| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
11/25/2005 - 11/28/2005 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 42163 | Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: GEMINI, INC
Region: 3
City: DECORAH State: IA
County:
License #: IA 3135196SEM
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: NANCY FARRINGTON
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 11/22/2005
Notification Time: 10:03 [ET]
Event Date: 11/21/2005
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/22/2005 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
RICHARD SKOKOWSKI (R3)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
TAS (EMAIL) ()
| Event Text IOWA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING STATIC ELIMINATOR
The licensee notified the State that on 11/21/05, a static eliminator was discovered missing. The eliminator is a Model P-2021 NRD Static Eliminator, Serial No. A2DT581, containing Po-210 with an original activity of 10 milliCuries. The licensee continues to investigate the loss.
* * * UPDATE FROM STATE (N. FARRINGTON) TO M. RIPLEY 1040 EST 11/22/05 * * *
The licensee notified the State that the missing static eliminator was found 11/22/05 in the area where it was supposed to be in, but unexpectedly under a workbench, and therefore originally missed.
Notified R3 DO (Skokowski), NMSS (G. Morell), and TAS (email).
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 42164 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: EARTH CONSULTANTS, INC
Region: 4
City: BELLEVUE State: WA
County:
License #: WN-L061-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 11/22/2005
Notification Time: 11:45 [ET]
Event Date: 11/19/2005
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 11/22/2005 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
RUSSELL BYWATER (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The State provided the following information via email:
"ABSTRACT: (where, when, how, why; cause, contributing factors, corrective actions, consequences, Dept. of Health (DOH) on-site investigation; media attention) The licensee called the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Radiation Protection emergency line Saturday November 19, 2005 to report a damaged portable gauge. The Office of Radiation Protection Emergency Response Duty Officer called the supervisor of the Radioactive Materials Section with the information who drove to the incident site to access the situation and monitor for radiation. Radiation readings were normal for a Troxler gauge.
"The Licensee provided a statement of the event by the operator. In it the operator said when all the contractor personnel left the area for lunch no equipment was running. Thinking everything was OK; the operator walked to her car for lunch and left the gauge in place. The gauge was not in use. When contractor personnel began returning to the site the operator followed. The operator heard equipment start up and was approximately 50 feet away when a moving piece of equipment backed over the gauge.
"The operator called the company RSO and 911 to notify the local fire department. The area was cordoned off to keep personnel away. The operator then removed the shipping and emergency papers and made calls to the State Department of Health who responded to the scene of the incident. The gauge was taken to the licensee's lab in nearby Fife, Washington before being taken to their licensed storage location in Bellevue, Washington.
"To prevent reoccurrence, gauge operators have been instructed by the RSO to be with in a few feet of the gauge when it is in an exposed location. The Licensee has suspended for a week without pay the operator in this incident. Notification Reporting Criteria: WAC 246-221-250 Notification of Incidents. Isotope and Activity involved: 8 mCi of Cesium 137, and 40 mCi of Americium 241 Beryllium.
"Overexposures? (number of workers/members of the public; dose estimate; body part receiving dose; consequence): None expected.
"Lost, Stolen or Damaged? (mfg., model, serial number) : Troxler, model 3430, serial number 26287.
"Disposition/recovery: The gauge was placed back in the manufactures transport case and returned to the licensed storage location in Bellevue, Washington. A licensed technical service provider was contacted and the gauge is being held for pick up and disposal by the service provider.
"Leak test? None reported post incident. Last Leak Test performed on September 8, 2005.
"Vehicle: (description; placards; Shipper; package type; Pkg. ID number) NA Release of activity? None found.
"Activity and pharmaceutical compound intended: NA
Misadministered activity and/or compound received: NA
Device (HDR, etc.) Mfg., Model; computer program: NA
Exposure (intended/actual); consequences: NA
Was patient or responsible relative notified? NA
Was written report provided? NA
Was referring physician notified? NA
Consultant used? No." |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 42166 | Rep Org: ALABAMA RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: S&ME, INC
Region: 1
City: BIRMINGHAM State: AL
County:
License #: 1273
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID TURBERVILLE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 11/23/2005
Notification Time: 13:13 [ET]
Event Date: 11/23/2005
Event Time: 11:10 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/23/2005 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
LAWRENCE DOERFLEIN (R1)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS)
BENJAMIN SANDLER (TAS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The State provided the following information via email:
"On the morning of November 23, 2005 at 11:10 am, [the] Radiation Safety Officer for S&ME, Inc. of Pelham, Alabama notified the [State] that their 2003 Ford F-150 truck with a CPN model MC-3 moisture density gauge was stolen in the Lakeshore Drive area of Birmingham, Alabama. S&ME, Inc. is authorized to possess and use radioactive material under their Alabama Radioactive Material License No.1273. The event had occurred less than one hour from [the licensee's notification] call and the Birmingham Police Department had been notified and were in route. The stolen gauge was identified as a CPN model MC-3, serial number M300405612, with 10 millicuries of Cs-137 (sealed source serial number 1148GC), and 50 millicuries of Am-241:Be (sealed source serial number 7139NE). [The licensee] indicated that the gauge transport case was chained to the bed of the pickup. [The licensee] indicated that the truck contained other valuable equipment including a cement mixer. [The licensee] is presently in route to the site of the event. This is all the information that [the State] has at this time."
