U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 09/30/2008 - 10/01/2008 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 44514 | Facility: BWX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION Comments: HEU FABRICATION & SCRAP Region: 2 City: LYNCHBURG State: VA County: CAMPBELL License #: SNM-42 Agreement: N Docket: 070-27 NRC Notified By: CHERYL GOFF HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 09/23/2008 Notification Time: 13:01 [ET] Event Date: 09/23/2008 Event Time: 12:15 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/23/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: PART 70 APP A (c) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION/NEWS REL | Person (Organization): MIKE ERNSTES (R2) LARRY CAMPBELL (NMSS) FUELS OUO GRP email () | Event Text MEDIA INQUIRY CONCERNING UPCOMING LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW "Below are the responses to questions BWXT received from [DELETED] at the News & Advance of Lynchburg, VA, and the BWXT responses. "Q: In the past year, there have been a number of 'notices of violation' from NRC regarding events at BWXT. Several of these violations or apparent violations involved Raschig Ring-filled Vacuum Cleaners - one overturned from a forklift last year and spilled some nuclear material; later there was a situation in which one of the RRVCs did not have enough raschig rings in it, etc.-and one other incident involved an employee being splashed with a solution that contained some nuclear material. In what ways has the company responded to these events? What measures have been taken to correct procedures and prevent further occurrences? "A: The company has performed detailed incident investigations and identified corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence of these types of incidents. For example, in the case of the RRVCs we have developed and are implementing a new vacuum cleaner design that no longer requires the use of Raschig rings. In the case of the chemical spill, the company has strengthened its chemical spill response procedures. "Q: How does the company anticipate the performance review to go? "A: We appreciate the opportunity to receive feedback from the NRC on our performance on an annual basis. This feedback is valuable to us as we strive to continuously improve our operating and safety performance. We look forward to discussing our safety and operational successes and improvements at the meeting. "Q: Some of BWXT's operations are classified; Do you know how detailed the performance review presentation will be? "A: For specifics about the NRC's presentation, it would be better to contact the NRC. I can tell you that the information we plan to present will be detailed enough to explain our successes and improvements without revealing any classified information. | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44518 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV Licensee: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CONSUMER PRODUCTS Region: 4 City: ZACHARY State: LA County: License #: LA-2162-L01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: RICHARD PENROD HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/25/2008 Notification Time: 16:07 [ET] Event Date: 09/17/2008 Event Time: 03:20 [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/25/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): LINDA SMITH (R4) REBECCA TADESSE (FSME) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHIELDING PLATE FELL OFF KR-85 MEASURING DEVICE "On September 17, 2008, at 3:20 a.m. the Radiation Safety Officer for Georgia-Pacific called the answering service for radiation incidents after hours. He stated that the screws on a Honeywell Measurex unit, model 4201 had backed out and a shielding plate fell off leaving a 1 Ci Kr-85 source exposed. He stated that the operator had roped off the area around the paper machine to prevent access and exposure. The operator described the time and distance to the source and it was determined that any exposure would have been minimal. Honeywell International, license LA-10814-L01 was contacted for servicing and packaging of the unit. The service tech was to be at the facility September 17, 2008 around 4:00 p.m. because he was traveling from out of state. The facility will follow up with a report and additional information concerning this incident." Louisiana Incident: LA0800019 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44520 | Rep Org: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH Licensee: J.A. CESARE Region: 4 City: HENDERSON State: NV County: License #: 00-11-0295-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ERIC MATUS HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/25/2008 Notification Time: 17:52 [ET] Event Date: 09/25/2008 Event Time: 08:45 [PDT] Last Update Date: 09/26/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): LINDA SMITH (R4) REBECCA TADESSE (FSME) ILTAB (via e-mail) () | This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE A moisture density gauge was stolen from the J.A. Cesare company in Henderson, NV between 0300 and 0500 on 9/25/2008. A state investigator is at the scene but has not reported details of the theft at this time. Serial Number: MD90204856 Sources: 10 mCi Cs-137 and 50 mCi Am-241/Be Additional information will be reported on 9/26/2008. * * * UPDATE ON 9/26/08 AT 1713 EDT FROM MATUS TO HUFFMAN * * * The State reports that the stolen moisture density gauge has been recovered by police at a pawn shop. The gauge had not been tampered with and has been returned to the licensee's RSO. It was determined that the gauge was left in a company vehicle in the licensee's parking lot when it was originally stolen. The State also noted that the gauge was actually a CPN Model MC-1DR (preliminary information had indicated that the gauge was a Troxler). Notified R4DO (Jones), FSME (Tadesse), and ILTAB (e-mail). 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. | Hospital | Event Number: 44522 | Rep Org: VA MEDICAL CENTER JACKSON Licensee: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Region: 4 City: JACKSON State: MS County: License #: 03-23853-01VA Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ED LEIDHOLDT HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/25/2008 Notification Time: 20:12 [ET] Event Date: 09/24/2008 Event Time: [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/25/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 35.3045(a)(1) - DOSE <> PRESCRIBED DOSAGE | Person (Organization): REBECCA TADESSE (FSME) JAMNES CAMERON (R3) | Event Text MEDICAL DOSE LESS THAN 80% OF PRESCRIBED DOSE "In response to medical events discovered at the VA Medical Center Philadelphia, which have been reported under Event Number 44219, reviews are ongoing of samples of patient charts from other VA facilities with permanent prostate seed implant brachytherapy programs. "As the result of these ongoing reviews, possible medical events were discovered on September 24, 2008, for 7 patients treated at the VA Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. "These 7 possible medical events involved seed distributions in the patients that may result in D90 doses less than 80% of the prescribed doses. These circumstances are interpreted as meeting the definition of a medical event under 10 CFR 35.3045. (The D90 is the dose that covers 90% of the volume of the prostate.) "The VHA National Health Physics Program will ensure that the medical center follows NRC requirements for notification of the patients. These treatments and their possible effects on the patients are under review by medical experts. "A 15-day written report of these 7 possible medical events will be submitted to NRC Region III. We will notify our NRC Project Manager, Cassandra Frazier (NRC Region III), of these possible medical events. "Additional Information "Department of Veterans Affairs has a Master Materials License (MML) from the NRC: License No. 03-23853-01VA. Permits are issued under the MML to VA facilities. The VA submits reports to the NRC through the VHA's National Health Physics Program office located in North Little Rock, AR. "Address of permittee involved in this event: VA Medical Center, 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39216. "VHA permit number of permittee involved in event: Permit No. 23-08786-01." A "Medical Event" may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient. | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44523 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: GROUND TECHNOLOGY INC Region: 4 City: HOUSTON State: TX County: License #: 05125 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/26/2008 Notification Time: 17:24 [ET] Event Date: 09/26/2008 Event Time: [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/26/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): WILLIAM JONES (R4) REBECCA TADESSE (FSME) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE "The licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) called and informed the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] that a moisture density gauge had been damaged while it was being used at a work site. The worker had stored the sources in the safe condition and left the gauge at the side of the road he was working on to get a drink of water. Before he returned to the gauge, it was struck by a truck passing by on the road and the gauge rod on the top side of the gauge was bent and the gauge case was damaged. The sources both remained shielded. A service company (Component Sales) has been called to pick up the gauge and conduct an inspection of the device. The gauge is a Troxler Model 3440 ser # 23586 containing a 8 millicurie Cesium (Cs) 137 source and a 40 millicurie Americium (Am) - 241 Beryllium source." Texas Incident # I-8566 | Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 44528 | Rep Org: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC Licensee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC Region: 4 City: HOUSTON State: TX County: License #: OK-00502-03 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: STEVE WOODS HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/30/2008 Notification Time: 16:09 [ET] Event Date: 09/30/2008 Event Time: [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/30/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X | Person (Organization): RUSS BYWATER (R4) MICHELE BURGESS (FSME) | This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text SOURCES LOST AT SEA WITH DRILLING RIG "Please accept this as the preliminary notification of two devices which are currently being searched for as a result of the recent hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico. The devices are located on drilling rig ENSCO 74 however the rig has not been located. The rig owner is currently searching for the rig. The status was reported as follows: Ensco 74 "Legs are still on location leaning over. Legs appear to have broken off below barge. "Rig has not been located yet. "Since rig was in SMI 149 this block is close to deeper water and may be afloat or on bottom. [NOTE: this location is off the Louisiana coast] "This rig has two densometer V32-0571 with source XA-417 and W25-599 with source DB-455 both are 10 mCi Cs-137 sources. I will advise when the rig is located either above or below water." 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. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 44530 | Facility: VERMONT YANKEE Region: 1 State: VT Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4 NRC Notified By: DAN JEFFRIES HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/30/2008 Notification Time: 20:44 [ET] Event Date: 09/30/2008 Event Time: 19:42 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/30/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE | Person (Organization): JOHN WHITE (R1) | 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 PRIMARY OFFSITE NOTIFICATION CAPABILITY "Loss of the Ames Hill NOAA transmitter [due to an] interrupted phone link between Albany and Ames Hill. Caused by a 'corruption' of the AT&T phone line between Albany and Ames Hill. This condition interrupted/interfered with the radio [frequency] link between WTSA radio station and the Ames Hill transmitter. "Turn[ed] off corrupting phone lines interfering with radio frequency communications between Ames Hill transmitter and WTSA radio station. AT&T [was] contacted to repair phone line." The normal configuration is the phone line is used for the primary signal and the radio link to WTSA radio station is for backup capability. The licensee will be notifying the NRC Resident Inspector. * * * UPDATE @ 2214 EDT ON 9/30/08 FROM JEFFRIES TO CROUCH * * * The licensee reported that offsite notification capability was restored at 2105 EDT by disconnecting the corrupted phone line which automatically switched the radio signal to WTSA radio station as the primary signal for activation. The radio station performed a silent test to verify functionality. The licensee will be notifying the NRC Resident Inspector of this update. Notified R1DO (White). | |