| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
06/24/2009 - 06/25/2009 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 45144 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: METCO
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: L-03-018
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 06/19/2009
Notification Time: 10:02 [ET]
Event Date: 06/10/2009
Event Time: 02:35 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 06/19/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNABLE TO RETRACT RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE
The following information was obtained from the State of Texas via email:
"On June 10, 2009, at approximately 2:35 a.m. while performing radiographic operations at GE Oil & Gas, two radiographers found they were unable to retract the radioactive material into the shielded position.
"They had made approximately 13 radiographic exposures prior to the malfunction. One of the radiographers contacted an approved Source Retrieval Supervisor, who was at the jobsite grading film. The Source Retrieval Supervisor immediately went to the area where the radiographic operation was located, assessed the situation and ensured the barricaded area was at less than 2 mR/hour. He determined the source was located within the collimator, but would not retract by normal means. The source tube was positioned with a fairly sharp bend which he felt may have put the drive cable in a bind, so he ran to the exposure device and repositioned it to reduce the source tube's bend. This action had no effect.
"The Source Retrieval Supervisor contacted the Site Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) by phone and reported the situation. They agreed that the Source Retrieval Supervisor should attempt to return the source to the exposure device by hand pulling the drive cable. After obtaining tools, the Source Retrieval Supervisor and one of the radiographers approached the crankout assembly, disassembled the crankout, and pulled the drive cable to return the source to the shielded position. After ensuring the source was in the exposure device, the crankout was further disassembled so that it could be disconnected from the source pigtail, the exposure device was locked and the source tube removed. The Source Retrieval Supervisor then called the RSO at approximately 3:00 a.m. to report the successful source retrieval. There were no members of the public in the immediate area.
"Pocket dosimeter reading for Source Retrieval Supervisor: 10 mR at start of retrieval operation, 15 mR at finish.
"Pocket dosimeter reading for Radiographer Aiding in Source Retrieval: 15 mR at start of retrieval operation, 15 mR at finish.
"Pocket dosimeter reading for Other Radiographer: 0
"Equipment involved:
Exposure device: Spec-150, s/n 0181
Source: QSA Global, 969, s/n 52911B, 35.8 curies
Source tube: NDT Repair & Supply, 7', serial number B13-2
Crankout: SPEC, 35', s/n 0603"
Texas Incident No. I-8641 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45153 | Facility: LIMERICK
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BRANDON SHULTZ
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 06/23/2009
Notification Time: 22:40 [ET]
Event Date: 06/23/2009
Event Time: 20:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
PAMELA HENDERSON (R1DO)
|
| 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 PARTIAL LOSS OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DATA SYSTEM (ERDS)
"A partial loss of the ability to send ERDS data to the NRC for greater than 60 minutes occurred. The loss affects transmission of Standby Liquid Control Tank levels, Main Condenser Vacuum levels, and data for North and South Ventilation Stacks and Drywall Post LOCA radiation monitors.
"The [Safety Parameter Display System] SPDS, [Health Physics Network] HPN and [Emergency Notification System] ENS systems are not affected.
"Troubleshooting to identify and correct the data loss to ERDS is in progress."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 0029 EDT ON 6/24/09 FROM SHULTZ TO HUFFMAN * * *
"Data for North and South Ventilation Stacks and Drywell Post LOCA radiation monitors was restored to ERDS at 2345 hours on 6/23/09" The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 1310 EDT ON 06/24/09 FROM MARK CHRISTOPHER TO S. SANDIN * * *
"Data gathered from Standby Liquid Control and Main Condenser Vacuum is not plant data that is transmitted to ERDS. ERDS was fully restored with the required input data at 2345 hours on 6/23/2009."
The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R1DO (Henderson). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45154 | Facility: DUANE ARNOLD
Region: 3 State: IA
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: ELLIS VANN
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 06/23/2009
Notification Time: 23:37 [ET]
Event Date: 06/23/2009
Event Time: 17:04 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
| Person (Organization):
ANN MARIE STONE (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text AUTO START OF EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATORS DUE TO OFFSITE VOLTAGE TRANSIENT
"This report is being made under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A), 'Any event or condition that results in valid actuation of any of the systems listed in paragraph (b)(3)(iv)(A) of this section' due to the auto start of the 'A' and 'B' Standby Diesel Generators.
"The auto start of the 'A' and 'B' Standby Diesel Generators occurred on a valid bus undervoltage condition caused by a transient on the 161 kV Fairfax line while there were severe thunderstorms in the DAEC area. The Standby Diesel Generator supply breakers did not close onto their respective essential buses. The essential buses were not required to load onto either diesel as they remained powered from their normal power supply, 1X003 Start-up Transformer, during and after the event. Offsite power remained fully operable during and following the event. The Standby Diesel Generators have been returned to the standby/readiness condition.
"As designed, both Emergency Service Water systems auto started when the SBDGs started. The Emergency Service Water systems have been returned to the standby/readiness condition.
"All ECCS systems were available before the event and have remained available following the event.
"The NRC Resident Inspector has been informed of the automatic SBDG start." |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 45155 | Rep Org: MATTINGLY TECH SERVICES
Licensee: MATTINGLY TECH SEVICES
Region: 4
City: MOLT State: MT
County:
License #: 252147901
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: RAY SIERRA
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE | Notification Date: 06/24/2009
Notification Time: 10:37 [ET]
Event Date: 06/22/2009
Event Time: [MDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
JACK FOSTER (FSME)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Category 2" level of radioactive material. | Event Text RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA TEMPORARILY LOST
On June 22, 2009, the licensee placed an INC IR-100 radiography camera on the tailgate of his work truck. The radiography camera contained a 54 curie Ir-192 source. The camera was not secured on the truck and the tailgate remained in the open position. When he arrived at the job site 25 minutes later he realized the camera had fallen off the truck. In order to look for the camera, the licensee proceeded back along the same route he had taken to the work site. The licensee noticed a police vehicle travelling on the same remote rural road. He stopped the police vehicle for assistance and discovered that the police officer had coincidentally just recovered the camera from a passerby. A passerby had found the camera on the road and contacted the police. The camera was not damaged. There was no personal exposure as a result of this event. The camera was out of the licensee's possession for approximately one hour.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45156 | Facility: FITZPATRICK
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JOHN WALKOWIAK
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE | Notification Date: 06/24/2009
Notification Time: 11:19 [ET]
Event Date: 06/24/2009
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
PAMELA HENDERSON (R1DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text LOSS OF TONE ALERT RADIOS
"At 0945 on June 24, 2009, with the James A. Fitzpatrick (JAF) Nuclear Power Plant operating at 100% reactor power, Oswego County Emergency Management notified JAF that the National Weather Service had notified them that the Tone Alert Radios had been out of service since 0845.
"This impacts the ability to readily notify a portion of the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) population for the Nine Mile Point and JAF Nuclear Power Plants. This failure meets NRC 8-hour reporting criterion 10CFR.50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
"The National Weather Service is currently working to determine the cause of the failure and time frame for system restoration.
"The County alert sirens which also function as part of the public prompt notification system remain operable.
"The loss of the Tone Alert Radios constitutes a significant loss of emergency off-site communications ability. Compensatory measures have been verified to be available should the prompt notification system be needed. This consists of utilizing the hyper reach system which is a reverse 911 feature available from the county 911 center. Local Law Enforcement personnel are also available for 'Route Alerting' of the affected areas of the EPZ.
"The event has been entered into the corrective action program and the NRC Resident Inspector has been briefed and the State PSC will also be notified."
See Event Notice #45157 for Nine Mile Point report. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45157 | Facility: NINE MILE POINT
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-2,[2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: CHRISTOPHER GRAPES
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE | Notification Date: 06/24/2009
Notification Time: 11:48 [ET]
Event Date: 06/24/2009
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
PAMELA HENDERSON (R1DO)
|
| 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 LOSS OF TONE ALERT RADIOS
"At 0945 on June 24, 2009, with the Nine Mile Point (NMP) Nuclear Power Plant operating at 100% reactor power, Oswego County Emergency Management notified NMP that the National Weather Service had notified them that the Tone Alert Radios had been out of service since 0845.
"This impacts the ability to readily notify a portion of the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) population for the NMP and James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plants. This failure meets NRC 8-hour reporting criterion 10CFR.50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
"The National Weather Service is currently working to determine the cause of the failure and time frame for system restoration.
"The County alert sirens which also function as part of the public prompt notification system remain operable.
"The loss of the Tone Alert Radios constitutes a significant loss of emergency off-site communications ability. Compensatory measures have been verified to be available should the prompt notification system be needed. This consists of utilizing the hyper reach system which is a reverse 911 feature available from the county 911 center. Local Law Enforcement personnel are also available for 'Route Alerting' of the affected areas of the EPZ.
"The event has been entered into the corrective action program and the NRC Resident Inspector has been briefed and the State PSC will also be notified."
See Event Notice # 45156 James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant report. |
| Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 45158 | Rep Org: US ARMY TACOM LCMC ROCK ISLAND
Licensee: US ARMY
Region: 3
City: ROCK ISLAND State: IL
County:
License #: 12-00722-06
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: THOMAS GIZICKI
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 06/24/2009
Notification Time: 12:29 [ET]
Event Date: 04/16/2009
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
| Person (Organization):
ANN MARIE STONE (R3DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text SOURCES LOST DURING SHIPMENT
Two Improved Chemical Agent Monitors (ICAMs) were lost during a shipment from ORNG [Oregon National Guard] to Guam National Guard. Each ICAM contains a sealed source containing 10 mCi of Ni-63. (SSDR NR-1129-D-103-S). The ICAMs were packaged by ORNG personnel in May, 2007. The missing ICAMs were reported missing to the licensee on 9 Feb 09. In the weeks following the notification, the licensee conducted an investigation to determine if the ICAMs were actually lost or misplaced within military control. The licensee believes the two ICAMs were lost during the transport between Andersen AFB and Guam National Guard between 15-17 Aug 2007.
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 source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 45161 | Facility: BRAIDWOOD
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BUTLER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 06/24/2009
Notification Time: 19:02 [ET]
Event Date: 06/24/2009
Event Time: 16:39 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 06/24/2009 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
ANN MARIE STONE (R3DO)
|
| 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 ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES NOTIFIED OF A FISH KILL
"At 1639 CDT on 6/24/09, it was discovered that a fish kill took place in the Braidwood Station's cooling lake due to increased temperature. As summer air temperature increased, the cooling lake temperature increased above 93 degrees F, the threshold at which species susceptible to increased temperature begin to perish. It was communicated to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) that a fish kill has occurred. This notification is being made in accordance with the Exelon Reportability Manual section SAF 1.9, Braidwood Station Facility Operating License Appendix B Section 4.1,'Unusual or Important Environmental Events', and 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi)."
See also EN #45151 for similar event.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |