| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
09/09/2008 - 09/10/2008 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44464 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: SEATTLE State: WA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN C. SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 09/04/2008
Notification Time: 18:13 [ET]
Event Date: 08/08/2008
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/04/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JONES (R4)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
CANADA (via fax) ()
ILTAB (via email) ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A LOST OR STOLEN TRITIUM EXIT SIGN
The following report was received via email from the State of Washington:
"On August 22, 2008 the department received a report of missing GL radioactive material by a property manager of an apartment building in Seattle, Washington. The device is a Tritium exit sign light module, manufactured by Shield Source Incorporated of Ontario, Canada. Calculations indicate that on August 27, 2008, the source activity was 251 GBq (6.8 curies) of Hydrogen-3. The last known location of the device and radioactive source was in an apartment building located at 1535 Bellevue Ave, Seattle, Washington. The device was discovered missing by the apartment manager's maintenance staff sometime around August 8, 2008. When the maintenance person called an exit sign distributor to order a replacement exit sign, the distributor told the individual to report the missing exit sign to the department.
"Keywords: MATERIAL STOLEN AND NOT RECOVERED
"Form of Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE
"Manufacturer: SHIELD SOURCE INC
"Model Number: NR
"Radionuclide or Voltage (kVp/MeV): H-3
"Source Use: SELF LUMINOUS Activity: 6.8 Ci [or] 251.6 GBq
"Device Name: RADIOLUMINESCENT SIGN
"Manufacturer: SHIELD SOURCE INC
"Model Number: EITHER 101 OR 201
"Reference Number: WA-08-059"
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.
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 44469 | Rep Org: OK DEQ RAD MANAGEMENT
Licensee: NONDESTRUCTIVE AND VISUAL INPECTION
Region: 4
City: HOUMA State: LA
County:
License #: LA-5601 L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE BRODERICK
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 09/05/2008
Notification Time: 20:45 [ET]
Event Date: 09/02/2008
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JONES (R4)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - OVEREXPOSURE FROM STUCK RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE
The following information was provided by the State of Oklahoma via e-mail:
"On Tuesday, September 2, radiographers were doing pipeline weld testing near Ardmore, Oklahoma. They were operating in a three man team, the radiographer (who held a current Texas card) would move ahead of the group dropping off film at each weld. Assistant #1 moved behind him putting the film in place on each weld. Assistant #2 followed with the radiography camera balanced behind him on the seat of a 4-wheeled All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and would position the camera and take the shots at each weld. The camera and guide tube where not disassembled between shots.
"At approximately 10 AM Tuesday, the camera fell off the ATV while being transported, and the guide tube bent where it attaches to the camera. One of the assistants was able to straighten the guide tube, and they were able to crank the source in and out, though with increased resistance. They continued working with this guide tube, though they report they had another guide tube available at the site.
"At approximately Noon Tuesday, assistant #2 decided the terrain near the next weld was too rugged to drive the ATV over, so he dismounted and disassembled the radiography setup to carry it to the weld. When he unscrewed the guide tube, he saw the cable inside, and realized the source was not secured inside the camera. The crew was able to retract the source into the camera. Assistant #2's pocket dosimeter was reading off scale. When his alarming rate meter was tested, it did not work.
The utilization log for the morning states that the alarming rate meter did work when checked out in the morning. State investigators could not get the alarming rate meter to work, and they believe the batteries are dead, though they did not test to confirm that. Assistant #2 had a survey meter, but was not checking it at the time of the incident. Note that state investigators found that the crew had two calibrated survey meters, but one of them was damaged and not operational. The crew states that the meter was working at the time of the incident, but had been damaged on Friday morning as the other two crew members continued to work.
"Assistant #2 ceased work, and his badge was sent for emergency processing. The badge provider reports a whole body dose of 16 rem. A representative of the company contacted the state of Oklahoma shortly after receiving the report. The company did not contact Oklahoma before receiving the report. The company states that Louisiana has been informed of the incident.
"Assistant #2 states that he rode the ATV with the camera on the seat of the ATV behind him. Distance from the camera to his body was about one foot, and it is believed that this is similar to the distance from the source to his body. He estimates that he spent 2-3 minutes riding this way between the prior shot and the time he noticed that the source was not properly retracted. The crew states that film from prior shots has been developed and shows no anomalies or signs of overexposure. The crew states that Assistant #2 was the only person who worked with the camera from the time the tube was damaged till the incident was discovered. Assistant #2 states he does not remember whether his badge was on his front pocket or back pocket. If it was worn on his front pocket, the dose reported for him is probably lower than his actual dose.
"A representative of the company is coming from Louisiana to Oklahoma to return Assistant #2 to Louisiana. Oklahoma will encourage the company to have him examined by a physician with a strong radiation background, seeking the advice of the state of Louisiana on a suitable physician.
"The above is a preliminary report based on telephonic communication with DEQ inspectors in the field, and is basically all that is known at this time. It has not been reviewed by the inspectors. DEQ will investigate, do enforcement, and keep NRC and Louisiana informed of the progress of our investigation."
The State noted that Nondestructive and Visual Inspection dba NVI has a Louisiana License (LA-5601 L01) out of Houma, Louisiana and had been operating in Oklahoma under reciprocity. The company home office has been heavily affected by Hurricane Gustav and company staff stated that they had just returned to their office for the first time on 9/5/08.
* * * UPDATE FROM LOUISIANA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (RICHARD PENROD) TO PETE SNYDER ON 9/8/08 AT 1050 EDT * * *
The State of Louisiana provided the following information via facsimile:
This event has been identified State of Louisiana Event Report ID No. LA0800018.
* * * UPDATE FROM MIKE BRODERICK TO PETE SNYDER ON 9/8/08 AT 1040 AND 1144 EDT * * *
The following is a summary of information provided by the State of Oklahoma via e-mail:
The source strength and isotope of the source referred to in the original report was 111 curies of Ir-192. The State of Louisiana requested blood work be done on the exposed individual. The company RSO had been unable to find a physician to do the work in Louisiana because of the recent tropical storm but did solicit help from REAC T/S where blood samples were sent for evaluation on 9/8/08.
Notified R1DO (Lorsen) and FSME (Flannery). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44475 | Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: BILL BODIN
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 09/09/2008
Notification Time: 10:24 [ET]
Event Date: 09/09/2008
Event Time: 05:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
DAVE PASSEHL (R3)
|
| 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 OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO CAR ACCIDENT
"At approximately 0530 CDT hours, a car accident occurred on the driveway of the parking lot at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant. The driver of the vehicle was not a plant employee. The driver left the scene of the accident. Plant security and local law enforcement are investigating. No press release is planned."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, the Emergency Management agencies of Goodhue, Dakota, and Pierce counties, the State of Wisconsin and the Prairie Island Tribal council. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44478 | Facility: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: DUANE SALISBURY
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 09/09/2008
Notification Time: 20:16 [ET]
Event Date: 09/08/2008
Event Time: 19:15 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
| Person (Organization):
WAYNE WALKER (R4)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text NON LICENSED SUPERVISOR TESTED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL
"At approximately 1915 PDT on September 8, 2008 at Columbia Generating Station a non-licensed supervisor was determined to be unfit for scheduled work due to the consumption of alcohol based on a preliminary for cause test. The individual was not allowed to take the watch. The incident is being evaluated in accordance with station procedures and policies. This event is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 26.[719].
"The NRC resident inspector has been notified." | |