Headquarters Daily Report OCTOBER 16, 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 OCTOBER 16, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Part 21 Database MR Number: H-97-0134 Abb-Ce Date: 10/16/97 Subject: Part 21 - Potential hardening of lubricant in Potter & Brumfield relays Discussion: VENDOR: ABB-CE PT21 FILE NO: 97-75-0 DATE OF DOCUMENT: 10/13/97 ACCESSION NUMBER: SOURCE DOCUMENT: EN 33077 REVIEWER: PECB, T. Koshy NEW ISSUE. The vendor reports potential hardening of lubricant in Potter & Brumfield relay models 170-1, 7032, 7033, and 7034, which could result in relay failure. These relays were supplied to ANO 2, Waterford, Palo Verde, and San Onofre for use in the reactor protection system. _ REGION I MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 OCTOBER 16, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. MR Number: 1-97-0055 Nine Mile Point 1 Date: 10/15/97 Lycoming,New York Dockets: 50-220 BWR/GE-2 Subject: NIAGARA MOHAWK EXTENDS NINE MILE POINT UNIT 1 OUTAGE Discussion: The schedule of the current outage at NMP-1 has been extended due to an expansion in the scope of repairs to the plant's four emergency condensers. NMP-1 was taken out of service on September 15, 1997 due to a leaking tube in one of four emergency condensers. Subsequent tests and inspections identified the need for repair or replacement of some of the tubes in each of the condensers. After evaluation, Niagara Mohawk made the decision to replace the tube bundles in all of the condensers. Replacement of the condenser tubes is expected to take approximately 10 weeks, and the plant is expected to return to service in late December. The resident staff is monitoring outage activities. Contact: Barry Norris (315)342-4041 Lawrence Doerflein (610)337-5378 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 OCTOBER 16, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: 3-97-0105 Bittner Engineering Date: 10/14/97 Escanaba,Michigan TELECON W/REP OF BITTNER ENGINEERNG Dockets: 03030982 License No: 21-26010-01 Subject: MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE DAMAGED BY ASPHALT ROLLER Discussion: On October 14, 1997, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a Troxler moisture density gauge, Model 3411B, was damaged by a asphalt roller on a construction site in rural Bark River, Michigan. Bark River is located 10 miles west of Escanaba on US41. The gauge contained a nominal 8 millicurie (0.3 GBq) of cesium-137 sealed source and 40 millicurie (1.48 GBq) americium-241 sealed source. The incident occurred on a construction site of the Chip-Inn Casino on the Michigan Pattawatomi Indian Reservation, three miles west of Bark River, Michigan. The licensed material was being used in construction of an addition to the existing facility. The gauge was on a constancy test block adjacent to an existing building and located with some "batter blocks and boards." The roller knocked over the batter boards and the gauge during the incident. The gauge operator was approximately 75 feet away and within line of sight of the gauge picking up concrete tags at the time of the incident. The gauge user notified the senior engineer who was covering for the radiation safety officer (RSO). The senior engineer responded to the site to offer assistance and direct the licensee's response. The gauge had source and guide rods bent at 90 degree angles. The licensee verified that the source was shielded using a portable survey instrument and that the area and roller was free of contamination. The licensee noted that the case did not appear damaged and the source was in the shielded position. The RSO was out of town and was contacted regarding the damaged gauge by the area engineer on October 15, 1997. The licensee returned the gauge to the storage location in Escanaba, Michigan, conducted a leak test and forwarded the wipe test to Troxler for analysis. They have been in contact with the manufacturer to arrange return of the gauge for repair following the leak test results. The licensee intends to conduct a refresher training for all authorized users when the replacement gauge arrives. The training will include a discussion of the role and responsibility of the user to secure the gauge on the job site. They anticipate receiving the replacement gauge on October 16, 1997. The State of Michigan and NMSS have been notified of this event. Region III will conduct a special inspection of the licensee to review this incident during the week of October 20, 1997. REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 OCTOBER 16, 1997 MR Number: 3-97-0105 (cont.) Contact: MARK MITCHELL (630)829-9855 JAMNES CAMERON (630)829-9833 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 4 OCTOBER 16, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Nebraska Public Power District MR Number: 4-97-0078 Cooper 1 Date: 10/16/97 Brownville,Nebraska Resident Inspector Dockets: 50-298 BWR/GE-4 Subject: OFF-GAS SYSTEM FLOW AND PRESSURE TRANSIENT Discussion: On October 14, 1997, at 12:53 a.m. CDT, operators received an off-gas trouble alarm. From 1:05 to 1:10 a.m., the operators observed steam jet air ejector flow dropping, condenser back pressure rising, elevated release point radiation release rate levels rising, and off-gas dilution fan differential pressure dropping. An operator in the augmented off-gas building noticed an acrid odor and concluded that paint on piping had become heated, but had not blistered or scorched. At 1:18 a.m., operators bypassed the off-gas charcoal beds and then isolated the augmented off-gas system and entered the abnormal procedure for sustained combustion in the off-gas system. At that point, condenser vacuum recovered and flows and temperatures returned to previous values. The plant remained at 100 percent power throughout the occurrence. The licensee found elevated temperatures on some areas of off-gas piping and evidence of high flow in the system. They did not find evidence of combustion. During a walkdown of the above-ground portions of the system, the NRC resident inspector found no indication of melted plastic tags, blistered paint, deformed hangers, or charred dust on piping or components. The licensee investigation is continuing, focusing on a temporary blockage or combustion in the system. Regional Action: Resident inspector review of this issue is continuing. Contact: Elmo Collins (817)860-8291 Charles Marschall (817)860-8185 _