| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
11/04/2010 - 11/05/2010 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 46380 | Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: QUALITY INSPECTION AND TESTING INC.
Region: 4
City: DUTCH JOHN State: UT
County: DAGGET
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GWYN GALLOWAY
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 11/01/2010
Notification Time: 13:17 [ET]
Event Date: 10/30/2010
Event Time: 07:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
RAYMOND LORSON (NMSS)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
DENNIS ALLSTON (ILTA)
|
| This material event contains a "Category 2" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA INVOLVED IN A TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT
A previously terminated Quality Inspection and Testing employee gained unauthorized access to keys of a company vehicle loaded with a radiography camera. The individual appeared intent to drive the vehicle to the Rock Springs Airport located in Wyoming when the truck experienced an accident on Highway 191 about 4 miles south of Dutch John, Utah. When the Utah highway patrol drove up to the accident scene, the patrol found the radiography camera outside of the truck. The SPEC Model 150 radiography camera S/N 1195 containing 40 Curies of Ir-192 was undamaged and placed into the custody of a representative of Quality Inspection and Testing Inc. The individual driving the truck was transported to a medical facility. A survey of the site indicated no spread of contamination or radiation levels above background. A survey of the radiography camera revealed no leakage.
The radiography company was a Louisiana licensee with reciprocity in the State of Utah.
Utah Incident Number: 100006
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 46382 | Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: AMES MUNICIPAL
Region: 3
City: AMES MUNICIPAL State: IA
County:
License #: 0147-1-85-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MELANIE RASMUSSON
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 11/01/2010
Notification Time: 17:49 [ET]
Event Date: 11/01/2010
Event Time: 10:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JOHN GIESSNER (R3DO)
CHRISTEPHER MCKENNEY (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHUTTER INDICATOR SHOWED INCORRECT POSITION
The following information was received via email:
"[The licensee Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)], for Ames Municipal, Iowa License 0147-1-85-FG reported [to the state] via phone a 'sticky' shutter for their Texas Nuclear fixed gauge device, model number 5197, Cs-137, 100 mCi (September 1980), serial number B843. The RSO said that during a shutter check this morning at approximately 10:00 a.m. the shutter was in the closed position, however the indicator showed that it was not completely closed. This fixed gauge is usually in the open position as it is a level detection device for the coal hopper. They only close it when doing scheduled work on the machine/hopper that requires the shutter to be closed. He reports that a leak test on October 15th was good and that a radiation worker adjusted a detector on October 28th and was able to close the shutter on that day.
"[The RSO] reports that no employees were exposed to radiation as a result of this event and that they are going to attempt to mitigate the issue on the morning of November 2nd. He will report to the Iowa Department of Public Health for updates." |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 46383 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: SOIL SURVEYS, INC.
Region: 4
City: SALINAS State: CA
County: MONTEREY
License #: 3428-27
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: REZA OMOUR
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 11/01/2010
Notification Time: 19:10 [ET]
Event Date: 11/01/2010
Event Time: 10:15 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
CHRISTEPHER MCKENNEY (FSME)
DENNIS ALLSTON (ILTA)
MEXICO VIA FAX ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was received by e-mail:
"On November 1, 2010, at [1015 PDT] the authorized user from Soil Surveys, Inc., License Number 3428-27, called RHB [Radiologic Health Branch] Richmond, [CA] to notify that a moisture/density gauge was missing from his residence located at Salinas, CA. On October 29, 2010, authorized user checked out the nuclear gauge, Troxler, Model TEL, 3440, S/N 18026 from the permanent storage location to be used on October 30, 2010. The gauge was stored inside the company's transportation truck and parked at the residence indicated above, until November 1, 2010. As the authorized user approached the company's truck the early morning of November 1, 2010, he found out that the two locks that were used to fasten the nuclear gauge case to the bed of the truck were cut with a bolt cutter, and the nuclear gauge was removed with its transportation case from the company's transportation vehicle."
The licensee notified the Salinas Police Department of the incident.
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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
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: 46384 | Rep Org: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: LAS VEGAS PAVING CORP.
Region: 4
City: LAS VEGAS State: NV
County: CLARK
License #: 00-11-0255-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SNEHA RAVIKUMAR
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 11/01/2010
Notification Time: 20:18 [ET]
Event Date: 11/01/2010
Event Time: 10:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
CHRISTEPHER MCKENNEY (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was received via e-mail:
"At approximately 1000 [PDT] today an iron piling fell on top of a portable gauge and left significant damage. The incident happened in a sparsely populated area of Overton, Nevada. The RSO was on his way to the location with a survey meter. The gauge has been moved and a 100 foot perimeter around it has been established.
"The gauge was damaged such that the source tube can be pulled from the shielding. The RSO has secured the source tube in the shielded position and determined that the source is intact. He will be transporting the gauge directly to Instrotek for repairs and will be submitting a written report shortly."
The damaged portable gauge is a Troxler model number 3430; serial number 17916. The gauge sources include Cs-137 (.011Ci); model number A-102112; Serial Number 50-7401 and a sealed source that includes Am-Be (.044 Ci); model number A-102451; Serial number 47-13357.
