Headquarters Daily Report SEPTEMBER 11, 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 - REGION II SEP. 11, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Babcock And Wilcox MR Number: 2-96-0078 Naval Nuclear Fuel Division Date: 09/11/96 Lynchburg,Virginia Dockets: 00007027 License No: SNM-42 Subject: NON-RADIOACTIVE CHEMICAL RELEASE Discussion: At approximately 10:40 a.m. on September 10, 1996, a worker in an outside area sensed the presence of chlorine (Cl) gas. The Emergency Control Center (ECC) was activated and the licensee's Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team was mobilized. The area around the outside gas cylinder storage area was blocked off. Adjacent areas inside the plant were checked and found unoccupied. Maximum readings in the general area around the cylinder pad were 3-4 parts per million (ppm) Cl. The licensee reported that no off-site release occurred. The adjacent Uranium Recovery processing area was placed in a fifteen minute shutdown and evacuated as a precaution because air pressure in the facility was negative with respect to the outside areas. The gas leak was determined to be from a mechanical joint in the gas piping and was stopped by closing the cylinder valve. Readings in the adjacent warehouse showed 3-4 ppm Cl. Portable exhaust fans provided cross-ventilation, and subsequent air samples in the work areas and Recovery area did not show any chlorine. At 11:53 a.m., re-entry to the areas was authorized and the ECC was deactivated. The individual who detected the chlorine leak was checked by an emergency medical technician; no off-site medical treatment was required. The licensee has established a team to investigate the leak, and is evaluating the amount of chlorine released to determine reportability to State agencies. Regional Action: Region II inspectors are on-site and are following the licensee's immediate actions. Long-term corrective actions will be evaluated by a headquarter's based chemical safety inspector during a routine inspection. Contact: G. L. TROUP (404)331-5566 _ REGION II MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 11, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 2-96-0079 General Electric Date: 09/11/96 Wilmington,North Carolina Dockets: 00701113 License No: SNM-1097 Subject: EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN LIGHTNING STRIKE Discussion: At about 6:49 a.m. on September 11, 1996, five employees of the General Electric facility in Wilmington, NC were involved in a lightning strike when reporting for work. None of the five employees is believed to have been struck directly. One individual who complained of pain in the left side, leg and arm was stabilized on site before being transported to the New Hanover Memorial Regional Center for observation and possible treatment. The other four employees will receive EKGs on-site as a precaution. Also affected by lightning was a detector in the plant's Nuclear Criticality Alarm System located on a storage pad. The detector has been replaced. Regional Action: The Region will review the licensee's system to protect sensitive equipment from lightning strikes during the next routine inspection. Contact: E. J. MCALPINE (404)331-5547 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER 11, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Commonwealth Edison Co. MR Number: 3-96-0096 Byron 1 Date: 09/11/96 Byron,Illinois ENS TELEPHONE CALL Dockets: 50-454 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: UNIT 1 REACTOR TRIP DURING TURBINE TRIP SURVEILLANCE Discussion: On September 11, 1996, at approximately 12:17 a.m. (CDT), a Unit 1 reactor trip occurred due to a turbine trip. A non-licensed operator was performing the monthly turbine oil trip surveillance. The operator inadvertently placed an operating lever on the manual turbine trip handle instead of the turbine trip bypass handle as required. The operator realized the error prior to tripping the turbine; however, during the attempt to remove the lever, the operator caused a manual turbine trip. The turbine trip bypass is located next to the manual turbine trip. All automatic actuations of safety related equipment operated as designed, including the auxiliary feedwater system. One train of Digital Rod Position Indication (DRPI) failed during the trip. The other DRPI train indicated all rods were fully inserted. Nine feedwater heater relief valves failed open during the transient and had to be gagged shut. The licensee experienced difficulty starting the startup feedwater pump (non-safety related) due to a breaker failure. The breaker has been replaced and steam generator level is being controlled by the startup feedwater pump. The sequence of events printer power supply failed and will be replaced. Unit 1 is currently stable in hot standby (Mode 3). Unit 1 startup is pending repairs to DRPI and the feedwater heater relief valves. Estimated startup date is September 11, 1996. Regional Action: The Senior Resident responded to the trip and will continue to monitor the licensee's actions. Contact: ROSS LANDSMAN (630)829-9609 _