Headquarters Daily Report NOVEMBER 20, 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 NOV. 20, 1996 MR Number: H-96-0085 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS NRC Information Notice 96-61, "Failure of a Main Steam Safety Valve to Reseat Caused by an Improperly Installed Release Nut," dated November 20, 1996. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to the failure of a main steam safety valve to reseat during a plant transient as a result of an improperly installed release nut. Technical contacts: Charles G. Hammer, NRR (301) 415-2791 Terrence Reis, RIV (817) 860-8185 Robert A. Benedict, NRR (301) 415-1157 _ REGION II MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 20, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Duke Power Co. MR Number: 2-96-0116 Mc Guire 1 2 Date: 11/20/96 Cornelius,North Carolina Dockets: 50-369,50-370 PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP Subject: DUKE POWER COMPANY MANAGEMENT CHANGES Discussion: On November 19, 1996, Duke Power Company announced several management changes. Mr. Ted McMeekin, currently Site Vice President at McGuire, will assume management of the Fossil/Hydro Department replacing the retiring Maurice McIntosh. Assuming the site Vice President position at McGuire will be Mr. Brew Barron. Mr. Barron has held various positions at the three Duke Power Company nuclear sites. He will be reporting to McGuire from his position with Duke Engineering and Services at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Regional Action: For information only. Contact: S. RUDISAIL (404)331-5563 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 NOVEMBER 20, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-96-0120 Michigan State University Date: 11/20/96 East Lansing,Michigan TELEPHONE CALL Dockets: 03000806 Subject: MISPLACED CF-252 FOIL (8.7 MICROCURIES, 0.322 MEGABEQUERELS) Discussion: The Oregon State Department of Human Resources contacted Region III about an empty source holder that was inadvertently shipped without the Cf-252 foil. On October 21, 1996, the source holder was shipped from the Michigan State University (MSU) cyclotron facility in East Lansing, MI, to the Oregon State University (OSU) reactor facility in Corvalis, OR. Upon receipt of the package, OSU did not open the package or become aware that the source holder was empty until contacted by MSU. On November 12, 1996, the MSU health physicist discovered the detached foil while completing the routine monthly survey of the restricted area where the source holder and foil had been used and stored within the MSU cyclotron facility. Subsequently, MSU contacted OSU and confirmed that the foil was not in the source holder. OSU returned the empty source holder to MSU. On November 15, 1996, the MSU health physicist replaced the foil into the source holder and shipped the source holder and foil to OSU. OSU expects the shipment to arrive this week. It was determined that this event was not reportable under 10 CFR 20.2201(a) because no individual in an unrestricted area was likely exposed to radiation from the detached foil and the source was not known to be missing until it was actually discovered during the November 12, 1996, routine survey. The foil was discovered within a restricted area that was secured by the licensee and where personnel radiation exposure monitoring was maintained. On November 19, 1996, the Oregon State Department of Human Resources initially contacted the Region IV Walnut Creek Field Office. After discussing the matter, the State of Oregon telephoned Region III as indicated above. Regional Action: Region III has contacted the MSU Radiation Safety Officer who is completing a root cause analysis and revision of source holder and foil handling protocols. This matter will be further reviewed during the next inspection of the licensee. Contact: THOMAS YOUNG (630)829-9835 JAMNES CAMERON (630)829-9833 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 20, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Nebraska Public Power District MR Number: 4-96-0118 Cooper 1 Date: 11/20/96 Brownville,Nebraska Senior Resident Inspector Dockets: 50-298 BWR/GE-4 Subject: FIRE IN PROTECTED AREA - NOTICE OF UNUSUAL EVENT (also refer to Event 31352) Reportable Event Number: 31353 Discussion: At about 2:50 p.m. CST on November 19, 1996, during a full scale emergency exercise, a station operator noticed smoke in the turbine building hallway which shares a common wall with the main steam tunnel (secondary containment). At 3:01 p.m. the source of the smoke was identified to be in the seismic gap between the main steam tunnel roof and the turbine building roof. The fire brigade responded to fight the fire. At 3:11 p.m., a Notice of Unusual Event (NOUE) was declared due to a fire not being extinguished within 10 minutes. At 3:18 p.m. the fire was extinguished and a reflash watch set. The NOUE was terminated at 4:23 p.m. The licensee concluded that the operability of structures (reactor building, steam tunnel, and turbine building) was not degraded by the fire. The licensee has preliminarily determined that the fire was ignited by personnel replacing the steam tunnel roof covering. Fibrous material, possibly debris, lodged in the 2-inch seismic gap between the buildings, was probably ignited by a torch used to seal the roofing material. The negative turbine building pressure and incomplete turbine building seal allowed smoke to enter the turbine building. At 8 a.m. both the diesel and electric-driven fire pumps had been taken to the "pull-to-lock" position to support preventive maintenance on the associated jockey fire pump. The "pull-to-lock" status rendered the pumps incapable of automatic actuation, but both pumps were available for use. The planned maintenance did not affect the functionality of the fire pumps. The resident inspector witnessed that the diesel fire pump was immediately placed in service when the control room was notified of the fire. The electric pump had already been returned to service. The licensee suspended roofing operations and is performing a root cause evaluation. Licensee management has stated that roofing activities will not continue until the root cause of the fire is identified and corrected. The Senior Resident Inspector was participating in the exercise and immediately responded to the control room to observe the licensee's response to the event. The states of Nebraska and Missouri were notified of both the initiation and termination of the NOUE. REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 5 NOVEMBER 20, 1996 MR Number: 4-96-0118 (cont.) During the event, the full scale emergency drill was suspended, and the fully staffed TSC and EOF stood by to assist if necessary, in accordance with exercise contingency plans. The NRC Safety Assessment/Quality Verification team, on site for a scheduled team inspection, includes two fire protection inspectors, who will follow the licensee's root cause evaluation. The NRC exercise evaluators will evaluate the licensee's emergency response to this event. Regional Action: NRC Region IV will follow the licensee's recovery and evaluation of this event. Contact: E. Collins (817)860-8291 T. Reis (817)860-8185 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 5 NOVEMBER 20, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. MR Number: 4-96-0119 Diablo Canyon 1 2 Date: 11/20/96 Avila Beach,California Senior Resident Inspector Dockets: 50-275,50-323 PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP Subject: POTENTIAL MEDIA INTEREST - FIRE DURING DISASSEMBLY OF A SPARE MAIN TRANSFORMER Reportable Event Number: 31356 Discussion: At approximately 12:30 (PST) on 11/19/96 a fire occurred in a spare main transformer that was being disassembled for salvage at the Diablo Canyon facility. Neither plant equipment, support systems, or offsite power sources were jeopardized by the fire. The transformer was located in a parking lot located on the access road approximately 1/4 mile south of the protected area. The fire occurred during disassembly of the transformer by contract workers using cutting torches. All but approximately 20 gallons of residual oil had been removed from the transformer and the internal volume of the transformer inerted with nitrogen prior to the commencement of disassembly. The fire was extinguished by the plant's fire brigade. Two California Department of Forestry engines responded but were not used to fight the fire since it was essentially extinguished when they arrived. There were no injuries or release of hazardous materials. The local media was at the scene of the fire. The licensee made a 4-hour nonemergency report in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72. The licensee is implementing additional precautions prior to proceeding with the disassembly. Contact: M. Tschiltz (805)595-2354 D. Corporandy (510)975-0319 _