| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
02/26/2009 - 02/27/2009 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44818 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: PRECIX, INC
Region: 1
City: NEW BEDFORD State: MA
County:
License #: GENERAL
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOHN SUMARES
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 01/30/2009
Notification Time: 15:31 [ET]
Event Date: 01/28/2009
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/26/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
WAYNE SCHMIDT (R1)
KEVIN HSUEH (FSME)
ILTAB via e-mail ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TWO MISSING STATIC ELIMINATORS
The following report was received from the State via facsimile:
"Precix [the licensee] called the Agency [the State] on 1/28/09 to report 2 missing static eliminator devices. A follow-up letter dated 1/29/09 was received on 1/30/09. The letter indicates the missing devices are 'NRD' model P-2021 devices having serial numbers A2DR562 and A2EZ592. The licensee reports that at the end of their one year useful life, the units were removed from the system along with others and set aside in preparation for returning them to NRD for disposal. The licensee states they have conducted several searches for the missing devices and have not had any success finding them. The licensee thinks the 2 units inadvertently got separated from the other units being held for return to NRD and were disposed off in the non-hazardous waste stream."
This model static eliminator typically contains approximately 10 millicuries of Po-210.
* * * UPDATE ON 2/26/09 AT 1453 FROM JOHN SUMARES TO KARL DIEDERICH * * *
The following report was received from the State via facsimile:
"In a follow up telephone conversation with Precix, the Agency [the State] determined that the static eliminators became missing a few years prior to [the] Precix report of missing GL [Generally Licensed] devices to the Agency [the State]. Precix stated that corrective action as described above has been in place for a few years.
"The Agency [the State] considers this event closed."
Informed R1DO (Cahill), FSME EO (Bubar), and ITLAB 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. |
| !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! | | Power Reactor | Event Number: 44869 | Facility: MCGUIRE
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL RICHARDSON
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 02/23/2009
Notification Time: 05:46 [ET]
Event Date: 02/23/2009
Event Time: 04:06 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/26/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
| Person (Organization):
CHARLIE PAYNE (R2)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 87 | Power Operation | Event Text INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF THE TURBINE DRIVEN AUXILIARY FEEDWATER PUMP
"The Turbine Driven Auxiliary/Emergency Feedwater pump auto started when power was lost to the steam admittance solenoid valves. Additional feedwater to the steam generators caused an increase in power; in response, turbine load was manually decreased. At no time were any power limits exceeded. Power level is currently at 87% and stable."
Maximum power, as determined by core delta temperatures, did not exceed 100%.
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATED AT 1048 EST ON 02/26/09 FROM JOEL HOWARD TO S. SANDIN * * *
"Event Report 44869 Retraction:
"On February 23, 2009, McGuire Nuclear Station notified the NRC of an inadvertent actuation of the Unit 1 Turbine Driven Auxiliary/Emergency Feedwater (TDAFW) Pump (reference Event Report 44869). This event occurred when power was removed to the steam admittance solenoid valves for the Unit 1 TDAFW Pump prior to isolating the steam supply to the pump. Removing power to the steam admittance valves caused them to fail open, starting the pump. As per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A), this event was reported as a valid actuation of the Unit 1 TDAFW Pump.
"Further evaluation of the event concluded that the actuation of the Unit 1 TDAFW Pump was not the result of a valid signal initiated in response to actual plant conditions or parameters satisfying the requirements for initiation of the safety function provided by the pump. In addition, the actuation of the Unit 1 TDAFW Pump was not the result of an intentional manual initiation. Therefore, actuation of the Unit 1 TDAFW Pump represented an invalid actuation which is not reportable per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A). Therefore, McGuire is retracting Event Report 44869. Note that McGuire will report this event in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.73.
"The licensee has notified the Resident Inspector."
Notified R2DO (Musser). |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 44873 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Region: 4
City: PASADENA State: CA
County:
License #: 0314
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL | Notification Date: 02/24/2009
Notification Time: 20:58 [ET]
Event Date: 02/23/2009
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4)
PATRICE BUBAR (FSME)
ILTAB (VIA EMAIL) ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - PARTIALLY LOST AM-241 SOURCE
The following was provided by the state via email:
The licensee discovered a damaged Am-241 alpha source during a routine sealed source inventory and leak test on Monday February 23, 2009. A pinhole leak was discovered through the source active area. After further assessment on February 24, 2009, it was determined that more than half of the source activity cannot be located.
