Event Notification Report for May 05, 2022

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR
05/04/2022 - 05/05/2022

Agreement State
Event Number: 55645
Rep Org: Alabama Radiation Control
Licensee: Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
Region: 1
City: Auburn   State: AL
County:
License #: 15
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Cason Coan
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin
Notification Date: 12/14/2021
Notification Time: 17:34 [ET]
Event Date: 12/14/2021
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 05/04/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Young, Matt (R1)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 5/5/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNAUTHORIZED DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

The following information was received by the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control (the Agency) via email:

"On 12/14/21, the Agency spoke with a representative of Alabama Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Auburn, Alabama regarding information in a letter related to disposal of an ECD [electron capture detector]. The representative confirmed that the ECD was incinerated by an unauthorized/unlicensed company. The Agency is continuing to investigate. The Veterinary Diagnostic lab does not have a specific license; the Agency has identified it as GL registration no. 15. The device was manufactured by Varian, with source model 02-001972-00, nominal activity of 15 millicuries of nickel-63."

AL incident no.: 21-35

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

* * * UPDATE ON 5/4/22 FROM CASON COAN TO KARL DIEDERICH VIA E-MAIL * * *

The State closed out this incident on May 4, 2022. The source, originally 15 mCi on 10/1999, is ascertained to have been incinerated by MedSharp Disposal on 12/6/2021. Remnants of incineration were transported to a Waste Management class 1 landfill in Campbelton, Florida. Chase Environmental Group was contracted to survey and characterize contamination of the incinerator. Contamination attributable to niclel-63 was found inside the incinerator, estimated activity 6 to 13 microcuries. It is believed that the majority, if not all remaining, of source activity is in the landfill. Chase Environmental reported that remaining material would not result in an average member of the critical group receiving over 0.016 mrem/year, and that it is highly unlikely that a member of the public would receive over 10 mrem/year from nickel-63 present in air emissions. The incinerator was free-released for use. The Alabama Office of Radiation Control issued a violation of severity category IV to Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

NMED item number 210541.

Notified R1DO (Lally) and NMSS_Events_Notification and ILTAB via e-mail.


!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor
Event Number: 55780
Facility: Brunswick
Region: 2     State: NC
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: Jason Krupp
HQ OPS Officer: Dan Livermore
Notification Date: 03/09/2022
Notification Time: 23:20 [ET]
Event Date: 03/09/2022
Event Time: 20:13 [EST]
Last Update Date: 05/04/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - Accident Mitigation
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 5/5/2022

EN Revision Text: HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION (HPCI) INOPERABLE

The following information was provided by the licensee:

"At 2013 EST on March 9, 2022, the HPCI System was declared inoperable following evaluation of routine HPCI surveillance testing data indicating that the required response time for reaching rated conditions was not met. Therefore, this condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D). The Reactor Core Isolation Cooling (RCIC) System and Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) are operable.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. Investigation is in-progress to determine the cause.

"Unit 1 is not affected by this event. Unit 1 is in a refueling outage.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * RETRACTION ON 05/04/22 AT 1135 EDT FROM CHARLIE BROOKSHIRE TO DAN LIVERMORE * * *

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"At 20:13 EST on March 9, 2022, the HPCI System was declared inoperable following evaluation of routine HPCI surveillance testing data indicating that the required response time for reaching rated flow and pressure was not met. Subsequent to this, it was determined that the required response time was overly conservative for assuring the safety function of the system could be fulfilled. The required response time was revised. The operability determination for this event has been updated indicating that system operability was never lost for this event. There was not a condition that could have prevented the system from fulfilling the safety function.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Notified R2DO (Miller).


Agreement State
Event Number: 55862
Rep Org: Colorado Dept of Health
Licensee: Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Region: 4
City: Colorado Springs   State: CO
County:
License #: CO 664-02
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Ramon Li
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Parks
Notification Date: 04/27/2022
Notification Time: 13:19 [ET]
Event Date: 04/27/2022
Event Time: 10:48 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/27/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Young, Cale (R4DO)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following is a summary of information received from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment by e-mail:

The licensee reported a damaged Troxler 3430 portable moisture density gauge (SN:24886) containing Am-241/Be (SN:4721079) and Cs-137 (SN:757025) sources. The gauge fell out of the back of a truck onto an interstate highway while in transit. Pieces of the gauge are on the interstate as a result of vehicles running over the gauge and the licensee is attempting to retrieve them. The licensee intends to contact the police to help cordon off the affected area to support retrieval of the remaining pieces and conduct surveys. A search is ongoing and some of the pieces of the gauge have not been accounted for.

