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 ***