities a voluntary severance benefit package. The announcement will include staff targets by department. The licensee expects voluntary separations to achieve the staff reductions. Regional Action: For information only. Contact: G. Pick (817)860-8270 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 7 DECEMBER 8, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Southern California Edison & San MR Number: 4-95-0159 Diego Gas & Electric Co. Date: 12/08/95 San Onofre 2 3 Call from Resident Inspectors San Clemente,California Dockets: 50-361,50-362 PWR/CE,PWR/CE Subject: SELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES Discussion: Southern California Edison announced that Mr. Dwight Nunn has been selected to fill the position of Vice President, Engineering and Technical Services for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Mr. Nunn will replace Mr. Richard Rosenblum, who assumes the position of Vice President, Electric Distribution Operations, on January 1, 1996. Mr. Nunn, a former construction project manager at San Onofre, was most recently a vice president for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Regional Action: Informational purposes only. Contact: R. Huey (510)975-0342 J. Sloan (714)492-2641 _