Nevada Item Number: NV100021 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46387 | Facility: SOUTH TEXAS
Region: 4 State: TX
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: PHIL STONE
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 11/03/2010
Notification Time: 12:09 [ET]
Event Date: 11/03/2010
Event Time: 10:21 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/04/2010 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
JOHN THORP (NRR)
ELMO COLLINS (RA)
BRUCE BOGER (NRR)
WILLIAM GOTT (IRD)
FRED HILL (DHS)
STEVE HOLLIS (FEMA)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | A/R | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Standby | Event Text UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO AN EXPLOSION IN THE PROTECTED AREA WHICH AFFECTS NORMAL OPERATIONS
On November 3, 2010 at 1021 CDT, operators attempted to start the Unit 2 startup feedpump to support a two hour maintenance run. The feeder breaker for the startup feedpump exploded causing an undervoltage condition on Auxiliary Bus 1H and Standby Bus 1H which resulted in an automatic reactor trip due to reactor coolant pump undervoltage. All control rods inserted into the core. At 1038 CDT, the site declared an UNUSUAL EVENT (HU-2) due to an explosion in the protected area which affects normal plant operations. The standby diesel generator (EDG-23) started and loaded to the 'C' train loads which sequenced properly. The auxiliary feedwater system automatically started as expected providing feedwater to the steam generators. The normal feedwater pumps were secured. Decay heat is being removed from Unit 2 using the normal steam dump valves to the main condenser. There is no primary to secondary leakage. The plant is stable and in MODE 3 with no challenges to reactor safety. There was no impact on Unit 1.
At 1240 CDT the licensee terminated the UNUSUAL EVENT.
The licensee is investigating the cause of the breaker explosion and if the other standby diesel generator (EDG-21) should have started due to the undervoltage condition.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE FROM TAPLETT TO KLCO ON 11/3/10 AT 1530 EDT * * *
"A News Release is being planned so this condition is also being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi).
"During the electrical fault condition, some Train A components stopped running although no Train A low voltage ESF actuation occurred, The reason for this occurrence is not fully understood,
"The breaker malfunction did not result in a fire."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.
Notified: R4DO (Spitzberg); NRR (Thorp); R4RA (Collins); NRR (Boger); IRD (Gott) DHS (Hill); FEMA (Hollis)
* * * UPDATE FROM HARRISON TO SNYDER ON 11/4/10 AT 1920 EDT * * *
The licensee called to correct an editorial error in the original report above. The second sentence of the original report above should refer to Auxiliary Bus 2H and Standby Bus 2H since this is a Unit 2 issue.
Notified: R4DO (Spitzberg). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46392 | Facility: INDIAN POINT
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] W-4-LP,[3] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: FRANK KICH
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 11/04/2010
Notification Time: 03:05 [ET]
Event Date: 11/04/2010
Event Time: 01:23 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 11/04/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) - POT UNABLE TO SAFE SD
| Person (Organization):
JOHN WHITE (R1DO)
|
| 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 CHARGING PUMP '23' DECLARED INOPERABLE DURING SURVEILLANCE TESTING
"On November 4, 2010 at 0123 [EDT], '23' Charging Pump was declared inoperable due to not meeting required test parameters during surveillance testing. '23' Charging Pump is required for remote shutdown per Technical Specification 3.3.4, Remote Shutdown, and is a single component system intended to perform the inventory control safety function. Since '23' Charging Pump has been declared inoperable, a loss of safely function has occurred and is reportable per 10CFR50.72 (b)(3)(v)(A).
"The cause of the inoperability is under investigation. Per Technical Specification 3.3.4, Remote Shutdown, '23' Charging Pump must be restored to operable status within 30 days."
The licensee will inform the NY State PSC (Public Service Commission) and the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46394 | Facility: MONTICELLO
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-3
NRC Notified By: BEN COOK
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 11/04/2010
Notification Time: 17:22 [ET]
Event Date: 11/04/2010
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/04/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
JOHN GIESSNER (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 93 | Power Operation | 78 | Power Operation | Event Text CONTAINMENT AIR LOCK DOORS NOT OPERATED PROPERLY
"On November 4, 2010, at 11:28 AM both doors in airlock 124 from secondary containment to access control were simultaneously open for a period <5 seconds. The doors were immediately closed. This condition resulted in an unplanned entry into Technical Specification 3.6.4.1.A for secondary containment. The condition could have prevented the Standby Gas Treatment System from developing a negative pressure within secondary containment following a design basis accident. This negative pressure is required to prevent ground consequences following an accident. The Standby Gas Treatment System remained operable throughout the event."
The licensee was decreasing power at the time of the report for a condition unrelated to the report.
The licensee will notify the Minnesota Duty Officer.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46395 | Facility: SAN ONOFRE
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [ ] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: JOHN CUSTER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 11/04/2010
Notification Time: 22:22 [ET]
Event Date: 11/04/2010
Event Time: 15:04 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 11/04/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 99 | Power Operation | 99 | Power Operation | | 3 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text PORTAL RADIATION MONITOR ALARM ON A SCRAP SHIPMENT
"On November 4, 2010, at approximately 15:04 PDT, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) was notified that scrap circuit breakers salvaged from the SONGS warehouse had alarmed a portal radiation monitor at a metal recycling facility in Los Angeles County. The monitor indicated a reading approximately 40% above background levels. Naturally occurring isotopes in the circuit breakers are suspected to have alarmed the portal monitor. The metal recycling vendor (Alpert and Alpert) called the Los Angeles branch of the California Department of Environmental Health, Radiological Management (Jeff Day) to obtain a special permit authorizing the return shipment to SCE.
"SCE is reporting this event in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi).
"At the time of this report, Unit 2 was operating at 100% power and Unit 3 is defueled."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |