Headquarters Daily Report DECEMBER 10, 1997 *************************************************************************** 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. 10, 1997 MR Number: H-97-0151 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS NRC Information Notice 97-84, "Rupture in Extraction Steam Piping as a Result of Flow-Accelerated Corrosion," dated December 11, 1997. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to potential generic problems related to the occurrence and prediction of flow-accelerated corrosion in extraction steam systems. Technical contact: J. Shackelford, RIV (817) 860-8144 NRC Information Notice 97-85, "Effects of Crud Buildup and Boron Deposition on Power Distribution and Shutdown Margin," dated December 11, 1997. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to a potentially significant problem pertaining to anomalous behavior of the core axial power distribution and erosion of shutdown margin attributed to crud buildup on the nuclear fuel and subsequent boron deposition in the crud layer. Technical contacts: Margaret S. Chatterton, NRR Edward D. Kendrick,NRR 301-415-2889 301-415-2891 William F. Burton, NRR 301-415-2853 _ REGION II MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 DECEMBER 10, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 2-97-0090 V.A. Medical Center Birmingham Date: 12/10/97 Birmingham,Alabama Dockets: 03001204 License No: 01-00643-02 Subject: RECEIPT OF CONTAMINATED RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGE Discussion: On December 9, 1997, the licensee notified Region II of the receipt of a contaminated radiopharmaceutical package. The package arrived at the licensee's facility on December 9, 1997 at 9:00 a.m., and contained 30 millicuries of technetium 99m setamibi (a cardiac imaging agent). Licensee surveys found 66,100 disintegrations per 100 square centimeters (dpm 100 cm2) on the exterior of the box (greater than ten times the maximum allowable limit of 2,200 dpm 100 cm2 permitted in Department of Transportation regulations). The survey of the package determined that the contamination was confined to a spot about 3 inches in diameter on the package's exterior. No contamination was on the inner shield or on the packing material. The RSO directed that the box and contents be impounded. The package originated from the Syncor nuclear pharmacy in Birmingham AL, an Alabama licensee. Syncor had been notified by the licensee. Region II notified the State of Alabama of this event. The State of Alabama contacted Syncor by telephone and was advised that the driver, including his hands and gloves, and the trunk of the delivery vehicle were surveyed. No radioactive contamination was found. Syncor advised the State of Alabama that there had been no other reports of contamination, and that the licensee was unable to determine the source or cause for the contamination. Since no personnel or vehicles were contaminated, the State of Alabama will follow up this event at the next routine inspection of the Syncor facility. Contact: R. Woodruff (404)562-4704 J. Pelchat (404)562-4729 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 DECEMBER 10, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Texas Utilities Electric Co. MR Number: 4-97-0093 Comanche Peak 2 Date: 12/10/97 Glen Rose,Texas Resident Inspectors Dockets: 50-446 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: Restart from Refueling Outage Discussion: At 2:04 a.m. (CST), on December 10, 1997, the main generator output breakers were closed, ending the third refueling outage for Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station Unit 2. Major work accomplished during the outage included refueling, inspection of the main turbine low pressure turbine rotor, installation of new battery chargers and inverters, lightning protection modification for the containment and switchyard, Turbine Driven Auxiliary Feedwater Pump condensate removal modification, main turbine heater drain system modification to improve reliability, and steam generator eddy current testing. The reactor was taken critical at 1:44 a.m. on December 8. Low power physics testing was completed and Mode 1 was entered at 11:33 p.m. The power ascension was held at 7 percent reactor power while the licensee resolved a problem with the main turbine auxiliary lube oil system. Regional Action: The resident inspectors monitored the licensee's actions and activities during reactor startup and generator synchronization. Contact: Joseph I. Tapia (817)860-8243 Ronald A. Kopriva (817)860-8104 _