| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
09/15/2014 - 09/16/2014 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 50429 | Rep Org: WA OFFICE OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: GEORESOURCES, LLC.
Region: 4
City: AUBURN State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I0549-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEVE MATTHEWS
HQ OPS Officer: DANIEL MILLS | Notification Date: 09/05/2014
Notification Time: 16:07 [ET]
Event Date: 09/04/2014
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/05/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
WAYNE WALKER (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following was received from the State of Washington via email:
"On Thursday, September 4, 2014, [Washington State] Emergency Response Duty Officer received a call from the Radiation Safety Officer of GeoResources, LLC. She informed [Washington State] that a portable gauge was run over by heavy equipment in a construction area. The gauge operator was within a few feet of the gauge and tried to stop the driver of the front end loader but could not and had to jump out of the way for his own safety. Because of the circumstances, there will be no citations of the radiation safety program. [A Washington State inspector] drove to the location and assisted the RSO and gauge operator. The mangled gauge was put into a 55 gallon drum surrounded by soil. The highest external surface of the drum was 80 mR/hr. For health and safety purposes and the short distance to transport the drum from the construction site to the licensee's facility, a decision was made to transport the drum without DOT Yellow III package labeling and vehicle placarding, while escorted by the state inspector. The drum was put into a secured room while waiting for the consultant to come the next day (today). A consultant from Northwest Technical Services is communicating with Instrotek and R.L. Carriers for transport and disposal."
WA Incident # WA-14-037
The gauge contained 0.050Ci AM-241 and 0.010Ci Cs-137 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 50433 | Rep Org: VIRGINIA RAD MATERIALS PROGRAM
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Region: 1
City: CHARLOTTESVILLE State: VA
County: ALBERMARLE
License #: 540-248-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE WELLING
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 09/08/2014
Notification Time: 16:37 [ET]
Event Date: 09/04/2014
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/08/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
TODD JACKSON (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MEDICAL EVENT DUE TO MISADMINISTRATION OF Y-90 THERASPHERES
The following information was received via email:
"A Y-90 TheraSphere liver therapy procedure resulted in delivered doses to the liver and lungs that differed from the prescribed dose. The revised Lung Shunt Fraction (LSF) value was used to recalculate the actual radiation dose to lungs and LT liver lobe. The results are that the lungs received 34.5 Gy (instead of 3.7 Gy) and the LT liver lobe received 67 Gy (instead of 117 Gy). Also, it is calculated that the LT liver lobe was implanted with a Y-90 activity dose of 0.82 GBq (22.2 mCi) while the lungs received a Y-90 activity dose of 0.69 GBq (18.64 mCi) since the patient was implanted with 1.50 GBq (40.53 mCi) of Y-90. The patient's family was notified. UVA staff are meeting to analyze the root cause of the event. RMP [Virginia Radioactive Materials Program] staff will review UVA's findings and determine what further actions are necessary."
Virginia Event Report ID No.: VA-2014-16
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. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 50435 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: THERMO SCIENTIFIC PORTABLE ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
Region: 1
City: TEWKSBURY State: MA
County:
License #: 55-0238
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ED SALOMON
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 09/08/2014
Notification Time: 18:27 [ET]
Event Date: 09/08/2014
Event Time: 16:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/08/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
TODD JACKSON (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED CD-109 SEALED SOURCE
The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email:
"The Agency (Massachusetts Radiation Control Program) was notified on 9/8/2014, by Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments, Inc. (MA RAM License # 55-0238), that a leak test result for a Cd -109 sealed source was above the leak test limits of 185 Bq (0.005 microCi). The wipe test showed that the removable activity was 486 Bq (0.0131 microCi), which is above the regulatory limit.
"The licensee provided the following information about the sealed source: The source manufacturer is Eckert and Ziegler (formerly/aka Isotope Products Laboratories). The model number is FXB-3 and intended for use in a handheld XRF analyzer. Total activity on the source is 40 mCi. The wipe test was done in a controlled environment in their production source room as they were taking the source out of its original packing material. The licensee did survey the area after discovering the wipe test and did not find any signs of contamination elsewhere. The package (not the sources within) was received on August 21, 2014 and wipe tested clean at that time, so there is no indication that contamination has spread anywhere beyond the source itself.
