Event Notification Report for August 24, 2006

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
08/23/2006 - 08/24/2006

** EVENT NUMBERS **


42784 42785 42790 42791 42792 42795 42797

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General Information or Other Event Number: 42784
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: HCA/GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
Region: 4
City: LOS GATOS State: CA
County:
License #: CA1731-43
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENT PRENDERGAST
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 08/18/2006
Notification Time: 15:17 [ET]
Event Date: 08/14/2006
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/18/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK SOURCE

The State provided the following information via email:

"Problems were encountered during a Varian HDR source exchange during the evening of 8/14/06. While attempting to replace the source on a Varian Medical System's VariSource HDR unit, the new active source (Ir-192, 9 curies) got stuck in a transfer tube. Following placement of shielding, the source was freed and placed in the transport pig by noon on 8/15/06. A new source was delivered, and was successfully installed during the evening of 8/16/06."

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General Information or Other Event Number: 42785
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: RANEY GEOTECHNICAL
Region: 4
City: OROVILLE State: CA
County:
License #: 3497-57
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KEN FUREY
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 08/18/2006
Notification Time: 15:40 [ET]
Event Date: 08/17/2006
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/18/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
ILTAB (VIA EMAIL) ()
MEXICO (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 facsimile:

"A Troxler 3430, serial # 35800 was stolen out of the back of a pickup truck parked at the RSO's residence on the evening of 8/17/06. The lock securing the gauge was cut. The gauge was found three blocks away from the RSO's residence on the morning of 8/18/06 in a ditch. A leak test of the gauge is being performed this same date. An inspection of Raney Geotechnical will be performed on 8/22/06."

A Troxler 3430 typically contains:
8 mCuries Cs-137
40 mCuries Am-241:Be

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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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 42790
Rep Org: PENNONI ASSOCIATES
Licensee: PENNONI ASSOCIATES
Region: 1
City: BETHLEHEM State: PA
County:
License #: 37-1763702
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CHARLES SNYDER
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA
Notification Date: 08/21/2006
Notification Time: 09:47 [ET]
Event Date: 08/19/2006
Event Time: 23:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/23/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
RICHARD CONTE (R1)
MICHELE BURGESS (NMSS)
AARON DANIS (TAS)

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

Event Text

LOST MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

On Saturday August 19, 2006 at approximately 11:00 p.m., an employee of Pennoni Associates loaned his private, passenger vehicle to his sister to perform a short errand. Inside the trunk, the vehicle contained a Humboldt Model 5001 moisture density gauge, serial number 4746, with 10 milli Curies of Cs-137 and 40 milli Curies of Am-241/Be. The employee has not seen his vehicle since and contacted the Bethlehem City Police Department. The licensee is continuing the investigation as to the whereabouts of the gauge and the vehicle.

The licensee contacted the NRC Region I office.

*** UPDATE FROM CHARLES SNYDER TO KNOKE AT 13:07 EDT ON 8/23/06 ***

The RSO (Snyder) indicated that the lost density gauge (sn 4746) was found. The employee, who lent his car to his sister-in-law, retrieved the gauge and returned it to Pennoni Associates. There was no damage to the gauge and the sources were not tampered with. The RSO stated that the sister-in-law emptied the contents out of the car, including the gauge, and then took off with the car without permission. She notified the employee where she dumped the contents, and he came and retrieved it. LLEA is following up on the stolen vehicle.

