| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
10/23/2003 - 10/24/2003 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 40264 | Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: FLORIDA MEDICAL CENTER
Region: 1
City: LAUDERDALE LAKES State: FL
County:
License #: 2816-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CHARLES ADAMS
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 10/21/2003
Notification Time: 08:20 [ET]
Event Date: 10/20/2003
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/21/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
LAWRENCE DOERFLEIN (R1)
JOHN HICKEY (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING INTRAVASCULAR BRACHYTHERAPY SEEDS
"Noveste Beta-Cath System [Model A1767 30mm S/N 86853] was used in a procedure on September 18, 2003. It has not been seen since. This office was notified October 20. This model contains 12 Sr-90 seeds, total activity up to 60 mCi [milliCuries]. Florida is investigating."
Florida Incident # FL03-192 |
| Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 40265 | Facility: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: LEU CONVERSION (UF6 to UO2)
COMMERCIAL LWR FUEL
Region: 2
City: COLUMBIA State: SC
County: RICHLAND
License #: SNM-1107
Agreement: Y
Docket: 07001151
NRC Notified By: ROD LIKES
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 10/21/2003
Notification Time: 10:27 [ET]
Event Date: 10/17/2003
Event Time: 10:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/22/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
INFORMATION ONLY
| Person (Organization):
CHARLES R. OGLE (R2)
RICHARD WESSMAN (IRO)
ROBERTO TORRES (NMSS)
MATTHEW KORMANN (TAS)
| Event Text LOSS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF LOCATION OF FUEL ROD
Westinghouse provided the following information via facsimile pending resolution as to whether material has been lost:
"Facility:
Westinghouse Electric Company, Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia SC, low enriched < 5.0 wt.% U-235) PWR fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors. License: SNM-1107.
"Reason for Notification:
The Westinghouse Columbia Site Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan requires NRC notification of unresolved indications of missing uranium. Current knowledge of the location of Fuel Rod Id #18768319, has been lost. The fuel rod in question contains 85 grams U-235.
"Description of Event:
Columbia Site Rod Manufacturing employees could not locate fuel rod ID # 18768319 when verifying locations of items that showed up on a listing of items that had not moved through any process stages on the item control tracking system within the previous 7 days of when the report was generated.
"The last transaction recorded for the item was on 8:31 am on October 2, 2003 indicating that the fuel rod was seal welded in the Chemical area after having been loaded with fuel pellets. No additional transactions were recorded for the fuel rod after this time. The next step in the process would have been an over check of the weld by the production line operator who would record the status of the weld via a transaction in the tracking system. The operator would apply a defect code to the rod in the system if a problem were noted with the weld. If the weld passed the overcheck inspection, it would have been transferred to the mechanical manufacturing area of the facility and be weighed and undergo a series of quality assurance inspections. No evidence was found to indicate that the fuel rod was transferred out of the chemical area of the facility. It is believed at this time that the rod most likely was scrapped [fuel removed and reused] and the necessary transactions were inadvertently not performed.
"The manager of EH&S and the safeguards co-ordinator were notified of the on-going situation at approximately 10:00 am on October 17, 2003 and the investigation and search activities were intensified and are on-going.
"Summary of Investigation/Search Activity
- Rod area manufacturing employees searched for the fuel rod in the rod scrap areas of the facility and examined every fuel rod in the area.
- Fuel rods in the storage areas of the facility were examined.
- Containers of Low Level Radioactive Waste that may contain traceable portions of the fuel rod have been searched and continue to be searched.
- Areas previously checked were re-checked and those areas not checked are in the process of being examined."
* * * UPDATE AT 1009 EDT ON 10/22/03 FROM R. LIKES TO E. THOMAS * * *
"Current knowledge of the location of Fuel Rod ID #18768319 was re-established on October 21, 2003 at approximately 19:30 hours, when a fuel rod manufacturing employee located the item. The fuel rod was found under a fuel rod handling conveyer in a position that was not readily visible to individuals performing search activities. The cause of how the fuel rod came to be in the location it was found is currently being investigated.
"Because the fuel rod remained in controlled areas of the facility, this event is not considered safety significant and health and safety has not been compromised."
Notified R2DO (J. Munday), NMSS EO (D. Broaddus), DIRO (D. Weaver), TAS (M. Kormann), DHS (R. Dasilva) |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 40267 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: RAVEN INSPECTION & TESTING, INC.
Region: 4
City: HUMBLE State: TX
County: HARRIS
License #: L05219
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: HELEN WATKINS
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 10/21/2003
Notification Time: 12:22 [ET]
Event Date: 10/21/2003
Event Time: 08:10 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/21/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JONES (R4)
JOHN HICKEY (NMSS)
MATTHEW KORMANN (TAS)
LINDA HOWELL (IAT)
RICHARD WESSMAN (IRO)
FEMA, DOE, HHS, EPA (FAX)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA
"Texas Incident No.: I-8065
"Event date and time: 10/21/03, discovered approx. 8:10 cst
"Event location: Humble, TX storage shed
"Event type: Stolen radiography camera
"Notifications: The licensee notified the local police, BRC, and other radiography companies in the area.
"Event description: SPEC Model 150 exposure device, sn #0336, 32 Ci [Curies], Ir-192 source, model G-20, sn #KF1204
"The licensee arrived at work this morning, found the security gate wide open, the lock cut on the storage shed, the lock cut on the vault and the camera missing. The only thing taken was the camera, all other equipment was still in place and the darkroom was still locked. The licensee had only one camera. The camera was used on a job yesterday and secured after use.
"There are about 60 other storage sheds located within the fence. The only one broken into was the licensee's storage shed. Other radiography companies in the area were contacted by the licensee, also the local police were notified.
"The incident has not received any media attention. The Agency [BRC] is investigating the incident.
"Transport vehicle description: None reported
"Media attention: None reported." |
| Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 40271 | Rep Org: U.S. ARMY TACOM
Licensee: U.S. ARMY TACOM
Region: 3
City: ROCK ISLAND State: IL
County:
License #: 12-00722-06
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: THOMAS GIZICKI
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 10/23/2003
Notification Time: 12:45 [ET]
Event Date: 10/09/2003
Event Time: 12:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/23/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
| Person (Organization):
JOHN MADERA (R3)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS)
LAWRENCE DOERFLEIN (R1)
| Event Text UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION DUE TO DAMAGED M1A1 COLLIMATOR
The following information was received from the licensee via facsimile:
"Army personnel discovered a broken M1A1 collimator at the MATES [Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site] VAARNG [Virginia Army National Guard], Ft. Pickett, Blackstone, VA on 9 October 2003. The item was leak tested, double bagged and placed into a foot locker in an outdoor location. [Tritium] contamination levels on the collimator [were] 2.68 [micro Curies] and in the footlocker where the collimator sat, .087 [micro Curies]. The state RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] will retrieve this item and place it in a low level radioactive waste storage site for future disposal."
The State of Virginia has been notified of the incident. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 40272 | Facility: SUSQUEHANNA
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: GORDON ROBINSON
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 10/23/2003
Notification Time: 21:30 [ET]
Event Date: 10/23/2003
Event Time: 16:40 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/23/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
LAWRENCE DOERFLEIN (R1)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text NONEMERGENCY NOTIFICATION DUE TO FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL STRUCTURE HABITABILITY ENVELOPE
"During routine monitoring, Control Room personnel noted control structure pressure differential was below the 1/8" [inches on water pressure] required to maintain the Control Structure Habitability Envelope. A walkdown of the Control Structure and initial investigation has revealed no obvious problems that would cause the low positive pressure condition. Due to the inability of the Control Structure HVAC to maintain a positive pressure, both trains of Control Room Emergency Outside Air Supply system were declared inoperable. This is considered a Loss of Safety Function in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D)."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 40273 | Facility: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: MOT HEDGES
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 10/23/2003
Notification Time: 21:39 [ET]
Event Date: 10/23/2003
Event Time: 17:43 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/23/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
73.71(b)(1) - SAFEGUARDS REPORTS
| Person (Organization):
DAVID LOVELESS (R4)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text DEGRADED SAFEGUARDS CONDITION
Discovered vulnerability in a safeguard system that could allow unauthorized or undetected access to safeguards material. Compensatory measures have been employed.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Contact Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details. | |