Event Notification Report for June 10, 2015

FITNESS FOR DUTY

A licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive test for a controlled substance during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's plant access has been placed on administrative hold.

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

CD-109 SOURCE IMPROPERLY SENT FOR DISPOSAL

The Alabama Air National Guard (Montgomery, AL) had a thermal night time analyzer with a 40 mCi, Cd-109 source. The source was last inventoried on 1/30/2015. On 4/28/2015, the analyzer was transferred to the disposal facility at the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. The Army does not send radioactive sources to this DLA for disposal. The Army has verified receipt of the source at the DLA and is currently trying to determine if the source is still there or has been destroyed.

Source: XLP-303 with serial number 18540

* * * UPDATE AT 0840 EDT ON 6/12/2015 FROM MARCOS VICENTE TO DONG PARK * * *

The following report was received from the licensee via e-mail:

"[The following is] updated information concerning the improper transfer of the Thermo Niton Analyzer by the Alabama Army National Guard to Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Disposition Services. We were successful in contacting the manufacturer and got information concerning the assay date of the Cd-109 source. Their records indicate an assay date of 15 April 2008. The analyzer was sent to DLA on 28 April 2015. According to our calculations, this drops the activity from 40 mCi to approximately 0.86 mCi from when it was shipped out to DLA. We are still working with DLA Disposition Services to track the location of the analyzer."

Notified the R1DO (Dwyer) and NMSS Events Notification (via 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

TEMPORARY LOSS OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA

"This event is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) for a loss of emergency assessment capability at the Harris Nuclear Plant. Between March 24, 2015, and April 28, 2015, the meteorological data transfer process from the sensors to the emergency response facilities stalled intermittently five times. The control room staff was unaware of this condition for a maximum of 6.6 hours at any given time. When the data transfer process was stalled and the control room staff was unaware of the issue, the staff may have used inappropriate information in implementing the emergency plan. There was no impact from this condition because there were no actual emergencies during this time.

"On June 10, 2015, at approximately 1300 [EDT], further review of the impact of this equipment failure determined that this was reportable as a loss of emergency assessment capability.

"The condition that caused the data transfer process to stall has been corrected. In addition, measures have been implemented to ensure that if the data transfer process stalls again, backup sources of information will be used in accordance with the emergency plan to preclude loss of the assessment capability.

"There was no adverse impact to the public health and safety or to plant employees.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been informed of this condition."

Until this information is captured in a plant procedure, the licensee has issued a standing instruction.

DENSITY GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK OPEN

"The gauge is a Kay-Ray Model 7063P, serial number 8289 with a nominal source of 1 Curie of Cesium 137. The gauge is used for lime slurry density measurements in the Unit 1 Scrubber.

"The malfunctioning shutter was discovered on June 6, 2015 during semiannual shutter checks as required by the license. The checks were completed today, and [the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)] became aware of the issue as [the RSO] reviewed the documentation. Independent verification of the malfunction was made, it was found to not close. The cause of the malfunction is not known at this time.

"The gauge is located approximately sixteen feet above the ground level and presents no unusual risk to plant personnel. No maintenance activities will be conducted on the pipe or elbow the gauge is attached to until the shutter has been repaired. All plant personnel have been notified of the issue and the requisite restriction.

"[The RSO] contacted a properly licensed contractor to arrange for the repair to the shutter."

This gauge is normally open during plant operation.