| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
03/31/2017 - 04/03/2017 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 52634 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: BRASKEM AMERICA INC
Region: 4
City: FREEPORT State: TX
County:
License #: 06443
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 03/23/2017
Notification Time: 17:30 [ET]
Event Date: 03/22/2017
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/23/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FOUR STUCK SHUTTERS IDENTIFIED DURING A SIX MONTH INSPECTION
The following report was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email:
"On March 23, 2017, [at 1545 CDT] a consulting company called the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] to report that on March 22, 2017, during [a] six month inspection of devices, four devices were found with stuck shutters. Two Ohmart Vega devices contained cesium-137, models SHLG with source serial numbers SM-6918 (120 milliCuries) and 5811GK (5000 milliCuries). The other two were [the] same manufacturer, same isotope, but model SHF2 with source serial numbers M-0076 and M-0077 at 200 milliCuries each. The consulting service is in contact with the licensee's radiation safety officer who is submitting a request to amend the license maintaining the devices in the open position until repaired. No exposures are anticipated and the repairs should be performed within the next 90 days. Updates will be provided as received."
Texas Incident #: I 9473 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 52635 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: 52635
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 03/23/2017
Notification Time: 18:13 [ET]
Event Date: 03/23/2017
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/24/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - PACKAGE RECEIVED WITH REMOVABLE CONTAMINATION
The following report was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email:
"On March 23, 2017 the radiation safety officer [RSO] from a hospital called stating a package was received from BTX Global Logistics (31x2130417) containing a Germania-Gallium generator. The device was intact and not leaking although the outside of the package had removable contamination at 21,866 dpm over a 300 cm squared area. The RSO stated she contacted the delivery service. She [the RSO] explained that the device she received wasn't leaking and the contamination may be inside their vehicle. She [the RSO] stated that the package was received at 1221 [CDT] at the hospital. Her staff confirmed the device was not leaking and the contamination was on the outside of the package. Investigation ongoing. Updates to be provided as received."
* * * UPDATE AT 1211 EDT ON 3/24/17 FROM CHRIS MOORE TO JEFF HERRERA * * *
The following update was received from the Texas Department of Health Services via email:
"On March 23, 2017 the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center called stating a package was received from BTX Global Logistics (31x2130417) at 1221 containing a Germania-Gallium generator. The device was intact in a package although the bottom of the package was contaminated. The highest level of contamination was 466 dpm per square cm based on 777,425 dpm over a 16 inch by 16 inch area of the box. The inside of the box was not contaminated and the generator was not leaking. The only spread of contamination from the box was onto a cart used to transport the generator from the loading dock to the lab. The cart was decontaminated. The contamination appears to be a low energy beta emitter with a short life in the 2-3 hour range. The contamination cannot be detected by a GM or scintillator probe only by the use of liquid scintillation counter. The hospital is attempting to identify the radionuclide. The Agency [Texas Department of Health Services] surveyed the transport vehicle, contents and driver for the delivery vehicle with a pancake probe for contamination on March 23, 2017. This was completed prior to understanding that it would not be detectable with available probes so today the vehicle will be surveyed with wipes. The package was picked up from Houston Intercontinental Airport on the evening of March 22, 2017 after clearing customs from a [common carrier] Aircraft flying from Germany. BTX Global Logistics picked up the package on March 22, 2017, placed it in their warehouse until it was delivered on March 23, 2017. Both times while the package was being transported in the vehicle, there were no other packages in the vehicle. There were no other deliveries of radioactive material in this vehicle over the last 2 days. The investigation is ongoing."
Texas Incident #: I 9474.
Notified the R4DO (Drake) and NMSS Events (Email). |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 52637 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: BLUE CUBE OPERATIONS LLC
Region: 4
City: PLAQUEMINE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-133286-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JAMES PATE
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 03/24/2017
Notification Time: 11:48 [ET]
Event Date: 03/23/2017
Event Time: 11:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/24/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIXED GAUGE SHUTTER MALFUNCTION
The following information was received from the State of Louisiana via fax:
"On March 24, 2017, LDEQ [Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality] was notified by Blue Cube Operations LLC, that during an annual equipment inspection, it was determined that a level density gauge shutter was malfunctioning.
"The density gauge was a TN Technologies Inc. Model: 5202, and equipped with a TN Technologies Inc. Model 57157C sealed source - serial number: GK-9492. Initial source activity was 500 mCi [Cs-137], after decay correction, it is 341.78 mCi.
"No release or exposure to personnel. Blue Cube Operations plans to repair the shutter to the level density gauge.
"Event Report ID No.: LA170004" |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 52655 | Facility: PILGRIM
Region: 1 State: MA
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-3
NRC Notified By: KENNETH GRACIA
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 03/31/2017
Notification Time: 19:14 [ET]
Event Date: 03/31/2017
Event Time: 11:55 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/31/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
BILL COOK (R1DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 97 | Power Operation | 97 | Power Operation | Event Text PRESSURE SUPPRESSION POOL DECLARED INOPERABLE DUE TO TORUS HIGH WATER LEVEL
"On March 31, 2017 at 1155 hours [EDT], with the reactor at 97% core thermal power and steady state conditions, operators inadvertently caused water level to rise in the Pressure Suppression Pool (TORUS). Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (PNPS) was restoring normal system valve line-ups after performing flushing of the suction piping of the Core Spray system in accordance with station procedures. During the process of restoring the appropriate valve line-ups, water was inadvertently transferred to the TORUS from the Condensate Storage Tank. The cause of the event is understood.
"The Technical Specification (TS) Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) Action Statement (AS) 3.7.A.5 was entered. The LCO AS was exited at 1540 when TORUS water level was restored to the limits specified in LCO's 3.7.A.1.b and 3.7.A.1.m. Because the TORUS was declared inoperable, PNPS is providing an 8-hour non-emergency notification in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D), an event or condition that could have prevented fulfillment of a safety function needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident.
"This was a case of the water level in the TORUS being above the TS limit. The TORUS was potentially available to provide cooling to the reactor if required.
"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
The licensee notified the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Plymouth County. | |