Event Notification Report for December 18, 2018

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
12/17/2018 - 12/18/2018

** EVENT NUMBERS **


53781 53782 53783 53785 53793

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Agreement State Event Number: 53781
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN
Region: 3
City: URBANA   State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01271-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GIBB VINSON
HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED
Notification Date: 12/07/2018
Notification Time: 12:29 [ET]
Event Date: 11/01/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
PATRICIA PELKE (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOSS OF 2 GENERALLY LICENSED STATIC ELIMINATORS

The following was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency via e-mail:

"A graduate student affiliated with the University of Illinois reported the loss of two generally licensed NRD Model P-2042 static eliminators (5 mCi/Po-210, Serial Numbers A2KX694 and A2KX695). They were shipped on March 3, 2017, whereupon he proceeded to perform small neutron experiments. The devices were then put into a storage building and subsequently lost during a move to a new location sometime in November 2017. He believes the devices went to a landfill. At the time of loss they would have decayed to around 1.5 mCi each. By today's date, they would have decayed to approximately 200 uCi each.

"In August of 2018, the general licensee reported it to NRD, Inc., and they referred him to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. A report was received on the matter on November 19, 2018. The investigation is ongoing."

State of Illinois Item Number IL180043

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

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Non-Agreement State Event Number: 53782
Rep Org: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Licensee: US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Region: 1
City: WASHINGTON   State: DC
County:
License #: 03-23853-01VA
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CLINT ABELL
HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED
Notification Date: 12/07/2018
Notification Time: 12:34 [ET]
Event Date: 11/16/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
PATRICIA PELKE (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

LOSS OF SEALED SOURCE AT VA MEDICAL CENTER

The following is a summary of information provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs via e-mail:

"The source is believed to have been mistakenly discarded with non-radioactive trash on Friday, November 16, 2018. The loss was discovered on Monday November 19, 2018. It is believed that the source is buried deep in a commercial landfill in Johnson City, TN. A radiation survey performed at the landfill did not locate the source.

"The source contains approximately 15 millicuries of cobalt-57.

"The US Department of Veterans Affairs hold NRC Master Materials License No. 03-23853-01VA. The source was lost at the VA Medical Center [located in] Johnson City, TN 37604. This facility holds VA radioactive materials permit number 41-19792-01.

"We expect that doses to personnel from the lost source are and will be much less than the NRC's dose limit for members of the public.

"The State of Tennessee has been notified of the lost source. Also, the VA's NRC Liaison (Parker) of NRC Region III, has also been notified."

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

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Agreement State Event Number: 53783
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: HEART & VASCULAR ASSOCIATES, PC
Region: 4
City: LAFAYETTE   State: LA
County:
License #: LA-12552-L01, AI # 1177452
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOE NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED
Notification Date: 12/07/2018
Notification Time: 16:35 [ET]
Event Date: 12/03/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SOURCE ABANDONMENT THROUGH BANKRUPTCY

The following was received from the Louisiana Radiation Protection Department (LDEQ/ERSD/Radiation Section) via e-mail:

"On or about December 3, 2018, [an individual] contacted KLS Physics to inform them he had acquired some sealed sources (check sources) in a bankruptcy liquidation of assets. KLS Physics had provided physics support to HVA [Heart & Vascular Associates, PC] for their Radioactive Materials Program. KLS Physics instructed [the individual] to contact LDEQ/ERSD/Radiation Section to determine how to proceed correcting/solving the situation.

"LDEQ staff received [the individual's] notification on December 3, 2018. The inventory performed by KLS Physics on December 4, 2018, indicated the five (5) sources are check sources of Cs-137 and Co-57. The activities range from 0.02 microCuries Co-57 to 176 microCuries of Co-57. At this time, the Department has taken possession of three of the sources.

"LDEQ has assigned this NMED Incident to an investigator. This is a preliminary investigation report. Information will be updated when available.

"The five sources were abandoned by [the licensee], who is the registered owner of Heart and Vascular Associates, PC. [The licensee's] equipment was sold during a bankruptcy liquidation to pay expenses. The licensed source possession and Regulatory Reporting requirements are [the licensee's] responsibility.

"LDEQ staff received [the individual's] notification on December 3,2018. He reported the acquisition of the sources to KLS Physics Services. The name was on documents included in the box of equipment. KLS in turn had him contact the LDEQ's Radiation Section.

"The Department dispatched an inspector to [the individual's] residence to assess the situation. [The individual] only had three of the five sources in question. All three were is their lead pigs and surface readings were minimal. Staff personnel is still attempting to contact [the licensee] about the remaining two sources."

The LDEQ reported that the sources that were found had the following activities: 69.35 microCuries of Cs-137, 57.98 microCuries of Cs-137, and 0.01 microCuries of Co-57. The sources that are still missing had the following activities: 176 microCuries of Co-57 and 0.62 microCuries of Cs-137.

Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA-180019

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

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Agreement State Event Number: 53785
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: OCHSNER CLINIC FOUNDATION
Region: 4
City: KENNER   State: LA
County:
License #: LA-0002-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH
Notification Date: 12/10/2018
Notification Time: 18:12 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/10/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
NICK TAYLOR (R4DO)
ANDREA KOCK (NMSS)
PATRICIA MILLIGAN (INES)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURE

The following information was received from the State of Louisiana via email:

"[On 12/7/2018, the licensee's RSO reported to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)] that his personnel monitoring provider had informed him of excessive exposures to a Nuclear Medicine Technologist's (NMT) monitors. The monitors had received a whole-body exposure of 6,358 mRem and an extremity exposure 29,245 mRem. The monitoring period was 9/20/20018 to 10/19/2018.

"[The RSO's] in-house investigation revealed he had a 'Reportable NMED Event'. The event occurred under the Ochsner Clinic Foundation Broad Scope Medical License (OCFBS), LA-0002-L01. The event involves two monitors, a whole-body and an extremity monitor. The monitoring company could not determine the type of exposure using their normal exposure filters.

"The RSO for this licensee did his own investigation after he was notified of the exposures on 12/5/2018. The RSO interviewed the NMT, reviewed area survey records, and did a bioassay of the NMT. The isotopes in use at the facility are Tc-99, Lu-177, and a Ga-68 generator. The NMT attaches both monitors together for storage after their use. The NMT did admit to not being in gloves at all times when handling radioactive isotopes. The RSO called in the possible NMED event [to the LDEQ] when he finished his investigation on 12/7/2018.

"This incident is being reported as a (potential) real or threatened excessive exposure NMED Event on 12/10/2018. The actual exposure determination will be up-dated when LDEQ concludes its investigation.

"LDEQ considers this incident still open and subject to investigation and corrective action implementation."

Event Report ID No.: LA-180020

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Power Reactor Event Number: 53793
Facility: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR
Region: 4     State: AR
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: SEAN DAVIS
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 12/18/2018
Notification Time: 15:40 [ET]
Event Date: 12/18/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/18/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP - LOSS OF NON-VITAL BUS

"On December 18, 2018 at 1126 CST, Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 (ANO-1) reactor automatically tripped due to a loss of the A-1, non-vital 4160V bus. All control rods fully inserted. Loss of the A-1 bus resulted in de-energizing A-3 vital 4160V bus. Emergency Diesel Generator #1, K-4A, started automatically and is currently powering A-3 vital bus. Non-vital buses A-2, H-1, and H-2 and vital bus A-4 transferred power automatically to the Startup Transformer #1. Off-site power remains energized and available for ANO-1. The reason for loss of A-1 bus is unknown at this time. Currently, ANO-1 has stabilized in Mode 3, Hot Standby."

Decay heat is being removed by the main condenser using the turbine bypass valves. The loss of the A-1, non-vital bus, is under investigation. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the state.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021