The Am-241 source was manufactured by North American Scientific (model # CAL2702, source #67250) with an activity of 845.8 nCi (nanocuries) as of October 1, 2005. Currently there is 160 nCi remaining on the Am-241 source and 160 nCi of contamination on the sponge insert in the source container. 521 nCi of the activity cannot be accounted for.
The licensee has performed preliminary contamination surveys of the source storage area, source use area, and the common lab area. The survey were performed using GM survey meters with pancake detectors and wipes counted with a liquid scintillation counter. No significant contamination was found.
The licensee will perform additional surveys and continue to investigate the cause of this incident.
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. |
| Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 44880 | Rep Org: STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: PLAINFIELD State: CT
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOHN WAGGONER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 02/26/2009
Notification Time: 16:33 [ET]
Event Date: 02/26/2009
Event Time: 11:45 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/26/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
| Person (Organization):
CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1)
PATRICE BUBAR (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text ABANDONED DENSITY GAUGE DISCOVERED
"Fabric Trends International, 55 Lathrop Rd, Plainfield, Ct. 06374.
"On Thursday the 26th of Feb. at 1145 hours, [I was] notified of an abandoned density gauge at the above facility. [Another] DEP Inspector discovered the device while arriving for an inspection. He did not know the facility was closed. While there with the Owner of the building he discovered the device. He turned over information to [another inspector] who notified Supervision. I called the Owner, after getting information on the registration and the Owners cell phone number.
"At 1300 hours, I met [the Owner] and he led me to the device that was stored in a large plywood box. [The Owner] told me he used to own the business but sold all the equipment to another party. He will send that info to [DEP] on Friday morning. [The Owner] was very familiar with the instrument and stated that it was part of the material he sold from the facility.
"I surveyed the device using a Mod. 3 with 44-38 gamma probe and nothing above background was noted (0.02 mR/hr). I frisked the outside surfaces of the device with the 44-9 probe and did not note any counts above background. I took 3 swipes and counted them and found nothing above background on them. The window on the detector head was broken and this area was part of the head swipe.
"There were no markings found that indicated that the device contained RAM [Radioactive Material]. The only indication was on a DYNO Tape found on the front of the device's meter housing. It stated Beta Gauge. The device info is as follows:
"Mahlo Gravimat FM-1-7a, Type FM1R/7AK, JAHR 1.84/110 volt, Funkentstorgrad G, FABR.NR. 6271/12/709, 1.6 amp, 50/60 hz.
"Detector Head, Ser. No. 6270/710, Stamped on case 3.627050/4.
"[The Owner] stated his lawyers are trying to contact the party that bought out the equipment to get them to take possession of the equipment. I contacted [my supervision] and discussed my findings. The current registration listed four beta devices with Kr 85 and two Gamma devices with Am 241. This device was not on the registration.
"I briefed [the Owner] that as the owner of the property, he was responsible for the device. I suggested that he seal the box with wood screws and that he insure that the device was not moved or handled. I stated that he was responsible to insure the device was not stolen or lost."
The state plans a follow-up inspection at the site tomorrow.
The State of Connecticut Incident Number for this event is 09-026.
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. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44881 | Facility: PERRY
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: KEN RUSSELL
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 02/27/2009
Notification Time: 04:37 [ET]
Event Date: 02/27/2009
Event Time: 05:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/27/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text EMERGENCY RESPONSE DATA SYSTEM (ERDS) OUT OF SERVICE
"The Perry Nuclear Power Plant will be taking the Plant Computer out of service for scheduled maintenance which will take ERDS out of service. From 0500 hours EST on February 27, 2009 for approximately 15 hours, personnel will be performing inspection and cleaning activities on the Plant Computer power center panel. During the planned maintenance, the Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS) and the automatic mode calculation of the Computer Aided Dose Assessment Program (CADAP) will be unavailable.
"In the event of an emergency, plant parameter data will be orally transmitted to the facilities through the Status Board Ring Down circuit with back-up by the Private Branch Exchange, the Off Premise Exchange, and various redundant intra-facility circuits throughout the emergency facilities. The dose assessment function will be maintained during the out of service time period by manual input of data into CADAP and, if required, by manual calculation. The ability to open and maintain an 'open line' using the Emergency Notification System will not be affected and will be the primary means of transferring plant data to the NRC as a contingency until the ERDS can be returned to service during the period of unavailability.
"This event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii), as a condition that results in a major loss of offsite communications capability. A follow-up notification will be made when the maintenance activities are completed and the equipment is restored.
"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified." | |