Prairie Island Shipment Shifted, Posed Safety Risk
Feburary 17, 2009
(The Associated Press) - A radioactive piece of equipment shipped from the Prairie Island
nuclear plant to Pennsylvania in October shifted during transport, and had radiation levels eight times over safety standards by the time it
reached its destination.
Plant Vice President Mike Wadley called it a serious and rare
event.
The plant notified the Nuclear Regulation Commission immediately,
Wadley said Monday. Westinghouse Electric Co., which received the
shipment, also filed a report.
The NRC notified Wadley by mail last week that it issued a
preliminary "yellow" finding in the incident, which is the
third-highest of four safety risk rankings.
The equipment - a 13-foot-long canister used to test the
integrity of fuel rods last fall - was put into a metal box for
shipment and placed on a semi. The equipment is always shipped by
itself.
"It isn't migrated or commingled with any other shipment," Wadley
said. "The trucker, no workers, no members of the public were
affected."
Scott Northard, plant manager at Prairie Island, said that
sometime during shipping, a microscopic radioactive particle ended up
close to the surface of the container.
"Our survey of the container and package before it was placed in
the box should have been more detailed and should have identified this
discrete radioactive particle and the potential for exceeding the
limit," Northard said.
The plant is owned by Xcel Energy. In written communications with
Xcel Energy, the NRC said workers who packed the box weren't qualified
and had not been properly trained.
The agency said it was only a matter of chance that the public
wasn't exposed to radiation, partly because the particle ended up at
the bottom of the container, not on the side of the container - where
it would have been closer to people in nearby vehicles.
Prairie Island ships this type of equipment about once every four
or five years, and the company has set up new procedures, including
training, to prevent another episode like this.
"We think we've eliminated the possibility going forwarded,"
Wadley
said.
The utility's officials and plant managers are reviewing the
NRC's finding and will decide if they will respond in person or in
writing.
A final NRC determination is expected within 90 days.
Xcel Energy is applying for permission to expand production at
its two nuclear plants, and to store more radioactive waste on site.
Later this week, representatives from the NRC will visit the Prairie
Island plant as they consider the company's request.
(The Associated Press) - A radioactive piece of equipment shipped from the Prairie Island
nuclear plant to Pennsylvania in October shifted during transport, and had radiation levels eight times over safety standards by the time it
reached its destination.
Plant Vice President Mike Wadley called it a serious and rare
event.
The plant notified the Nuclear Regulation Commission immediately,
Wadley said Monday. Westinghouse Electric Co., which received the
shipment, also filed a report.
The NRC notified Wadley by mail last week that it issued a
preliminary "yellow" finding in the incident, which is the
third-highest of four safety risk rankings.
The equipment - a 13-foot-long canister used to test the
integrity of fuel rods last fall - was put into a metal box for
shipment and placed on a semi. The equipment is always shipped by
itself.
"It isn't migrated or commingled with any other shipment," Wadley
said. "The trucker, no workers, no members of the public were
affected."
Scott Northard, plant manager at Prairie Island, said that
sometime during shipping, a microscopic radioactive particle ended up
close to the surface of the container.
"Our survey of the container and package before it was placed in
the box should have been more detailed and should have identified this
discrete radioactive particle and the potential for exceeding the
limit," Northard said.
The plant is owned by Xcel Energy. In written communications with
Xcel Energy, the NRC said workers who packed the box weren't qualified
and had not been properly trained.
The agency said it was only a matter of chance that the public
wasn't exposed to radiation, partly because the particle ended up at
the bottom of the container, not on the side of the container - where
it would have been closer to people in nearby vehicles.
Prairie Island ships this type of equipment about once every four
or five years, and the company has set up new procedures, including
training, to prevent another episode like this.
"We think we've eliminated the possibility going forwarded,"
Wadley
said.
The utility's officials and plant managers are reviewing the
NRC's finding and will decide if they will respond in person or in
writing.
A final NRC determination is expected within 90 days.
Xcel Energy is applying for permission to expand production at
its two nuclear plants, and to store more radioactive waste on site.
Later this week, representatives from the NRC will visit the Prairie
Island plant as they consider the company's request.