Event Notification Report for August 16, 2006

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
08/15/2006 - 08/16/2006

** EVENT NUMBERS **


42760 42765 42771 42776 42777 42778 42779

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General Information or Other Event Number: 42760
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES
Region: 4
City: EL PASO State: TX
County:
License #: L02476
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 08/10/2006
Notification Time: 11:07 [ET]
Event Date: 08/09/2006
Event Time: 16:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/10/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RUSSELL BYWATER (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
ILTAB (via email) ()
MEXICO (via fax) ()

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The State provided the following information via email:

"A Moister density gauge ( Troxler 3440 - Ser # 19048) was stolen on 8/9/06 at about 1600 in El Paso Texas. The gauge was stolen from the storage area at the facility. There appears to be no signs of forced entry to the area. A Police report was filed. The EPPD was to coordinate with the jurisdictional police department to visit the prime suspect (former PSI employee) yesterday evening (8/9/06). Locks at the facility are being changed. The local scrap yards and the Texas Association of Pawnbrokers have been notified. The source information is 1 Cs-137 source serial # 50-8685 8 mCi, and AmBe serial # 4714512 40 mCi. The licensee will provide a written report as soon as all the information is gathered."

Texas incident # I - 8354

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

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.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 42765
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: GEO TEK, INC
Region: 4
City: VISTA State: CA
County: SAN DIEGO
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL
Notification Date: 08/11/2006
Notification Time: 14:36 [ET]
Event Date: 08/11/2006
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/11/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RUSSELL BYWATER (R4)
CINDY FLANNERY (NMSS)
ILTAB E-MAIL ()
MEXICO VIA FAX ()

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The State provided the following information via email:

"The RSO called RHB this morning to report a missing gauge that he believes was stolen. He personally had placed the gauge in the locked storage location in Vista, CA on Wednesday, August 2, 2006. The gauge user that normally uses this gauge states he used a different one on August 3 - 4, 2006, but did not sign the in and out log on those two days. That user was on vacation Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday August 9 - 10, he did sign out a different gauge. On August 9, that user asked the RSO what had happened to the gauge he normally used. The RSO said it was either in the storage locker, or someone else had checked it out. The RSO decided to perform a full inventory of the gauges on Friday morning, the 11th. It was at this point that the RSO discovered that gauge was missing. The storage location is locked, and the gauges are stored in a locked area within that location. Nothing else was apparently taken, although there are several other gauges stored there. The RSO reported this to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, who will be investigating. The RSO also stated he would post a reward in a local paper. The RSO has contacted all the gauge users, and they state they have no information about the whereabouts of this gauge. The gauge is a Troxler, Model 3440, with a nominal 9 mCi Cs-137 and 44 mCi Am-241. RHB will follow up with the licensee."

The licensee will post reward in either San Diego Union Tribune or North County Times.

* * *UPDATE PROVIDED BY HAMERICK TO KOZAL VIA E-MAIL ON 8/11/06 AT 1808* * *

"Earlier today the California Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) provided a report regarding a stolen moisture-density gauge from Geo Tek, Inc. The RSO from Geo Tek just called, and the gauge had been taken out three days ago by an authorized technician who failed to record it being checked out on the daily log. As of now, all gauges owned by Geo Tek are accounted for and in their locked storage area. RHB will follow up with the licensee regarding the potential procedural violations."

Notified R4DO (Gody), NMSS (Holahan), ILTAB (e-mail), Mexico (via fax)

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

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.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42771
Facility: SAINT LUCIE
Region: 2 State: FL
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: JOHN BRADY
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 13:23 [ET]
Event Date: 08/15/2006
Event Time: 10:15 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
MARK LESSER (R2)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

LOSS OF ERDADS COMMUNICATION

"On 08/15/2006 during performance of the quarterly ERDADS functional communications test, the ERDADS communication link from the U1 Control Room to the NRC Operations Center was determined to be unavailable. Initial notification was made to the NRC Operations Center and the communications vendor was contacted to investigate the source of the problem. Subsequent notification was made by the vendor to the Site identifying that the communications failure was occurring within the portion of the system under control of the Site. Troubleshooting by the Site is in progress. Note: the U2 ERDADS communication link tested satisfactory. This non emergency notification is being made pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) regarding loss of communications capability."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42776
Facility: CALVERT CLIFFS
Region: 1 State: MD
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: TOM JONES
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 16:36 [ET]
Event Date: 08/15/2006
Event Time: 13:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT
Person (Organization):
RAYMOND LORSON (R1)
ENDANGERED SPECIES (NRR)

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

24-HOUR REPORT OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT INVOLVING UNUSUAL FISH KILL

"Unusual fish kill on both unit's intake trash racks. Approximately 50 Cow Nosed Rays were found dead on the trash racks. The apparent cause was low oxygen levels in the bay water. This event is reportable per Tech Spec Appendix B, Section. 4.1 for significant environmental events."

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 42777
Rep Org: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
Region: 4
City: HONOLULU State: HI
County:
License #: 53-00017-23
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE SAKIMOTO
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 16:56 [ET]
Event Date: 07/13/2006
Event Time: 19:20 [HST]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
GARY JANOSKO (NMSS)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

RESEARCH SAMPLE OF C-14 WAS LOST AT SEA.

The RSO (Irene Sakimoto) for the licensee notified us that while conducting an experiment on a boat at sea (22 degrees 43.48 N and 158 degrees 4.77 W) a sealed source of C-14 (1.8 milliCi) was attached to a line and lowered into the ocean to a depth of 4800 meters. The line became ensnared in the propeller and broke. The sample fell to the bottom of the ocean. The licensee will not be making efforts to retrieve this sealed source.

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

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.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42778
Facility: DIABLO CANYON
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: JOHN WHETSLER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 18:21 [ET]
Event Date: 08/15/2006
Event Time: 10:20 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT
Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)

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

IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT

"The following is being reported in accordance with the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) section 4.1 as an 'unusual or important environmental event' requiring NRC notification within 24-hours:

"During diving operations to clean the intake bar racks, the diver discovered 50 to 100 dead Cormorants. Cormorants are diving sea birds and are common in the DCPP intake cove. They have recently started nesting in larger numbers on a large rock at the southern end of the intake cove, and feed in the intake cove.

"The event did not impact plant operations. It is believed that the birds died of natural causes and collected on the bar racks due to the water currents. To help determine the cause of death, some birds are being saved for testing and analysis.

"DCPP will submit a written report within 30 days in accordance with section 5.4.2 of the EPP."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42779
Facility: PEACH BOTTOM
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [2] [3] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: ERIC CARR
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 18:47 [ET]
Event Date: 08/15/2006
Event Time: 18:14 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
Person (Organization):
RAYMOND LORSON (R1)
PAO-TSIN KUO (NRR)
THOMAS BLOUNT (IRD)
PETE WILSON (IRD)
MARK DEPAS (R1)
BRIAN HOLIAN (R1)
GREG GRAY (DHS)
DAVID BARDEN (FEMA)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N Y 98 Power Operation 98 Power Operation
3 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO FIRE ON ROOF OF EDG BUILDING

"During a 24 hour endurance run of the E3 Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG), a small fire occurred on the roof of the E3 EDG Building. Fire reported at 1759, UE declared at 1814. E3 was approximately 19 hours into the full load run. E3 was immediately shut down. As of 1835 the fire was reported out and no offsite assistance was required."

The licensee is investigating the cause of the fire.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATE FROM L. KEENER TO W. GOTT AT 2044 ON 08/15/06 * * *

Licensee terminated the Unusual Event at 2040. Conditions to secure were that the fire was out and overhauled and the E3 EDG fuel racks tripped. The E3 EDG is considered inoperable and not available (14 day shutdown LCO).

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified R1DO (R. Lorson), NRR EO (P.T. Kuo), IRD (P. Wilson), DHS (M. Charter), FEMA (D. Barden)

* * * UPDATE FROM SULLIVAN TO HUFFMAN AT 0010 ON 8/16/06 * * *

The licensee will be issuing a press release about the Unusual Event. R1DO( Lorson) notified.

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