Event Notification Report for September 25, 2007

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
09/24/2007 - 09/25/2007

** EVENT NUMBERS **


43601 43660 43662

To top of page
Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 43601
Rep Org: MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC.
Licensee: NRD
Region: 4
City: BOISE State: ID
County: ADA
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KEVIN LUNDHAGEN
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 08/27/2007
Notification Time: 16:12 [ET]
Event Date: 08/27/2007
Event Time: [MDT]
Last Update Date: 09/24/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
EDWIN HACKETT (FSME)
ILTAB (email) ()

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

Event Text

LOST STATIC ELIMINATORS

On 7/27/07 when completing an inventory, Micron Technology, discovered that nine (9) static eliminators were missing. The company did a thorough search of areas in and around where these instruments were expected to be installed and looked in their warehouse where removed equipment is typically taken when removed from use but the eliminators were not found. The company is continuing its search.

All of the eliminators had Po-210 sources with an activity of about 10 millicuries when purchased. One source was purchased in August of 2003. Four sources were purchased in June of 2005 and four sources were purchased in August of 2005.

The company plans on implementing a number of measures to ensure that eliminators are not lost in the future: 1. A cradle to grave tracking system will be implemented along with; 2. implementation of additional training and; 3. procedures for a more structured process from start to finish.


* * * UPDATE ON 08/31/07 AT 1201 EDT FROM KEVIN LUNDHAGEN TO MACKINNON * * *

4 of the 9 missing static eliminators have been found and they have been confirmed by their serial numbers. The 4 static eliminators were found inside a purge box. They are being shipped back, today 08/31/07, to the license holder, NRD, which is located in Grand Island, New York. Linda Gersey of NRC Region IV asked Micron Technology to update this event with the above information. Micron Technology is still looking for the other 5 missing static eliminators.

FSME EO (S. Wastler) and R4DO (R. Nease) notified. E-mailed to ILTAB.


* * * UPDATE ON 09/24/07 AT 1126 EDT FROM KEVIN LUNDHAGEN TO JOE O'HARA * * *

The 5 remaining static eliminators have been found. The 4 static eliminators were found inside a purge box. They are being shipped back to the license holder, NRD, which is located in Grand Island, New York. The fifth static eliminator was shipped back to the manufacturer in 2004.

FSME EO(M. Burgess) and R4DO(C. Johnson) notified. E-mailed to ILTAB.

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.

To top of page
Power Reactor Event Number: 43660
Facility: MCGUIRE
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: CATHERINE HOFFMAN
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 09/24/2007
Notification Time: 16:44 [ET]
Event Date: 09/24/2007
Event Time: 16:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/24/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
72.74 - CRIT LOSS/THEFT OF SNM
Person (Organization):
BRIAN BONSER (R2)
TIM McGINTY (NRR)
LANCE ENGLISH ILTAB ()
BRIAN McDERMOTT (IRD)

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

LOSS OF CONTROL OF SPENT FUEL SOURCE MATERIAL

"Primary sources belonging to Oconee Nuclear Station were shipped with fuel assemblies to McGuire Nuclear Station. The two fuel assemblies are being stored in McGuire's spent fuel pool. The primary sources are comprised of Americium and Beryllium. The discovery was made after Oconee notified McGuire and requested an inspection of the fuel assemblies."

The fuel assembly shipment from Oconee to McGuire occurred about 20 years ago. Details about the sources are not known at this time. The sources are not lost, but rather it is an accountability situation as to who has possession of the sources. McGuire confirmed it has the sources.

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

To top of page
Fuel Cycle Facility Event Number: 43662
Facility: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
RX Type: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
Comments: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER
                   6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
                   BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200
Region: 2
City: PADUCAH State: KY
County: McCRACKEN
License #: GDP-1
Agreement: Y
Docket: 0707001
NRC Notified By: R.J. COOK
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA
Notification Date: 09/25/2007
Notification Time: 03:11 [ET]
Event Date: 09/25/2007
Event Time: 00:05 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/25/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT
Person (Organization):
BRIAN BONSER (R2)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (FSME)

Event Text

LEAKING SULFURIC ACID TANK

"At 2356 CDT, 9/24/2007, the National Response Center was notified (Report Number 849830) of a leaking sulfuric acid tank located at the C-616 facility. At 0005, 9/25/2007 CDT, the Kentucky Emergency Response Team (Report Number 2007-3170) was notified of this same issue. The tank has developed a leak on the bottom and contains approximately 420 gallons of sulfuric acid which is leaking into a concrete containment dike. This containment dike can be valved to a neutralization pit. The amount of the sulfuric acid which has leaked exceeds the reportable quantity.

"This event is reportable as 'USEC shall notify NRC of any event or situation, related to the health and safety of the public or on-site personnel, or protection of the environment, for which a news release is planned or notification to other government agencies has been or will be made. Such an event may include an on-site fatality or inadvertent release of radioactively contaminated materials.'

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event.

"PGDP Problem Report No. ATRC-07-2542: PGDP Event Report No. PAD-2007-12"

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021