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 42167 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: KOONEY X-RAY, INC
Region: 4
City: Houston State: TX
County:
License #: L01074
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LATISCHA HANSON
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 11/23/2005
Notification Time: 14:39 [ET]
Event Date: 11/23/2005
Event Time: 12:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/23/2005 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
LINDA SMITH (R4)
SCOTT FLANDERS (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION ON RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA
The State reported that a licensee, Kooney X-Ray Inc., shipped a radiography camera (Model #150; S/N 197) to QSA Global in Baton Rouge, LA, for replacement of the iridium-192 camera source. When the camera arrived and was inspected at QSA Global, low-level radioactive contamination was found on the camera. A wipe test (swipe area not specified) revealed a contamination level of 0.0059 microcuries. The acceptance limit for QSA Global is 0.0050 microcuries. QSA Global believes that the contamination is from depleted uranium shielding in the camera S-tube and not from the currently installed iridium-192 source. Kooney X-ray has requested that QSA Global return the camera. Kooney plans to have the camera S-tube repaired as necessary. The State reported that the contamination was confined to the camera and this event did not result in any personnel or uncontrolled contamination on any other items.
Texas Report Number 8278 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 42169 | Facility: KEWAUNEE
Region: 3 State: WI
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: ETHAN TREPTOW
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 11/25/2005
Notification Time: 18:10 [ET]
Event Date: 11/25/2005
Event Time: 16:24 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/25/2005 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
| Person (Organization):
RICHARD SKOKOWSKI (R3)
FRANK GILLESPIE (NRR)
MELVYN LEACH (IRD)
HILLS (DHS)
LIGETT (FEMA)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 0 | Startup | 0 | Startup | Event Text UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE FOLLOWING A CARDOX RELEASE
"At 16:09 CST, the Control Room received a fire alarm on the Main Generator and actuation of the fire protection system. The Main Generator is protected by Carbon Dioxide for fire protection purposes. There was no evidence of a fire at the Main Generator. Air sampling of the Cardox Storage Tank Room indicated Carbon Dioxide levels at life threatening levels. An Unusual Event was declared at 1624 CST based on Emergency Action Level Chart P 'External Events and Chemical Spills' for a release of toxic or flammable gas on site AND portable monitors indicate toxic or explosive concentrations at life threatening levels of the gas near the spill area."
There were no personnel injuries reported and the licensee is conducting a survey to account for personnel. Ventilation of the affected areas is in progress to reduce the toxic gas levels.
The licensee informed state/local agencies and the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 2105 EST ON 11/25/05 FROM SCOTT CIESLEWICZ TO S.SANDIN * * *
"[The] declaration of Unusual Event has been terminated [at 1915 CST on 11/25/05]. The Control Room received a fire alarm on the Main Generator and actuation of the fire protection system. The Main Generator is protected by Carbon Dioxide for fire protection purposes. There was no evidence of a fire at the Main Generator. [The] source of Carbon Dioxide gas has been isolated. The area with [the] life threatening concentration of Carbon Dioxide has been ventilated. [The] plant no longer has any areas with [a] toxic concentration of Carbon Dioxide at the life threatening levels. Normal plant operation continues."
The licensee is continuing their investigation into the cause of the Cardox discharge.
The licensee informed stat/local agencies and the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R3DO(Skokowski), NRR (Gillespie), IRD (Leach), DHS (Akers) and FEMA (Ligett). |
| Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 42170 | Facility: PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
Region: 2
City: PIKETON State: OH
County: PIKE
License #: GDP-2
Agreement: Y
Docket: 0707002
NRC Notified By: ERIC R. SPAETH
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 11/26/2005
Notification Time: 04:09 [ET]
Event Date: 11/25/2005
Event Time: 21:20 [EST]
Last Update Date: 11/26/2005 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT
| Person (Organization):
KERRY LANDIS (R2)
ALLISON (EPA)
MIKE WYATT (DOE)
CHRIS LIGGET (FEMA)
INEY (HHS)
OPS CENTER (USDA)
| Event Text OIL SPILL ON PLANT SITE
"On 11/25/05 at approximately 2120 hours, an oil spill occurred on plant site. During normal shift rounds, Power Operations observed oil coming from the overflow of an oil storage tank associated with the X-530 345KV under ground oil pumping station. A pump failed to shut off as required, allowing oil to be pumped to the storage tank until operator intervention shut down the pump.
"At 0020, 11/26/2005 hours, The Plant Shift Superintendent notified the National Response Center and the Ohio EPA that a Reportable Quantity (RQ) of insulating oil (Polybutene) was released to the ground. No material left the immediate area and clean-up of the spill is currently in progress.
"UE2-RA-RE1030, Appendix D, section P requires a 4 hour NRC event when other government agencies are notified."
The licensee reported this event to the National Response Center as report number 780580. The licensee notified NRC Region 2 (Hartland). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 42171 | Facility: OCONEE
Region: 2 State: SC
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] B&W-L-LP,[3] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: NOEL CLARKSON
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT | Notification Date: 11/27/2005
Notification Time: 11:11 [ET]
Event Date: 11/27/2005
Event Time: 05:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 11/27/2005 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
| Person (Organization):
KERRY LANDIS (R2)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | N | 0 | Hot Standby | 0 | Hot Standby | Event Text LOSS AND RESTORATION OF BACK-UP INSTRUMENT AIR TO FEEDWATER CONTROL VALVES
"Event:
"At 0530 hours on 11/27/2005, while in Mode 3 following a Unit 2 refueling outage, it was discovered that the nitrogen backup supply to 2FDW-315 and 2FDW-316 was valved out. 2FDW-315 and 2FDW-316 are the emergency feedwater (EFW) control valves which function to regulate steam generator level on a loss of main feedwater event. Motive force to these valves is normally supplied by instrument air and nitrogen provides backup to instrument air in the event that instrument air becomes unavailable. At 0530 hours on 11/27/2005, both EFW flow paths were declared inoperable and Technical Specification 3.7.5, Conditions B and E were entered. Condition E of TS 3.7.5 specifically deals with the inoperability of two EFW flow paths. The Required Action is to initiate actions to restore one EFW flow path to operable status, immediately.
"Initial Safety Significance:
"2FDW-315 and 2FDW-316 are the control valves for the Unit 2 'A' and 'B' steam generators, respectively. These valves must be able to function in order to control steam generator level during an event where main feedwater is lost. The motive force for these valves is normally instrument air. However, in the unlikely event where main feedwater is lost, and instrument air is unavailable, these valves rely on a nitrogen backup to supply their motive force. The events where this nitrogen backup is credited are a station blackout (SBO) and a loss of instrument air. While nitrogen backup to 2FDW-315 and 2FDW-316 was unavailable between 0530 hours and 0710 hours on 11/27/2005, it is reasonable to assume that the ability to remove decay heat would have been available. In the case of a loss of instrument air, 2FDW-315 and 2FDW-316 fail open, with the motor driven EFW pumps providing EFW supply to both steam generators. In this case, the Emergency Operating Procedure (EOP) provides guidance to realign EFW through the electric powered startup control valves. Should this realignment attempt fail, the EOP provides further guidance to control EFW flow by manually throttling closed on 2FDW-315 and 2FDW-316. In the event of an SBO, power to the instrument air compressors would be lost, resulting in a loss of instrument air header pressure. The motor driven EFW pumps would be unavailable, however, the turbine driven EFW pump would automatically start and provide EFW flow. As with the loss of instrument air event, 2FDW-315 and 2FDW316 would fail open. The EOP provides guidance to dispatch operators to manually throttle closed on these valves to control flow to the steam generators. Additionally, while not credited for this event, Oconee has diesel driven air compressors which auto start on low instrument air pressure and supply the instrument air header. Also, in the event of a SBO, the Standby Shutdown Facility (SSF) is manned within 10 minutes of event initiation. The SSF is a SBO coping facility with a dedicated diesel generator and the pumps and valves necessary to supply and control steam generator feed in the event of an SBO.
"Corrective Action(s):
"At 0702 hours on 11/27/2005, nitrogen was realigned to 2FDW-316 and TS 3.7.5, Condition E was exited. At 0710 hours on 11/27/2005, nitrogen was realigned to 2FDW-315 and TS 3.7.5 Condition B was exited."
The licensee is investigating the cause of the valve line up problem. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |