Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2020

Event Notification Report for February 13, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
2/12/2020 - 2/13/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54511
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: THE METHODIST HOSPITAL Region: 4 City: HOUSTON State: TX County: License #: L00457 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHRIS MOORE HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH	Notification Date: 02/05/2020 Notification Time: 09:31 [ET] Event Date: 02/04/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 02/05/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): NICK TAYLOR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BRACHYTHERAPY SOURCE FAILED TO RETRACT

The following information was received from the state of Texas via email:

"The Methodist Hospital reported a source retraction failure during an intravascular Brachytherapy treatment performed on 2/4/2020. The intravascular brachytherapy system (Best Vascular Model A-1000 Serial #89670) contained a 1.3 GBq (35.2 mCi) Sr-90 source (AEA Model SICW.2 Serial #ZA925). The patient was treated as prescribed and the source was completely out of the patient. As it was retracting into the device, it didn't go into home position. The device was immediately placed in the emergency equipment box (shielding box) per manufacturer's instructions for response to this type of occurrence. There was no underexposure or overexposure to the patient. The manufacturer has been contacted to investigate and conduct repairs. Additional information in accordance with SA-300 will be provided."

Texas Incident No.: 9739

Agreement State	Event Number: 54512
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY Licensee: QUAKER OATS COMPANY Region: 3 City: BRIDGEVIEW State: IL County: License #: GL No. 9223623 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHALES VINSON HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE	Notification Date: 02/05/2020 Notification Time: 21:55 [ET] Event Date: 02/05/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 02/05/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): ANN MARIE STONE (R3DO) ILTAB (EMAIL) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST GAUGING SOURCE

The following was sent by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) via email:

"The Corporate H & S Mgr. [Health & Safety Manager] at PepsiCo/Quaker Oats reported the loss of an ATl-100S/500 microCurie [Sr-90] general licensed gauging source (SN 30056). They were doing leak tests this morning and found that the whole packaging unit had been removed presumably by Dudek Scrap during a remodel some time ago. They are checking on dates and will contact the scrap dealer to try and find it. IEMA inspectors plan to investigate on 2/6/20 to confirm details at the user's site and also will visit the scrap yard to see if the source is recoverable. At the moment this is considered an accidental loss due to poor oversight and is not related to any criminal theft or diversion."

Item Number: IL200004

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

Power Reactor	Event Number: 54523
Facility: CATAWBA Region: 2 State: SC Unit: [1] [] [] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: WILL FOWLER HQ OPS Officer: KERBY SCALES	Notification Date: 02/12/2020 Notification Time: 21:51 [ET] Event Date: 02/12/2020 Event Time: 18:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 02/12/2020
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): ERIC MICHEL (R2DO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

A/R

100

Power Operation

Hot Standby

Event Text

AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO MAIN TURBINE TRIP

"At 1800 EST, on February 12, 2020, with Unit 1 in Mode 1 at 100 percent power, the reactor automatically tripped due to a turbine trip. The trip was not complex, with all systems responding normally post trip. Because of the reactor trip, the Auxiliary Feedwater (AFW) System actuated as expected due to on ATWS Mitigation System Actuation Circuitry (AMSAC) signal. The AFW pumps started as designed when the valid system actuation was received.

"Operations responded and stabilized the plant. Decay heat is being removed by discharging steam to the main condenser using the condenser steam dump valves.

"Due to the Reactor Protection System (RPS) actuation while critical, this event is being reported as an 4-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B). This event is also being reported as an 8-hour non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that results in a valid actuation of the AFW system.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

"The site remains in a normal electrical lineup."

The cause of the turbine trip is under investigation.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021