| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
04/16/2009 - 04/17/2009 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44986 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: PERMA-FIX NORTHWEST
Region: 4
City: RICHLAND State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I0508-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SEAN MURPHY
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 04/13/2009
Notification Time: 12:21 [ET]
Event Date: 02/03/2009
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 04/13/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
ANGELA McINTOSH (FSME)
CYNDI JONES (NSIR)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURE TO THE LUNGS
The following report was received from the state of Washington via e-mail:
"On February 9 2009, a worker was sent for a lung count at the Battelle (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) lung counter for a bioassay measurement. The lung count was ordered due to the worker working in an area where airborne contamination levels could cause more then 2.5 DAC-hrs (with respiratory protection factors applied), and greater then 520 DAC-hrs assuming no respiratory protection was worn in one day. The reason for requiring this count was to ensure that measures used to protect the workers were functioning properly. The workers first lung count detected approximately 0.2 nCi of Am-241. Assuming the exposure was from 10 days prior, the intake was approximately 1.9 nCi Am-241. The annual limit of intake for Am-241 is 6 nCi (1micron AMAD particle size). The estimated dose was about 1/3 of the annual limit, or 16 REM CDE (Annual limit 50 REM). The worker had previous whole body exposure, but this added amount did not cause a limit to be exceeded.
"On March 25, 2009 the licensee informed the Washington State Department of Health that further testing by Battelle caused a revision to the original calculated dose and the new calculated dose would exceed the 50 REM CDE limit. The date of exposure (February 3, 2009) was assumed by the licensee, based on air sample data and the use of respiratory protection that may not have provided adequate coverage (use of filtering respirator instead of supplied air). On February 3, the worker was in a containment in which air sample results were about 1e-8 microCi/ml gross alpha activity concentration for several hours and was wearing a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR, protection factor of 1000). Bioassay results (fecal) from one other worker who was also in the containment showed a small amount of activity, and a dose was assigned to this second worker that did not exceed the legal limit. The second workers lung count was less than detection limits.
"The cause is still unknown.
"Contributing factors: High airborne activity, loss of respiratory protection.
"DOH is conducting an investigation of this incident.
"Corrective action : Curtailment of work in containment, training on removal of anti contamination clothing and respirator, investigation of respiratory protection failure.
"There was no media coverage of this incident.
"Activity and isotope(s) involved: Am-241, Pu-240/241
Overexposures: (number of workers/members of public; dose estimate; body part receiving dose; consequence): There was one potential overexposed worker, no members of the public were exposed, estimated dose to the worker is about 100 REM CDE and 5 REM CEDE. This value will change following further measurements, investigation and calculations.
"Worker was removed from the restricted area, work in the area where the intake was assumed to occur was stopped, pending the outcome of further investigation."
Washington State Incident Number: WA-09-013 |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 44987 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: GLOBAL LABORATORIES
Region: 4
City: WEST MONROE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-7211-L01A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANN TROXLER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 04/14/2009
Notification Time: 12:20 [ET]
Event Date: 04/13/2009
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/14/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
ILTAB email ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - THEFT OF A TROXLER NUCLEAR GAUGE
State submitted this report via email:
"The owner of Global Laboratories, called the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality on April 14, 2009 to report the theft of a work truck that had a Troxler Nuclear Gauge chained in the back of the truck. The Troxler Gauge 3440 (s/n 27805) contained 40 mCi of Am-241 (s/n 47-24434) and 8 mCi of Cs-137 (s/n 750-1721). According to Mr. Kent, the gauge was locked in the case and the case was doubled chained in the bed of the truck. Mr. Kent reported the theft to the West Monroe Police Department on April 13. 2009 at approximately 3:30PM and also contacted the Ouachita Sheriffs Office. Mr. Kent is offering a $500.00 reward for the return of the Troxler Nuclear Gauge. An investigation is ongoing and any further information will be forwarded to the NRC."
Transport vehicle description: White 2000 GMC Z71 license plate number B412958
Event Report ID No. LA090012
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. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 44990 | Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC
Region: 4
City: HELPER State: UT
County:
License #: UT 2300249
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JULE FAUSTO
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 04/14/2009
Notification Time: 15:40 [ET]
Event Date: 03/31/2009
Event Time: 16:45 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/14/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING TANK TRAILER WITH TOTAL ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS RADIONUCLIDES OF 20 MILLICURIES
The State submitted the following report via fax:
"This event involved a leaking Tank Trailer containing a total activity of radionuclides of 742.88 MBq (20 mCi), primarily of H-3 (738 MBq) and Tc-99 (3.88 MBq). Small contribution from U-233, U234, U235, U236 and U238. The licensee filled the tank trailer and classed the material as an RQ, of UN 1992, Waste, Flammable Liquids, toxic, nos., (n-butyl alcohol, penol), 3 (6.1), PGIII, Marine Pollutant, (PCB's benzene).
"Tank Trailer number E-112178, total gross weight of 46,765 pounds of flammable liquids, toxic, nos, with radioactive condensate.
"This incident is still under investigation, a written report is pending."
Event Report ID No: UT 090003 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44994 | Facility: KEWAUNEE
Region: 3 State: WI
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: BRAD GAUGER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 04/16/2009
Notification Time: 22:33 [ET]
Event Date: 04/16/2009
Event Time: 18:28 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/16/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(i) - PLANT S/D REQD BY TS
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
LAURA KOZAK (R3)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 56 | Power Operation | Event Text REACTOR SHUTDOWN REQUIRED BY TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
"At 1828 [CDT] on 4/16/09, it was discovered that the procedure for calibrating Low Steam Line Pressure Safety Injection Lead/Lag units may not ensure that the Tech Spec setpoint requirements were met. Calibration methodology used a ratio of lead over lag time constants to determine acceptance criteria. KPS [Kewaunee Power Station] Tech Specs Table 3.5-1 item 4 requires that the lead and lag time constants have individual ESF initiation instrument setting limits. When the error was discovered, data was reviewed from the most recent calibrations of the pressure channels. While the ratios met acceptance criteria per the calibration procedure, the individual lag time constants did not meet acceptance criteria per Tech Specs. Per TS Table 3.5-3 item 1c, all channels of the Low Steam Pressure/Line Safety Injection signal were declared inoperable. Per KPS Tech Spec 3.5.c., the plant must be placed in Hot Shutdown, as soon as practicable.
"Negative reactivity insertion began at 2004 [CDT] on 4/16/09. Therefore, this is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(i) 'Initiation of a shutdown required by Tech Specs.' Since both trains of Steam Line Low Pressure SI channels are affected this is also reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) 'any event or condition that results in the nuclear plant being in an unanalyzed condition that significantly degrades plant safety' and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) 'any event or condition that at the time of discovery could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of structures or systems that are needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident.'"
At 2140 CDT, the reactor was at 56% power and hot shutdown is expected to be achieved at 2330 CDT.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |