| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
12/22/2010 - 12/23/2010 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 46489 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: H&H X-RAY SERVICES INC.
Region: 4
City: LUFKIN State: TX
County:
License #: 02516
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 12/17/2010
Notification Time: 19:16 [ET]
Event Date: 12/10/2010
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/17/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
LINDA HOWELL (R4DO)
KEVIN O'SULLIVAN (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA LOCKING DEVICE FAILURE RESULTING IN PERSONNEL EXPOSURE
"On December 17, 2010, the Agency [Texas Department of Health Services] was notified by the licensee that on December 10, 2010, the locking device on QSA model 880 camera containing 97 curies of Iridium (Ir) 192 failed to activate. The radiography crew (group A) had completed operations at one site near Lufkin, Texas, and was moving to a new location at the same site. The radiography camera with the cranking device and guide tube still attached were placed in the dark room of the radiographers' truck. The licensee stated that a survey was conducted to verify the source was in the fully shielded, locked position. As the radiographer was driving to the new location, he passed about 5 feet from another group of radiographers (group B) from the same licensee. As group A passed by group B, group B's dosimeters alarmed. Group B stopped group A and told them that their alarms had gone off. Group A went to the camera, picked up the crank for the camera, and found that the source had moved from the locked position approximately one quarter of a turn. The radiographer cranked the source back to the fully shielded position and secured the camera for transportation.
"The radiographers did not inform the licensee of the event until December 16, 2010. At that time, the licensee began an investigation of the event, including reenactments of the event to determine how much dose the radiographers had received. During the investigation, it was discovered that both radiographer's self reading pocket dosimeters had been read after the camera was secured and were reading off scale. The licensee determined that radiographers 'A' were eight feet from the source while they were driving and would have been exposed to the source for approximately 10 minutes. A dose estimate of 1,700 millirem was made for both individuals. The thermoluminescent dosimeters for radiographers 'A' have been sent to the processor for reading. The licensee stated they expected the readings by late Monday December 20. The licensee stated that several pieces of radiography film were lying on the seat of the truck when the event occurred. The film was developed and indicated that it had been exposed to approximately 1,700 millirem. The licensee stated that neither radiographer would have received enough exposure to exceed any limit. The licensee stated that no member of the general public was exposed to any radiation as a result of this event.
"The licensee has not inspected the camera. The licensee stated that the camera is out of service and is currently stored in their storage facility. Additional information has been requested of the licensee. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #I-8803 |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 46497 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: LANTHEUS MEDICAL IMAGING
Region: 1
City: NORTH BILLERICA State: MA
County: MIDDLESEX
License #: 60-0088
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANTHONY CARPENITO
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER | Notification Date: 12/20/2010
Notification Time: 10:34 [ET]
Event Date: 12/19/2010
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/21/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
NEIL PERRY (R1DO)
JIM WHITNEY (ILTA)
GLENDA VILLAMAR (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Category 2" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DELAYED MEDICAL SHIPMENT
The following was received via email from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
"Licensee reported not receiving 400 Ci Mo-99/Tc-99m shipment from supplier on schedule (arrival originally expected for 12/18/10). Licensee is in communication with supplier and carrier(s) in ongoing effort to locate missing package.
"Last known location, per IRE (shipper), was Frankfurt, Germany. At 12/20/10, 8:30 AM ET, licensee received verbal confirmation confirming the shipment is still on the ground in Germany. Licensee has requested more definitive confirmation from its source(s).
"The Agency [Commonwealth] considers this event still OPEN."
* * * UPDATE AT 1330 EST ON 12/21/2010 FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS TO JOHN SHOEMAKER * * *
"The licensee stated that photographic evidence has been received confirming the shipment is still on the ground in Germany. The shipment will be returned to the supplier.
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts considers the event to be closed."
Notified R1DO (Perry), FSME (Burgess), and ILTAB (Whitney)
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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
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. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 46498 | Rep Org: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY
Licensee: WESTERN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Region: 4
City: PHOENIX State: AZ
County:
License #: AZ-07-080
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: AUBREY GODWIN
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 12/20/2010
Notification Time: 15:10 [ET]
Event Date: 12/20/2010
Event Time: [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/20/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
KEVIN O'SULLIVAN (FSME)
JIM WHITNEY (ILTA)
MEXICO EMAIL ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE
The State of Arizona emailed the following information:
"This First Notice constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received WITHOUT verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Agency Staff [Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency] at this time.
"At approximately 8:00 AM December 20, 2010, the licensee phoned the Agency [state] to report of a stolen Troxler Laboratories Model # 3430, serial # 36977. The truck from which the gauge was stolen was located at 3330 West Greenway Road Bld. #7, Phoenix, AZ. The gauge contained 8 milliCuries of Cesium-137 and [40 milliCuries (typical) Americium-241: Beryllium]. Phoenix Police were notified at 6:00 AM by the employee. The employee stated that his keys were stolen out of his apartment. The thief then took the gauge out of its agency required lockbox from the bed of a company truck. Phoenix PD is also investigating this event.
"The Agency continues to investigate the actions of the licensee and timeliness of reporting the theft. Mexico, the States of CA, CO, NE, NM, UT, and TX as well as the U.S. NRC and the Arizona Governor's office have been notified of this event. Press coverage is not anticipated."
First Notice: 10-014
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
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: 46503 | Facility: SAN ONOFRE
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [ ] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: JAMES VRLA
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 12/21/2010
Notification Time: 23:52 [ET]
Event Date: 12/21/2010
Event Time: 19:32 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | | 3 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text ACCESS TO PRIMARY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FACILITY NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO ROAD FLOODING
"Notified by the Security Shift Commander at 1932 [PST] that access to the primary EOF is not possible due to flooding. San Onofre will activate the alternate EOF if an event is declared. There are no other affected systems or loss to emergency response capabilities due to this flooding."
Access to the site has not been impacted due to the flooding. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
See similar report #46499. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46504 | Facility: SEQUOYAH
Region: 2 State: TN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DENNIS DIMOPOULOS
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 12/22/2010
Notification Time: 21:33 [ET]
Event Date: 11/14/2010
Event Time: 05:09 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.73(a)(1) - INVALID SPECIF SYSTEM ACTUATION
| Person (Organization):
DAVID AYRES (R2DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Hot Standby | 0 | Hot Standby | Event Text INVALID ACTUATION OF TURBINE DRIVEN AUXILIARY FEEDWATER PUMP
"This report is a 60-day telephone notification in lieu of written LER being made under 10CFR50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) and 10CFR50.73(a)(1). The event was an invalid actuation of the Unit 1 turbine driven auxiliary feedwater (TDAFW) pump.
"At 0509 EST on 11/14/2010, during testing of the 1B main feedwater pump (MFP), the TDAFW pump started and the motor driven auxiliary feedwater (MDAFW) valves received a signal to go to automatic control. An investigation determined that during previous testing of the 1A MFP, the 1A MFP trip relay (RTT-1) remained stuck in the trip condition. The stuck relay on the 1A MFP and the trip test on 1B MFP made up the logic for a TDAFW and MDAFW start from both MFPs tripped signal. The 1A MFP trip relay was replaced.
"The Unit 1A and B train MDAFW and TDAFW system received the actuation signal. The 1A and 1B MDAFW pumps were already in service at the time for Mode 3 operation. Actual plant conditions did not exist that required an automatic start of the auxiliary feedwater system. Therefore, this actuation was invalid. A complete train actuation occurred and the auxiliary feedwater system functioned successfully."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46505 | Facility: PALISADES
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] CE
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL MONACELLI
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 12/22/2010
Notification Time: 22:12 [ET]
Event Date: 12/22/2010
Event Time: 20:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2010 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
| Person (Organization):
ERIC DUNCAN (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 FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT INVOLVING A SUPERVISOR
A licensed operator had a confirmed positive for a Controlled Substance during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's unescorted access has been suspended. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified. | |