CO Incident Number: CO220013

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: 55863
Rep Org: NJ Rad Prot And Rel Prevention Pgm
Licensee: North State Materials
Region: 1
City: Harmony   State: NJ
County:
License #: 861245
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Karen Flanigan
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 04/27/2022
Notification Time: 13:26 [ET]
Event Date: 04/27/2022
Event Time: 08:39 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/27/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Young, Matt (R1DO)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following is a summary of information received from the New Jersey Department Environmental Protection (NJDEP) by e-mail:

On 4/27/2022, North State Materials notified NJDEP that an asphalt roller bumped a density gauge (Troxler model 4640-B, serial #77923 with a Cs-137 source up to 9 milliCuries) at a jobsite in Harmony, New Jersey. The incident was caused by heavy equipment operator error. The operator intended to move the roller backwards, but instead moved forward. The damage was limited to the faceplate and the plastic on one corner of the gauge. The licensee surveyed the gauge to confirm the source was properly shielded prior to transporting it to the licensee's storage location in Philipsburg, NJ. A sealed source leak test is pending.

NJ Incident Number: NJ-22-0003


Agreement State
Event Number: 55864
Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services
Licensee: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Region: 4
City: Houston   State: TX
County:
License #: L 00466
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Matthew Kennington
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Parks
Notification Date: 04/27/2022
Notification Time: 17:10 [ET]
Event Date: 04/27/2022
Event Time: 09:15 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/27/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Young, Cale (R4DO)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 4/28/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TELETHERAPY DEVICE FAILED IN SHIELDED POSITION

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via e-mail:

"On April 27, 2022, the Agency received a notification from the licensee that the drive mechanism on their Theratronics T708C teletherapy device failed in the shielded position. The device contains 5,042 Curies of Co-60. The licensee stated that while starting a procedure at around 0915 hours CDT on April 27, 2022, the technician found that the source would not move out from the shield. There were no exposures as a result of this event. The licensee contacted a service company and scheduled a repair. An investigation is ongoing."

TX Incident Number: I-9926


Agreement State
Event Number: 55865
Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services
Licensee: Blue Cube Operations LLC
Region: 4
City: Freeport   State: TX
County:
License #: L069226
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Karen Blanchard
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 04/28/2022
Notification Time: 17:23 [ET]
Event Date: 04/28/2022
Event Time: 12:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/28/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Young, Cale (R4DO)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHUTTER MALFUNCTION

The following report was received via e-mail from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency):

"On April 28, 2022, the licensee notified the Agency that the shutter handle on one of its Ohmart Vega model SH-F2 gauges, containing a 200 milliCurie cesium-137 source, had malfunctioned. A service company was preparing the gauge for removal and had opened and closed the shutter. The shutter closed completely (verified by survey), but they could not lock the shutter handle. A repair kit will be ordered and upon receipt the service company will make the repair and complete the removal. The gauge is in an area of the plant that is no longer operational in a location that is inaccessible without scaffolding. The scaffolding being used at the time of this event will be removed until time for repair.

"There were no exposures as a result of this event. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: I-9927


Power Reactor
Event Number: 55873
Facility: North Anna
Region: 2     State: VA
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP,[3] M-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Bob Page
HQ OPS Officer: Lloyd Desotell
Notification Date: 05/03/2022
Notification Time: 14:48 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2022
Event Time: 08:19 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/03/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - Fitness For Duty
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
FFD Group, (EMAIL)
Power Reactor Unit Info
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
FITNESS-FOR-DUTY REPORT

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"A non-licensed Dominion Energy supervisor had a confirmed positive for illegal drugs during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.

"The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector."


Power Reactor
Event Number: 55875
Facility: Vogtle
Region: 2     State: GA
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Joshua Dunn
HQ OPS Officer: Lloyd Desotell
Notification Date: 05/03/2022
Notification Time: 18:44 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2022
Event Time: 15:41 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/03/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby
Event Text
MANUAL REACTOR TRIP AND AUTOMATIC ACTUATION OF AUXILIARY FEEDWATER SYSTEM

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"At 1541 EDT on May 3, 2022, with Unit 1 in Mode 1 at 100 power, the reactor was manually tripped due to the loss of one of the main feed pumps. The trip was not complex, with all systems responding normally post-trip. No equipment was inoperable prior to the event that contributed to the event or adversely impacted plant response to the scram.

"Operations responded and stabilized the plant. Decay heat is being removed by Auxiliary Feedwater through the steam dumps to the condenser. Unit 2 is not affected.

"An automatic actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System (AFW) also occurred. The AFW auto-start is an expected response from the reactor trip.

"Due to the Reactor Protection System actuation while critical, this event is being reported as a four-hour, nonemergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B). This event is also being reported as an eight-hour, nonemergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that results in a valid actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."