“UNANALYZED CONDITION” – URANIUM PELLETS FOUND IN DRAIN PIPING at Westinghouse Fuel Plant, Columbia, SC

EN Revision Imported Date: 5/1/2026

EN Revision Text: UNANALYZED CONDITION – PELLETS FOUND IN DRAIN PIPING

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

“On April 22, 2026, at approximately 0700 EDT, engineering initiated planned integrity inspections of the pellet sintering furnace cooling water drain piping as part of the established aging management program. This evaluation of piping conditions supports long-term refurbishment or replacement planning. At approximately 0930 EDT, inspection activities were stopped when personnel observed approximately nine fuel pellets embedded in scale within a section of 4-inch drain piping, along with two isolated pellets located a few feet farther downstream where the piping diameter increases to 6 inches.

“The condition was reported to environmental, health, and safety. Inspection activities were halted, and the system was placed in a safe condition. Pelleting area operations were already down for the upcoming inventory period and will remain down pending further investigation. The condition was entered into the corrective action program for further analysis and evaluation. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and this report is being submitted per 10 CFR 70, Appendix A (b)(1), as a potential unanalyzed condition in the integrated safety analysis (ISA). There is no impact to the public or the environment.”

The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:

The sintering furnace cooling water drain piping drains to a monitored chemical cooling tower. No pellets are expected in the drain piping. There was no spread of contamination or environmental release.

* * * RETRACTION ON 04/30/2026 AT 0912 EDT FROM STEPHEN SUBOSITS TO CHRISTOPHER PRESCOTT * * *

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

“In response to a potential unanalyzed condition reported on April 23, 2026, Westinghouse conducted additional camera inspection of the cooling water drain piping, completed an engineering calculation to determine the fluid dynamics condition of the cooling water piping, and performed a criticality safety evaluation (CSE) to assess the potential for special nuclear material accumulation. The revised CSE determined that a credible upset condition did not exist. Westinghouse is retracting the event report based on the determination that a criticality scenario was not credible for the condition found on April 22, 2026.”

Notified R2DO (Williams) and NMSS Events Notification (email)