Headquarters Daily Report OCTOBER 17, 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 OCTOBER 17, 1996 MR Number: H-96-0076 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS Information Notice 96-53, "RETROFIT TO AMERSHAM 660 POSILOCK RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA TO CORRECT INCONSISTENCY IN 10 CFR PART 34 COMPATIBILITY," was issued on October 15, 1996. This notice was issued to all industrial radiography licensees to make them aware of a scenario where the Amersham model 660 Posilock radiography camera would not pass the horizontal shock test required by 10 CFR Part 34, and of a retrofit to correct the problem. Contact: Michele Burgess, NMSS (301) 415-5868 Internet:mlb5@nrc.gov ************************************************************************* Information Notice 96-54, "VULNERABILITY OF STAINLESS STEEL TO CORROSION WHEN SENSITIZED," was issued on October 17, 1996. This notice was issued to all material licensees to alert them to an incident involving the corrosion of stainless steel irradiator sources, and make them aware of the vulnerability of stainless steel to corrosion when sensitized. Contacts: Michele Burgess, NMSS (301) 415-5868 Internet:mlb5@nrc.gov Thomas Rich, NMSS (301) 415-7893 Internet:twr@nrc.gov _ REGION I MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 OCTOBER 17, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co. MR Number: 1-96-0091 Maine Yankee 1 Date: 10/17/96 Wiscasset,Maine Dockets: 50-309 PWR/CE Subject: UPDATE ON REACTOR TRIP OF OCTOBER 9, 1996 Reportable Event Number: 31121 Discussion: At 9:50 A.M., on October 9, 1996, a non-complicated reactor trip occurred from 90.3 percent power. UPDATE: In response to the reactor trip, Maine Yankee assembled a Post Trip Review team to evaluate the event. The team determined that the most likely cause of the trip was due to a loss of test power voltage during performance of Reactor Protection System (RPS) Logic Trip Relays Testing. No components were found to be failed or degraded and simulation of a failure of the test power supply gave identical indications that were recorded by the station computer during the event. As a precautionary measure station instrument and controls technicians replaced the RPS trip matrix test power supply and the test hold push button. In addition, prior to performance of the next routine monthly surveillance test Maine Yankee plans to replace the matrix relay trip select switch and verify the test power supply voltage to be stable prior to commencement of testing. The resident inspector witnessed a successful retest of the RPS trip breaker relays prior to plant restart. The plant was restarted on October 12, 1996 and 90 percent power was achieved on October 13, 1996. Regional Action: The resident inspectors responded to the event and monitored the licensee's actions. The inspectors reviewed the licensee's post trip response team actions and report including the assessment of the most likely cause of the trip. Contact: William Olsen (207)882-7519 Richard Conte (610)337-5183 _ REGION I MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 OCTOBER 17, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Public Service Electric & Gas Co. MR Number: 1-96-0092 Salem 1 2 Date: 10/17/96 Hancocks Bridge,New Jersey SRI PC Dockets: 50-272,50-311 PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP Subject: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FOUND OUTSIDE OF THE RCA Discussion: At 1:00 a.m. on October 16, a Salem radiation protection technician, performing a normal quarterly survey of plant areas outside the RCA, but within the protected area, discovered six discrete areas in one location of fairly high contamination. Technicians had not discovered contamination on previous quarterly surveys, however, recent construction activities necessitated a change in survey location. At this new location, technicians identified contamination down to about 4 inches deep at direct frisk levels of 5,000 to 80,000 dpm/probe area (32,000 - 500,000 dpm/100 cm2) with one area reading 2 mrem/hr on contact. The material was not readily dispersible and required mechanical means for removal. No personnel contaminations resulted. Technicians surveyed the surrounding area and found no contamination. By 10:00 a.m. on October 16, technicians removed the radioactive material from the area, performed a 100 percent direct frisk, and released the area. Preliminary Radiation Protection management assessment indicated that the material had been present in this location for some time based on the stable and nondispersible nature of the material. Radiation protection investigation and evaluation continues. The Senior Nuclear Shift Supervisor determined that the discovered contamination was not reportable in accordance with Salem ECG Section 7. Regional Action: The residents verified the radioactive material area posting and reviewed initial surveys. The inspectors will continue to monitor the results of the on-going investigation. Contact: Larry Nicholson (610)337-5128 Charles Marschall (609)935-5151 John White (610)337-5114 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 OCTOBER 17, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-96-0113 H. C. Nutting Company Date: 10/15/96 Cincinnati,Ohio OHIO BOH NOTIFIED NRC VIA TELEPHONE Dockets: 03017304 License No: 34-18882-01 Subject: MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE DAMAGED BY HEAVY EQUIPMENT Discussion: On October 15, 1996 at approximately 1:30 p.m., a Troxler moisture density gauge, Model No. 3411, was damaged by an earth mover in East Liberty, Ohio. The gauge contained a nominal 10 millicurie (0.37 GBq) cesium-137 sealed source and a 50 millicurie (1.85 GBq) americium-241 sealed source. After completing measurements with the nuclear gauge, the gauge technician was discussing the results of the test with a construction supervisor and construction worker. In the middle of the conversation, the construction worker left, entered an earth mover located next to the two above individuals and nuclear gauge, started the vehicle up and accidently ran over the gauge. No one was injured during the incident. The unit housing was damaged and the source rod was bent; however, the sources remained intact and shielded within the device. The nuclear gauge was located next to the gauge technician prior to the incident. The gauge technician cleared an area around the gauge and contacted the Columbus facility field office. The field office, in turn, called the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and the Logan County Health Department. The Logan County Health Department contacted the State of Ohio Health Department who contacted the NRC. The NRC contacted the licensee at approximately 2:00 p.m. on October 15, 1996. A licensee representative responded to the incident within 30 minutes with a portable survey meter. A State of Ohio representative also responded to the incident with radiation monitoring equipment. Based on preliminary surveys done by the licensee and the State of Ohio, it appears that the sources remained intact inside the device in the shielded position. No abnormal radiation levels were identified by the licensee or the State of Ohio. After the radiation survey, the gauge was placed in its Type A shipping container and transported back and secured at the licensee's field site facility in Columbus, Ohio. The licensee, voluntarily, will be issuing a report to the NRC. The State of Ohio and NMSS have been notified of this event. Regional Action: NRC Region III (Chicago) will review this event during the next routine inspection. Contact: M. M. LAFRANZO (630)829-9865 J. R. MADERA (630)829-9834 _