Contacted the R1DO (Conte) and NMSS ( Burgess) and emailed ILTAB (Danis)

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: 42791
Rep Org: MISSISSIPPI DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: SCHLUMBERGER TECH. CORP.
Region: 4
City:  State: MS
County: JONES COUNTY
License #: MS-463-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: B. J. SMITH
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 08/21/2006
Notification Time: 16:13 [ET]
Event Date: 08/13/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/21/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
TROY PRUETT (R4)
GARY JANOSKO (NMSS)

Event Text

MISSISSIPPI AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SCHLUMBERGER ADANDONS WELL LOGGING TOOL

The State provided the following information via e-mail:


"Received notification on 8-13-06 from Schlumberger that they had logging tool stuck in the G. B. Boots Smith #1 exploration well located Jones County, Mississippi. Logging tool containing 1.7 curie Cesium-137 source (Serial # GSR-J-5031) and a 16 curie American-241: Be source (Serial # NSR-F-2316) was stuck below 17660 feet. Operating company was fishing for logging tool string. Schlumberger discussed initial procedure of abandoning sources with DRH. Fishing operations for logging tool containing sources was unsuccessful and decision was made to abandon tool string in hole. Licensee stated that tool would be cemented in hole with cement plug set at 17100 feet. Operator set approximately 300 feet of cement used on top of 10 bars of 0.75 inch/ 10 foot joints of solid steel rods with the top at 16782 feet. Well was to be completed at a shallower depth.

"Isotope(s) : Cesium-137 & American-241:Be

"Activity: 1.7 Ci Abandoned, 16 Ci Abandoned.

"Date of Incident: 8-8-06

"Date Reported to DRH: 8-13-06

"Were any other licensees involved, if so identify below: None others involved.

"Describe clean-up actions taken by DRH: None taken

"List radiation measurements taken by DRH: No survey reading taken by DRH. Schlumberger surveyed drilling mud during fishing operations and did not observe any reading out of the normal readings.

"List any other actions required of DRH: 30 written report required from licensee. Licensee must also place plaque on well bore signifying that abandoned source is in well bore. DRH will inspect plaque on well head after it is installed.

"List any actions taken to notify NRC, other Agreement States: Notify NRC by e-mail 8-21-06. Notified NMED on 8-21-06 by e-mail.

"Case Closed: No

"Record of incident in RAM files: Yes

"Enforcement action taken: None taken. Abandonment of sources not licensee's fault. No corrective actions required."

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General Information or Other Event Number: 42792
Rep Org: NEW MEXICO RAD CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: A. S. HORNER, INC.
Region: 4
City: ALBUQUERQUE State: NM
County:
License #: DM375-03
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: WALTER MEDINA
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 08/21/2006
Notification Time: 20:02 [ET]
Event Date: 08/18/2006
Event Time: 17:30 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 08/21/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
TROY PRUETT (R4)
GARY JANOSKO (NMSS)
ILTAB (E-MAILED) ()
MEXICO (E-MAILED) ()

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

Event Text

NEW MEXICO AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE.

This State provided the following information via e-mail:


"This is to notify you that the Density/Moisture Gauge, Seaman C-300 with serial number 21049, was stolen from the back of a pickup, parked at 10216 Andalusian, SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121 sometime between August 18, 5:30 PM and August 20, 3:30PM. The assigned employee, [deleted], the field monitor for A. S. Horner, worked late last Friday, August 18th and instead of taking the gauge to either a project office or the main office and storing it in a locked closet, decided to park the truck backed against the garage door at his residence noted above. The gauge handle was locked, stored in the approved container, that was also locked and the container itself was secured to the bed of the pickup with a chain and a lock. Mr. [deleted] was out of town for the weekend and upon his return at about 3:30 PM on Sunday, he noticed the entire box was gone. Two cut locks were found on the bed of the pickup. There must have been more than one person committing this crime to pickup the heavy box from the rear of the vehicle.

"Mr. [deleted] immediately notified the police and the fire department, who cordoned off the area first, then interviewed. Mr. [deleted] and took pictures of the vehicle and the area. Mr. [deleted] searched the nearby dumps and did not find any trace of the gauge. The police report will be available shortly. The fire department, as we understand, has notified the hospitals in the area.

"Mr. [deleted] acted in violation of the company policy and we are dealing with this issue. The company has had two moisture/density gauges for more than five years and this is the first incident of this nature. The employees have been instructed to store the gauges in locked closets in the locked buildings inside a fenced area with a locked gate.

