U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 10/17/2011 - 10/18/2011 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | Agreement State | Event Number: 47339 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: METCO Region: 4 City: Houston State: TX County: License #: 03018 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 10/12/2011 Notification Time: 08:30 [ET] Event Date: 10/10/2011 Event Time: 07:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 10/12/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): CHUCK CAIN (R4DO) ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISALIGNMENT IN THE CRANKOUT DEVICE The following was received via fax: "On October 11, 2011, the Agency [state] was notified by the licensee that on October 10, 2011 while performing radiography operations in one of their shooting bays, they were unable to retract an 89 Curie Iridium - 192 source into a SPEC model 150 camera. The licensee used their video surveillance cameras to verify that nothing had fallen on the guide tube to prevent movement of the source. No obstructions were observed. A technician approved for source retrieval inspected the camera and associate equipment and determined that the crankout being used was not working correctly. The crankout was disassembled and the drive cable was pulled by hand until the source returned to the fully shielded and locked position. The licensee inspected the crankout device and found that there was a slight misalignment between the drive cable and the gear. The device was adjusted, tested and operates smoothly. The crankout device will be sent to the manufacturer for further evaluation. No additional exposure was received by any individual during this event." Texas Incident No. I-8890 | Agreement State | Event Number: 47340 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER Region: 4 City: HOUSTON State: TX County: License #: L00466 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 10/13/2011 Notification Time: 14:45 [ET] Event Date: 10/12/2011 Event Time: 14:30 [CDT] Last Update Date: 10/13/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): JACK WHITTEN (R4DO) JAMES DANNA (FSME) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MALFUNCTION OF IRRADIATOR SOURCE DRIVE MECHANISM The following information was received from the Texas Dept of Health Services Investigation Unit Radiation Branch via email: "On October 12, 2011, at 1552 hours CDT, the Agency was notified by the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) that there had been a malfunction identified with [a self contained] irradiator, at the licensee's facility in Houston, Texas. The source was, and had been, in the fully shielded position and therefore did not present a risk of exposure to any individual. The owner/operator within the facility reported to the RSO's staff that the compressor failed on Friday, October 7, 2011, and they were going to get it repaired or replaced. While working to replace/repair the compressor, it was determined that the problem was not the compressor. The licensee was able to open and close the door to the irradiation chamber and apparently make up all the interlocks, but the source failed to move. Finally, it was determined on Wednesday, October 12th at approximately 1430 hrs that the source drive mechanism was failing to move the source. The owner/operator has been in contact with Shepherd to make arrangements for repair. More information will be provided as it is obtained. The irradiator has been posted as out of service. The source is properly shielded as shown by dose rate surveys conducted in the room." Texas Incident Number: I-8892 | Part 21 | Event Number: 47347 | Rep Org: ENGINE SYSTEMS, INC Licensee: ENGINE SYSTEMS, INC Region: 1 City: ROCKY MOUNT State: NC County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: TOM HORNER HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 10/17/2011 Notification Time: 17:19 [ET] Event Date: 10/11/2011 Event Time: [EDT] Last Update Date: 10/17/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH | Person (Organization): PART21 GP via e-mail () MARK LESSER (R2DO) ROBERT DALEY (R3DO) VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4DO) | Event Text PART 21 NOTIFICATION - EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR PISTON DELAMINATION "Engine Systems Inc. (ESI) began a 10CFR21 evaluation on 08/12/11 upon receipt of four piston assemblies returned from Perry Nuclear Plant. It was reported that Perry had performed a maintenance activity whereby they replaced four of their piston assemblies with four refurbished pistons provided by ESI. Following installation of the replacement pistons, it was found that large portions of the tin plating were flaking or smearing off. "The evaluation was concluded on 10/11/11 and determined the piston tin plating delamination to be a reportable defect as defined by 10CFR21 . The delamination was attributed to residual oil impregnated in the ductile cast iron base material of the skirts. The piston assemblies had previously been in service on the emergency diesel generators and were later refurbished by ESI in 2007. A portion of the refurbishment activity consisted of re-tin plating the piston skirts. "ESI is not aware of any absolute methods for ensuring all oils have been removed (or at least to the point that it will not interfere with tin plating adhesion). As a result of this finding, it is ESI's recommendation that piston skirts which have been in service should no longer be re-tin plated." ESI Internal Report Number: 10CFR21-0103, Rev. 0 Potentially affected power plants: Perry, River Bend, Comanche Peak, and Catawba | Power Reactor | Event Number: 47348 | Facility: WATTS BAR Region: 2 State: TN Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: BILL SPRINKLE HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 10/17/2011 Notification Time: 21:33 [ET] Event Date: 10/17/2011 Event Time: 20:50 [EDT] Last Update Date: 10/18/2011 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT 10 CFR Section: 50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED | Person (Organization): MARK LESSER (R2DO) FREDERICK BROWN (NRR) BILL GOTT (IRD) BRUCE BOGER (NRR) VICTOR McCREE (R2RA) | 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 UNIT 1 DECLARED AN UNUSUAL EVENT BASED ON AMMONIA LEVELS EXCEEDING OSHA LIMITS "Normal Operation of WBN [Watts Bar Nuclear] Unit 1 impeded in the Turbine Building, El. 685, West side of the Unit 1 Main condenser due to Toxic Gas (ammonia) concentrations of 75-79 ppm exceeding the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm, and the ACGIH [American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists] limit of 25 ppm. WBN Unit 1 returned to approximately 100% RTP on Monday, October 17, 2011, following a maintenance outage. Suspect excessive ammonia concentrations due to condenser vacuum pump continuous drains which may need throttling open to increase drain flow, following Unit startup. (Ammonia is used to treat feedwater for secondary chemistry control). There have been no injuries from this event. NRC Senior Resident [Inspector] has been notified. (Event Class 4.4.A, Toxic Gas, Unusual Event)." The licensee informed both the State and local agencies. Notified FEMA (Blankenship) and DHS (Konopka). * * * UPDATE FROM BILL SPRINKLE TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 0052 EDT ON 10/18/2011 * * * At 0047 EDT on 10/18/2011, the licensee terminated the Notification of Unusual Event condition based on ammonia concentrations having been reduced to approximately 6 ppm. Normal personnel access to the affected area has been restored. Unit 1 remained at 100% power during this event with no changes or challenges to plant operations. During the event there were no additional EAL designators. During the event there were no significant changes in plant conditions. During the event there were no significant changes in plant radiological conditions. During the event there were no offsite protective recommendations made by the licensee. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and State and local agencies. Notified R2DO (Lesser), NRR EO (Brown), IRD (Morris), DHS (Gates), and FEMA (Blankenship). | Power Reactor | Event Number: 47349 | Facility: TURKEY POINT Region: 2 State: FL Unit: [3] [4] [ ] RX Type: [3] W-3-LP,[4] W-3-LP NRC Notified By: JOSE A VASQUEZ HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 10/18/2011 Notification Time: 03:20 [ET] Event Date: 10/18/2011 Event Time: 00:56 [EDT] Last Update Date: 10/18/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | Person (Organization): MARK LESSER (R2DO) | Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | 3 | N | Y | 55 | Power Operation | 55 | Power Operation | 4 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO WASTE WATER SPILL "This is a four (4) hour Non-Emergency notification to the NRC Operations Center for a notification to other government agency in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi). "On 10/18/2011 at 0056 EDT, the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) was notified of a spill of approximately 50 gallons of waste water (ash-water sluice) from Turkey Point Units 1 and 2 fossil power plants. This spill is not related to Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 nuclear power plant operations." The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 47350 | Facility: DUANE ARNOLD Region: 3 State: IA Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4 NRC Notified By: BEN WESCOT HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 10/18/2011 Notification Time: 05:59 [ET] Event Date: 10/18/2011 Event Time: 04:50 [CDT] Last Update Date: 10/18/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE | Person (Organization): ROBERT DALEY (R3DO) | 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 TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR OUT OF SERVICE "At 0450 (CDT), on October 18, 2011, the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) Technical Support Center (TSC) Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) was removed from service for preplanned maintenance. The expected duration of the maintenance is 12 hours. Normal power to the TSC will be available for the duration of the maintenance. "This notification is being made pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) "The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified." | |