| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
11/29/2013 - 12/02/2013 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 49567 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: LAWRENCE ENGINEERING
Region: 4
City: DALLAS State: TX
County:
License #: L05707
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 11/21/2013
Notification Time: 14:26 [ET]
Event Date: 04/17/2012
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/21/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DAVID PROULX (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)
MEXICO - FAX/EMAIL ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was obtained from the State of Texas via email:
"On December 2, 2011, the Agency [State of Texas] was notified by a facility owner that the licensee had abandoned what appeared to be Troxler Model 3430 moisture/density gauges in the building. Initial investigation revealed that the license had been revoked by the Agency for nonpayment. The Agency impounded 5 Troxler moisture/density gauges that were at the facility and conducted an on-site investigation. The investigation indicated there was one more gauge that had not been accounted for. The Agency contacted the individual who had been the last Radiation Safety Officer of record. During the investigation he was asked to contact anyone who had worked for the licensee that might have knowledge about the gauge. He responded that he had made contact with several former employees and a former partner and they told him the all of the gauges were in the storage area to their knowledge. The Agency contacted the manufacturer and two gauge service companies in the area. None of them had serviced the gauge recently and they agreed to mark their records to notify the Agency if the gauge came in for servicing. There was no information or evidence that the gauge had been legally sold or transferred. Investigation was closed on 04/17/2012 when gauge was determined lost/missing/stolen. During a record review on 11/14/2013 it was discovered that the event had not been previously reported in accordance with SA-300. The event was reported at that time through the NMED (TX130045). When the file was being processed on 11/21/2013, questions arose as to whether or not an exposure could result to persons in unrestricted areas. The gauges impounded by the Agency were examined and it was discovered that the source rods on the gauges were not locked to prevent the sources from being exposed. Based on that information, it was determined that there was a possibility that an exposure could result to persons in unrestricted areas."
Troxler Model number 3430; Serial number 34552; 8 mCi Cs-137,40 mCi Am-241
Texas Incident #: I-8908
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 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 49568 | Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
Region: 1
City: ROCKLEDGE State: FL
County:
License #: 1136-4
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK SEIDENSTICKER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 11/21/2013
Notification Time: 14:47 [ET]
Event Date: 11/20/2013
Event Time: 11:25 [EST]
Last Update Date: 11/21/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
FRED BOWER (R1DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TROXLER GAUGE INVOLVED IN A FIRE
The State of Florida received a call from their licensee regarding a pick-up truck fire with a soil moisture density gauge in the back.
On 11/20/13 at approximately 11:25 am EST on I-95 southbound near mile marker 169, a 2002 Ford F150 owned by the licensee caught fire. The exact cause of the fire is unknown. The fire spread so quickly, the licensee was unable to remove the Troxler Model 3440 portable density gauge (S/N: 77-4969) from the truck bed.
The licensee notified emergency responders who arrived within 15 minutes and extinguished the fire. The gauge transportation container was damaged in the fire but there was no breach.
The licensee RSO responded to the scene to conduct surveys. All surveys of the area were at or near background levels. Surveys of the gauge container and gauge were normal. The gauge itself showed no signs of damage from the fire. The licensee plans on installing the gauge into a spare transportation container to return it to the manufacturer for inspection and repair if necessary.
The licensee will instruct employees to avoid driving through high grass and underbrush to avoid a similar incident in the future. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 49572 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: QUALSPEC SERVICES LLC
Region: 4
City: CORPUS CHRISTI State: TX
County:
License #: 06351
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 11/22/2013
Notification Time: 14:40 [ET]
Event Date: 11/20/2013
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/22/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DAVID PROULX (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE
The following information was received from the State of Texas via email:
"On November 22, 2013, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee that on November 20, 2013, one of their crews performing radiography work was unable to retract the iridium-192 source into a QSA 880D camera. The radiography crew was performing radiography work on a job that required the use of an extension tube sold by the manufacturer for use with the guide tube. On the fifth of five shots, the source was cranked out of the camera, but when they attempted to retract it, it would not move. The radiographers contacted the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer who responded to the location. The RSO attempted to retract the source and he could not get the source to move. The source was stuck inside the collimator. The RSO dismantled the crank out device and pulled on the drive cable to move the source, but it would not move. The RSO removed the guide tube from its location and placed it on the grating of the platform they were working from. The source was covered with lead to reduce exposures. The barricade was extended and other licensee personnel who were also working at the plant were used to control access to the area. The RSO removed the drive cable housing from the back of the camera and attempted to pull on the cable and retract the source. It did not move. The RSO stated he inspected the locking device and it appeared to be fine. The RSO loosened the clamp that was being used to hold the guide tube extension in place while they were shooting. The source could then be retracted and was returned to the fully shielded position. The RSO believes that over time the extension guide tube walls had weakened and collapsed to a point where the source/drive cable could not pass through it. The RSO stated no one had exceeded any limits. He stated his 0-200 millirem self-reading dosimeter (SRD) had gone off scale, but his assistant's SRD only read 140 millirem. The RSO stated he would send both his and his assistant's dosimetry to their processors for reading. No other individuals received any exposure due to this event. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #: I-9137 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 49591 | Facility: DRESDEN
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-1,[2] GE-3,[3] GE-3
NRC Notified By: STEVEN MELL
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER | Notification Date: 11/30/2013
Notification Time: 22:43 [ET]
Event Date: 11/30/2013
Event Time: 15:53 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/30/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 16 | Power Operation | 16 | Power Operation | Event Text HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION SYSTEM SURVEILLANCE TEST FAILURE
"At 1553 CST on November 30, 2013, during the performance of the High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) fast initiation test, HPCI did not produce the required flow rate as specified by Technical Specification Surveillance Requirement 3.5.1.6. The HPCI subsystem is designed to ensure adequate core cooling when operated with other available Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS), and during this event, all other ECCS systems remained operable. The cause of this event is currently under investigation.
"This event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) as a condition that could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of structures or systems needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident.
"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
The flow rate achieved during the test was 3000 gpm and the required minimum flow rate is 5000 gpm. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 49592 | Facility: HOPE CREEK
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: LINDSAY KOBERLEIN
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 12/01/2013
Notification Time: 10:02 [ET]
Event Date: 12/01/2013
Event Time: 06:13 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/01/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
| Person (Organization):
DAN SCHROEDER (R1DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | A/R | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Shutdown | Event Text AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO MAIN TURBINE TRIP
"While operating at 100% power on 12/01/2013, at 0613 EST, the main turbine tripped on moisture separator hi level. The reactor scrammed along with the main turbine trip. All safety systems responded as designed and expected. There was no radiological release. There were no injuries."
During the scram, all rods inserted into the core. The plant is stable in mode 3 in its normal shutdown electrical line up. Decay heat is being removed via the turbine bypass valves dumping steam to the main condenser.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will be notifying Lower Alloways Creek township. | |