Event Notification Report for August 4, 2008

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
08/01/2008 - 08/04/2008

** EVENT NUMBERS **


44375 44380

To top of page
General Information or Other Event Number: 44375
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: RONE ENGINEERING SERVICES
Region: 4
City: DALLAS State: TX
County:
License #: L02356
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 07/30/2008
Notification Time: 17:29 [ET]
Event Date: 07/30/2008
Event Time: 14:31 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/30/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4)
KEVIN HSUEH (FSME)
ILTAB VIA E-MAIL ()
MEXICO VIA FAX ()

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TROXLER GAUGE

The following report was provide by the State of Texas via e-mail:

"On 7/30/08 at about 1620 CDT the Agency was notified by a licensee that a moisture/density gauge was being returned from a work location in the city of Rowlett, Texas to its normal storage location via a truck when the user remembered he had left the gauge on the tail gate of the truck outside of it's transportation container. The individual stopped the truck and went to the back of the truck to retrieve the gauge. The gauge was no longer on the tailgate. The individual drove back to the work location via the same path he had traveled, but did not find the gauge on the road or near the road surface. He stated that he found no evidence that the gauge had been hit by a vehicle. After returning to the work location, the individual called his company RSO, who in turn called the State of Texas. The RSO also contacted the City of Rowett Police Department and notified them of the event. The RSO then dispatched four additional trucks to search the area for the gauge. The gauge is a Troxler model 3430 M/D gauge serial #25249 containing one 8 millicurie Cs-137 source ser#75-8052, and one 40 millicurie Am 241 source ser #47-21519. The individual using the gauge stated that he had not traveled for more than 10 minutes before he realized that he had not secured the gauge properly. The RSO stated that they would continue to search for the gauge and notify the State when it is found." The State noted that the source rod had been in the shielded position and locked when it was placed on the tailgate.


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: 44380
Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: DOUG LARAMER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 08/03/2008
Notification Time: 05:29 [ET]
Event Date: 08/03/2008
Event Time: 03:52 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2008
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
Person (Organization):
PATTY PELKE (R3)
BRIAN McDERMOTT (IRD)
SAMSON LEE (NRR)
CALDWELL (R3)
JOHN FROST (DHS)
GENE CANUPP (FEMA)
JIM WIGGINS (NRR)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 28 Power Operation 28 Power Operation

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT - HYDRAZINE LEAK IN NON-VITAL AREA OF THE TURBINE BUILDING

"A hydrazine leak has occurred in the Unit 1 Turbine Building sump area approaching levels (IDLH) Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. An NUE was declared @ 0352 CST. At this point, the leak is not within or contiguous to any vital areas. The area has been evacuated, accountability is complete, and no injuries have resulted due to the leak."

The leak is ongoing in the area of the condensate and heater drain pumps. The licensee stopped adding hydrazine to the condensate at 1800 CDT on 8/2/2008.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector

* * * UPDATE RECEIVED ON 08/03/08 AT 2340 EDT FROM JENSEN TO NORWOOD * * *

Licensee terminated from Unusual Event EAL HU3.1, Release of Toxic or flammable gases deemed detrimental to normal operation of the plant at 2220 hours CDT. Criteria used to exit - Three (3) consecutive air samples had less than detectable limits of hydrazine for the entire area. No press release scheduled. Current plant condition - Mode 1, 100% power.

Licensee notified NRC Resident Inspector, State, Local, and tribal authorities.

Notified NRR EO (Samson Lee), IRD (McDermott), R3DO (Pelke), DHS (Frost), and FEMA (LaForty).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021