ACCESSION #: 9603120071
LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
FACILITY NAME: SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING PAGE: 1 OF 3
STATION, UNITS 1, 2 AND 3
DOCKET NUMBER: 05000206
TITLE: DISCOVERY OF FOUR SLIGHTLY CONTAMINATED KITTENS AT SAN
ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION
EVENT DATE: 02/01/96 LER #: 96-001-00 REPORT DATE: 03/05/96
OTHER FACILITIES INVOLVED: SONGS UNIT 2 DOCKET NO: 05000361
SONGS UNIT 3 05000362
OPERATING MODE: 0 POWER LEVEL: 000
THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR SECTION:
Other: VOLUNTARY REPORT
LICENSEE CONTACT FOR THIS LER:
NAME: R. W. Krieger, Vice President, TELEPHONE: (714) 368-6255
Nuclear Generation
COMPONENT FAILURE DESCRIPTION:
CAUSE: SYSTEM: COMPONENT: MANUFACTURER:
REPORTABLE NPRDS:
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT EXPECTED: NO
ABSTRACT:
On 2/1/96, four kittens were discovered in a small space between office
buildings inside the Unit 1 Protected Area/Restricted Area but outside
the radiologically controlled area. As they were being taken out of the
Protected Area/Restricted Area, contamination was detected on them by the
exit portal monitors. The kittens were surveyed and each measured about
6000 counts per minute. Health Physics workers gave each kitten a warm
bath and shampoo, which lowered the levels to about 1000 counts per
minute. After the baths, Health Physics analyzed each kitten and found
about one microcurie of activity, (primarily cesium 137, and small
amounts of cesium 134 and cobalt 60). While the quantity of radioactive
material found on and in the kittens is far below Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) reporting requirements, Edison is voluntarily providing
this report.
After the kittens were found, the remains of an adult cat on Interstate 5
were sighted and recovered by a plant worker. Subsequent analysis of the
cat found similar levels of activity as in the kittens. Based on the
similarity of color between this adult cat and the kittens, the rarity of
cats on-site, and the similar contamination in each case, Edison believes
it likely the adult cat was the mother of the kittens.
The kittens remain under the care of plant workers. A local veterinarian
has described the kittens as very healthy. There have been over 500
requests from local residents, the general public, and plant workers who
wish to adopt the kittens. Because of the very low quantities of
activity involved, this occurrence did not affect the health or safety of
plant workers or the public.
END OF ABSTRACT
TEXT PAGE 2 OF 3
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENTS:
Plant: San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2,
and 3
Reactor Vendor: Combustion Engineering
Discovery Date: February 1, 1996
Mode: Unit 1, Safestor
Units 2 and 3, About 99% Power
On February 1, 1996, four small black kittens were discovered in a small
space between two Unit 1 administration buildings inside the Protected
Area/Restricted Area but outside the radiologically controlled area. As
the kittens were being taken out of the Protected Area/Restricted Area,
contamination was detected on them by the exit portal monitors in our
security building. Health Physics immediately responded and surveyed the
kittens and the workers who handled them with a standard frisker. The
results showed that none of the workers were contaminated, but each
kitten measured about 6000 counts per minute. To reduce this activity,
Health Physics workers gave each kitten a warm bath and shampoo, which
lowered the levels to about 1000 counts per minute.
After the baths, Health Physics analyzed each kitten and found about one
microcurie of activity, primarily cesium 137, and small amounts of cesium
134 and cobalt 60. Since the initial evaluation, measured activity has
steadily decreased. A local veterinarian, who has made several visits to
the plant and provided the first recommended vaccinations, describes the
kittens as very healthy. Presently, their living quarters, which
includes a pen, bed, and toys, is in a room within the Unit 2/3
radiologically controlled area near the main entry station. They remain
in the care of plant workers.
The quantity of radioactive material found on and in the kittens is far
below Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reporting requirements.
Nevertheless, SCE has provided prompt and frequent updates to NRC
resident and regional personnel and is voluntarily providing this
Licensee Event Report.
During an effort to find the kittens' mother, we learned that an animal
control officer had caught an adult cat on Edison property just outside
the Protected Area/Restricted Area near Unit 1, one day before the
kittens were found. Because the cat was wet from a rainstorm and
listless, the animal control officer took the cat home where it slept
overnight in a cage in the officer's garage. The next morning, the cat
appeared healthy and alert. Thus, consistent with our practice, the cat
was released in a suitable area away from the plant.
After the kittens were found, workers at the plant tried, without
success, to find the adult cat in the area where it had been released.
Health Physics then contacted the animal control officer who handled the
cat and surveyed him, his vehicle, and his home. While no contamination
was found in or on him or in his vehicle or home, trace levels of
activity (a few nanocuries) were found on a rag he used to dry the cat,
and in feces deposited in the cage.
As the search continued, the remains of an adult cat on Interstate 5 were
sighted and recovered by a plant worker. Health Physics analyzed the cat
and found similar levels of activity as in the kittens. Based on the
similarity of color between this adult cat and the kittens, the rarity of
cats on-site, and the similar contamination in each case, Edison believes
it likely the adult cat was the mother of the kittens.
In an effort to find out how the kittens became contaminated, Health
Physics performed a comprehensive survey both inside and outside the
radiologically controlled area. While no contamination was found in
either the area where the kittens were discovered or outside the
radiologically controlled area, a few areas were identified inside Unit
1's radiologically controlled area where a small animal (like a cat)
could gain access and become contaminated. These areas meet all the
regulatory requirements for access control and precautionary procedures
to restrict
TEXT PAGE 3 OF 3
worker access. Nevertheless, to reduce the chance of a small animal
entering these areas again, additional physical barriers will be
installed, where practical.
The kittens remain under the care of plant workers. There have been over
500 requests from local residents, the general public, and plant workers
who wish to adopt the kittens. Because of the very low quantities of
activity involved, this occurrence did not affect the health or safety of
plant workers or the public.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
A search of the LER files yielded no similar event in the last three
years.
ATTACHMENT TO 9603120071 PAGE 1 OF 1
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA R. W. Krieger
EDISON Vice President
Nuclear Generation
An EDISON INTERNATIONAL Company
March 5, 1996
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Attention: Document Control Desk
Washington, D. C. 20555
Subject: Docket Nos. 50-206, 50-361 and 50-362
Voluntary Report
Licensee Event Report No. 96-001
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2 and 3
This submittal provides a voluntary report describing the discovery of
four slightly contaminated kittens at San Onofre. Neither the health nor
the safety of plant personnel or the public was affected by this
occurrence.
Sincerely,
Enclosure: LER No. 96-001
cc: L. J. Callan, Regional Administrator, NRC Region IV
J. E. Dyer, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, NRC Region
IV
K. E. Perkins, Jr., Director, Walnut Creek Field Office, NRC
Region IV
J. A. Sloan, NRC Senior Resident Inspector, San Onofre Units 2 &
3
L. C. Carson, NRC Project Manager, San Onofre, Unit 1
M. B. Fields, NRC Project Manager, San Onofre Units 2 and 3
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
(Illegible)
*** END OF DOCUMENT ***