"There were no personnel contaminations or area contamination from this contaminated sealed source. The licensee will file a report to our agency within 5 days of this leak test.
"The Agency considers this matter to still be OPEN pending further review of this event." |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 50436 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: CALWEST GEOTECHNICAL
Region: 4
City: THOUSAND OAKS State: CA
County:
License #: 5539-56
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DONALD OESTERLE
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 09/08/2014
Notification Time: 18:28 [ET]
Event Date: 09/08/2014
Event Time: 11:30 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/08/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
RAY AZUA (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
MEXICO (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was received via E-mail:
"On September 8, 2014, at approximately 1130 to 1245 PDT, an authorized user of radioactive gauges who is the ARSO [assistant radiation safety officer] of Calwest Geotechnical, RML #5539-56, contacted RHB [Radiation Health Branch] Brea concerning a moisture/density gauge, Troxler model 3440, serial number 15195 (Cs-137, 0.333 GBq, Am-241, 1.63 GBq) that had been stolen from a transport vehicle in front of a restaurant in Santa Monica during the lunch break period of 1130 to 1245 PDT. The ARSO has contacted the local law enforcement officials in his area and has filled out a theft report which will be copied and sent to RHB Brea as part of this report. The ARSO will utilize local papers to attempt to retrieve the stolen gauge. The investigation will continue to determine if the radioactive gauge can be recovered in a reasonable time frame. This is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as a 24-hour report under 10CFR30.50(b)(2) since the radioactive gauge has been stolen and it cannot be determined what condition the sources are currently in."
California Report No.: 5010-090814
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 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 50457 | Facility: NORTH ANNA
Region: 2 State: VA
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP,[3] M-4-LP
NRC Notified By: PAGE KEMP
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER | Notification Date: 09/15/2014
Notification Time: 14:54 [ET]
Event Date: 09/15/2014
Event Time: 09:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) - DEGRADED CONDITION
| Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text FAILED FUEL ASSEMBLY IDENTIFIED DURING CORE OFF-LOAD
"With North Anna Unit 2 in Mode 6 during a scheduled refueling outage, discharged assembly 4Z9 was identified as a failed fuel assembly by In-Mast Sipping. The fuel assembly was located in core location B11. Initial inspection of the fuel assembly identified two (2) visibly split fuel pins of eight (8) to ten (10) inches long with visible damage to the top of the pins. The internals of the affected pins are visible and the springs from the top of each pellet stack are touching the top nozzle. The fuel assembly has been placed into its designated location in the Spent Fuel Pool. No abnormal increase was noted on any radiation monitor either after or during fuel assembly movement. This fuel assembly had been used during three (3) previous operating cycles and is not scheduled for reuse.
"On September 15, 2014, at 0900 [EDT], subsequent video inspection of the fuel assembly identified that the top springs of the two (2) fuel pins were dislodged. Video inspection of the reactor vessel identified debris that has the potential to be fragments of fuel pellets resting on the core plate. Additional investigations are in progress.
"Due to the fact that the failure exceeded expected conditions, this event is being reported per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A), as any event or condition that results in the condition of the nuclear plant, including its principle safety barriers, being seriously degraded."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will notify local county authorities. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 50459 | Facility: BRUNSWICK
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JOHN MILLER
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 09/15/2014
Notification Time: 17:57 [ET]
Event Date: 09/15/2014
Event Time: 13:09 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
|
| 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 LOSS OF EMERGENCY SIREN ACTIVATION CAPABILITY
"At 1309 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 15, 2014, it was determined that the ability to activate the thirty-eight (38) emergency sirens within the 10 mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) radius of the plant was lost. Subsequently, activation capability was restored when a loose modem cable was discovered and remedied. By approximately 1450 EDT, the ability to activate the emergency sirens had been satisfactorily tested. Activation capability of the emergency sirens was restored in approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes. This event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) as a major loss of communications capability.
"This event did not result in any adverse impact to the health and safety of the public. The Brunswick Nuclear Plant and State of North Carolina Emergency Response Plans include back-up processes to provide warning to affected areas, if required, in the event of the loss of sirens.
"The cause of the loose modem cable will be investigated.
"The NRC Senior Resident [Inspector] has been notified." | |