"I called the 24 hour emergency number and Mr. [deleted] yesterday at about 5 PM and left messages describing the incident. The exact time of the theft is unknown, however, according to the neighbor of Mr. [deleted], it must have happened on Saturday, August 19, between 2 AM and 7 AM, when he noticed that the tool box was open but nothing was missing from the tool box. The neighbor did not notice the box in the back of the vehicle was missing.

"Please let me know if there is anything else I need to do other than keep in close contact with the police and fire departments on the status of the recovery of this gauge."

Seaman C-300 Moisture Density Gauge contains approximately 10 millicuries of Cesium-137 and 40 millicuries of Americium-241.


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: 42795
Facility: TURKEY POINT
Region: 2 State: FL
Unit: [3] [4] [ ]
RX Type: [3] W-3-LP,[4] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: PAUL RIEMERS
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 08/23/2006
Notification Time: 11:23 [ET]
Event Date: 08/23/2006
Event Time: 09:40 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/23/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
MALCOLM WIDMANN (R2)

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

Event Text

POTENTIAL NEWS WORTHY EVENT

"On 08/23/06 at 0940, Turkey Point Nuclear Station was informed of a possible news release concerning the activities of a non-supervisor initial operator student. The initiating activities in question occurred prior to the employment of the individual at Florida Power and Light and have resulted in the recent off site arrest of the student on felony charges. Plant access was suspended immediately upon supervisor notification pending further investigation."

Florida Power and Light and Turkey Point were not mentioned in the initial news release.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42797
Facility: INDIAN POINT
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] W-4-LP,[3] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: NICK LIZZO
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 08/23/2006
Notification Time: 13:19 [ET]
Event Date: 08/23/2006
Event Time: 10:35 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/23/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
RICHARD CONTE (R1)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

MANUAL SCRAM DUE TO MISMATCH OF PRIMARY POWER AND SECONDARY LOAD INDICATIONS

"On August 23, 2006, at 1035 hours, the Reactor Protection System was manually actuated while at reduced load of approximately 68 percent reactor power upon indication of an apparent disparity in net electric load. It was determined that the cyclic operation of the condenser steam dumps varied steam to the turbine resulting in the indicated drop in electrical output power from about 500 Mwe to 150 Mwe. The manual trip is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv). The event started when heater drain tank pumps 21 and 22 tripped, apparently due to a failure of the automatic heater drain level control valves that could not be manually corrected from the single controller. Reactor operators reduced load in accordance with station procedures to respond to the trip of the heater drain tank pumps and stabilized reactor power at 77%. As a result of the required load reduction delta flux was outside of the operational limit envelope specified at 77% reactor power. This required a further load reduction to less than 50 percent as per Technical Specification 3.2.3. At approximately 68% percent power the reactor was manually tripped due to the mismatch of primary power and secondary load indications. The Auxiliary Feedwater System actuated following the manual trip as expected. This is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A). A high-high water level signal was received on the 22 Steam Generator. This was due to a feedwater regulating valve that did not fully close. The feedwater isolation valves closed. All other safety systems actuated as required and safety equipment operated as expected. The Emergency Diesel Generators did not start as offsite power remained available and stable. No primary or secondary relief valves lifted. The plant is in Hot Standby at normal temperature and pressure with residual heat removal using auxiliary feedwater and normal heat removal through the condenser via steam dumps. There was no radiation released. A post trip investigation will be performed prior to restart."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

*** UPDATE FROM GEORGE DAHL TO JOHN KNOKE AT 1830 EDT ON 08/23/06 ***

"This is an update of non-emergency Event Notification 42797 that was previously made on August 23, 2006. Clarification is provided to include reporting of the Event Classification for actuation of a second system (automatic feedwater isolation) as an 8-Hr. Non-Emergency per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A). This update revises the wording as follows:

"The feedwater isolation valve was manually closed. After receipt of the high-high level trip signal, 21, 23, and 24 feedwater isolation valves automatically closed. This is also reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A)."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R1DO (Conte).

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