| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
05/12/2009 - 05/13/2009 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 45050 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: UCLA
Region: 4
City: LOS ANGELES State: CA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DONALD OESTERLE
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 05/08/2009
Notification Time: 17:37 [ET]
Event Date: 05/06/2009
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 05/08/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
GREG PICK (R4DO)
MARK SHAFFER (FSME)
ILTAB VIA EMAIL ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- MISSING SEALED SOURCES
"UCLA was unable to locate 2 sealed sources which were listed in their inventory database. The first source was 50 micro Ci Co 60 as of 5/1/2000. Current activity is 15.28 micro Ci which exceeds the 1 microCi 24 hour reporting requirement. The second source was listed in their database as 1.83 micro Ci of Cm 244 as of 10/12/1988.
"UCLA believes the original activity for the Cm 244 source to be 1.83 nano Ci, and was listed incorrectly in their database. They contacted the Manufacturer, Isotope Products Laboratory, who informed them that they did not manufacture micro Curie quantities, but only nano Curie quantities of Cm 244. The current activity of the Cm 244 source (decayed to date of notification) is either 832 nano Curies or 0.832 nano Curies. The former exceeds the 1 nano Ci 24 hour reportable quantity requirements.
"UCLA believes the Cm 244 Source was installed in an instrument, but they were unable to locate the instrument at the time of notification. UCLA is continuing to search for the missing sources."
The UCLA RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) believes the sources are still on the campus.
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: 45056 | Facility: HATCH
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: ED BURKETT
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 05/12/2009
Notification Time: 08:40 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2009
Event Time: 07:16 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/12/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
EUGENE GUTHRIE (R2DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Cold Shutdown | 0 | Cold Shutdown | | 2 | N | N | 0 | Cold Shutdown | 0 | Cold Shutdown | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO ELEVATED TRITIUM LEVELS IN GROUND WATER SAMPLE
"[The licensee was] notified by Southern Nuclear Company (SNC) Chemistry that, while performing [the procedure for monitoring] the tritium activity results for ground water sample well number T3, elevated tritium levels were detected.
"On May 5, 2009, [a] data report from Georgia Power Central (GPC) Lab containing tritium activity results for ground water sample well T3 was received and reviewed for input into [the] Chemistry database. [The] activity for well T3 was observed to be elevated (36,500 pCi/L). This concentration had increased from [the] last sample activity (5400 pCi/L) on March 16, 2009. Chemistry personnel were directed to resample for verification [of the elevated activity levels]. A sample was collected on May 6, 2009 and shipped to GPC Lab. Sample results for the verification sample were received May 11, 2009. These results were confirmed to be elevated (34,300 pCi/L) compared to previous levels. Chemistry Management has notified the resident NRC inspector as well as SNC environmental affairs. SNC Corporate is performing the necessary notifications to the Georgia State Environmental Protection Division (EPD)."
The licensee is developing a plan to ascertain the cause of this event.
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45057 | Facility: BYRON
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: SHANE HARVEY
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 05/12/2009
Notification Time: 11:40 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2009
Event Time: 02:44 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/12/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3)
|
| 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 LOSS OF EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT CAPABILITY
"Communication problems between the plant process computer and radiation monitoring system occurred at 0244 CDT. The failure disabled 17% of the plant data information inputs to the NRC Emergency Response Data System (ERDS). ERDS was not restored within one hour, which necessitates this ENS notification per 50.72(b)(3)(xiii)."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE FROM SHANE HARVEY TO JOHN KNOKE AT 1605 ON 05/12/09 * * *
Licensee stated that ERDS has been restored and Emergency Assessment capability is fully operable.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R3 (Michael Kunowski). |
| Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 45058 | Facility: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RX Type: URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE PRODUCTION
Comments: UF6 CONVERSION (DRY PROCESS)
Region: 2
City: METROPOLIS State: IL
County: MASSAC
License #: SUB-526
Agreement: Y
Docket: 04003392
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL GREENO
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 05/12/2009
Notification Time: 12:18 [ET]
Event Date: 05/11/2009
Event Time: 11:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/12/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
40.60(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
| Person (Organization):
JAY HENSON (R2)
MARISSA BAILEY (NMSS)
| Event Text MULTIPLE FAILURES TO MEET 24 HOUR REPORTING CRITERIA
"On May 11, 2009, at approximately 1130 CST, licensee initial evaluation concluded that events meeting the 24 hour reporting criteria of 10CFR40.60 (b)(1) had not been reported during the period 10/17/08 through 03/29/09 (37 events total). Each event involved leakage from processing equipment located in the Feeds Material Building, (FMB). The material involved in each case was either natural uranium, or UF4 (green salt), in the form of a dry powder or dust. It is believed in each case the quantity of material exceeded 5 times the lowest ALI as specified in 10CFR40.60(b)(1)(ii), which for this material is less than 3 grams.
"In each case appropriate protective measures were applied when contamination was discovered. Protective measures included turning on precautionary lights, and requiring the wearing of respirators for personnel entering affected areas. Cleanup of affected areas was also conducted.
"A more conservative interpretation of which events are considered unplanned versus planned has been incorporated. The previous interpretation historically applied, considered the event planned, if at the first indication of leakage, mitigating actions were initiated. The more conservative interpretation will incorporate considering the event unplanned, if mitigating measures were not already in place for a planned activity at the time of discovery. This more conservative interpretation has been discussed with NRC Region II, has been adopted as the facility's practice, and communicated to licensee management.
"Review of personnel bioassay data indicates no resulting increase in personnel dose measurements. Review of liquid and gaseous effluent data, and sampling data from the restricted area boundary all indicate no significant increases in effluent measurements, and all analytical results are well within regulatory limits. There is no impact to plant workers or members of the public as a result of this event. Routine contamination surveys are being conducted in accordance with Health Physics program procedures, and results are reviewed with the plant ALARA committee.
"This event will be addressed by corrective actions in accordance with the plant Corrective Action Program." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45060 | Facility: MONTICELLO
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-3
NRC Notified By: WILLIAM STANG
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 05/13/2009
Notification Time: 02:36 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2009
Event Time: 21:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/13/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 50 | Power Operation | 50 | Power Operation | Event Text INSTRUMENT VALVE MALFUNCTION POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE ISOLATION CAPABILITY OF ONE OF THE MAIN STEAM LINES
"The equalizing valve for one of the four Main Steam Line (MSL) Flow - High differential pressure switches on the 'B' MSL was leaking through. The leak effectively reduced the differential pressure across all four MSL Flow - High valves on the 'B' MSL. This reduction in differential pressure thus potentially would not allow the switches to isolate the 'B' MSL at the required setpoint. This switch was for group 1 isolation. This loss of safety function was restored by isolating the faulty valve block for DPIS-2-117A. All other switches are now reading normally. The repairs for the faulty valve are in progress."
The licensee will notify NRC Resident Inspector, State, and local authorities. | |