Headquarters Daily Report APRIL 01, 1996 *************************************************************************** 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 APRIL 1, 1996 MR Number: H-96-0024 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS NRC Information Notice 96-19: "Failure of Tone Alert Radios to Activate When Receiving a Shortened Activation Signal," dated April 2, 1996. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to the possibility that tone alert radios may not reliably activate when receiving a shortened activation signal. Technical contacts: D. M. Barss, NRR (301) 415-2922 J. L. Birmingham, NRR (301) 415-2829 _ REGION I MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 APRIL 1, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Duquesne Light Co. MR Number: 1-96-0030 Beaver Valley 1 Date: 04/01/96 Shippingport,Pennsylvania RI/PC Dockets: 50-334 PWR/W-3-LP Subject: NEW FUEL ASSEMBLY DAMAGE Discussion: A new, un-irradiated fuel assembly was damaged on March 29 during fuel transfer activities within the spent fuel pool. Refueling personnel were preparing to move the new fuel assembly from its storage position in the new fuel elevator to a fuel rack location. The fuel assembly was in the "lowered" position in the elevator. A failure of the crane hoist occurred while the fuel handling tool was positioned about 4 inches above the new fuel element. This failure drove the fuel handling tool into the top of the fuel assembly. The operator was able to terminate the downward movement via the emergency stop pushbutton. There was no damage to any spent fuel assemblies. All fuel movement in the spent fuel pool was secured until the cause of the failure was determined. The damaged new fuel assembly has been shipped back to the Westinghouse fuel fabrication facility for inspection. The licensee has determined that a circuit card failure occurred in the hoist control system. Regional Action: The resident inspectors will continue to observe refueling activities. Contact: Pete Eselgroth (610)337-5234 Lawrence Rossbach (412)643-2000 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 APRIL 1, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-96-0035 Consumers Power Company Date: 03/28/96 Jackson,Michigan FERMI TELEPHONE CALL TO NRC Dockets: 03013132 License No: 21-08606-07 Subject: SHIPMENT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL TO FERMI 2 Discussion: On March 28, 1996, Fermi 2 received a shipment containing radioactive material from the Consumers Power Company facility, located in Jackson, Michigan. One package contained a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) irradiator, with the sealed source removed. Another package contained the sealed source for the irradiator, which was properly packaged and prepared for shipment in accordance with Department of Transportation (DOT) and NRC requirements. Consumers Power possesses a materials license for the possession and use of sealed sources used in support of a dosimetry program. Consumers Power recently contracted with Fermi 2 for the supply of personnel dosimetry services and was in the process of transferring all radioactive materials previously used in support of its dosimetry program. Following the transfer, Consumers Power plans to terminate this materials license. The package containing the irradiator was not identified, either through package markings or on shipping documents, as containing radioactive material. A receipt survey of the package containing the irradiator, performed by Fermi personnel, identified surface radiation levels of approximately 0.5 mR/hr. Further inspection identified a wooden box inside the irradiator. The wooden box contained a depleted uranium slab, measuring approximately 10 inches by 10 inches square and 1 inch thick, with surface radiation levels of approximately 5 mR/hr. This source of radioactivity was not identified on any shipping documents accompanying the shipment. A pre-shipment survey of the irradiator package, performed by Consumers Power personnel from the Palisades Nuclear Power Station, did not indicate any radiation levels above background. The box containing the depleted uranium slab was evidently placed inside the irradiator cabinet after the survey was performed, for reasons not known at this time. The depleted uranium slab posed little hazard to shipping company personnel who may have handled or worked near the package. Regional Action: The Region will perform a special inspection. Contact: MONTE PHILLIPS (708)829-9806 TOM KOZAK (708)829-9866 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 APRIL 1, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Omaha Public Power District MR Number: 4-96-0030 Ft Calhoun 1 Date: 04/01/96 Fort Calhoun,Nebraska Resident Telecon to HOO Dockets: 50-285 PWR/CE Subject: NOTIFICATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT Reportable Event Number: 30204 Discussion: On March 29, 1996, the licensee was in the process of reducing reactor power to less than 50 percent power to facilitate the repair of main condenser tube leaks. At approximately 8:30 p.m. (CST), the licensee had indication of a ruptured main condenser tube due to increasing sodium content and rising cation conductivity. In accordance with their emergency procedures, the licensee declared an Unusual Event at 8:48 p.m. and was required to have reactor power at less than 30 percent within 4 hours of declaring the Unusual Event. At 10:32 p.m. the reactor was tripped from 30 percent power due to lowering condenser vacuum. All systems functioned as expected when the reactor was tripped. All control rods fully inserted. By isolating the condenser the licensee was able to stop the increasing sodium concentration of the condensate and terminated the Unusual Event at 11:12 p.m. The licensee repaired approximately eight tubes in each of the condensers. They identified only one ruptued tube. The reactor was taken critical at 10:13 p.m. on March 30. The plant is currently at 65 percent power and increasing at a rate of 4-5 percent/hour. The residents were notified of the Unusual Event and responded to the site. The residents were on site when the Unusual Event was terminated. Regional Action: The residents continue to follow the licensee's activities. Contact: John L. Pellet (817)860-8183 Ronald A. Kopriva (817)860-8104 _