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Event Notification Report for February 20, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
2/19/2020 - 2/20/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **
 
54518 54521 54522 54531 54532

Agreement State Event Number: 54518
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: QSA GLOBAL, INC
Region: 1
City: BURLINGTON   State: MA
County:
License #: 12-8361
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSHUA DAEHLER
HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE		 Notification Date: 02/11/2020
Notification Time: 16:56 [ET]
Event Date: 02/11/2020
Event Time: 14:37 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/11/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
BRICE BICKETT (R1DO)
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 CS-137 SHIPMENT

The following was received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by email:

"The licensee (QSA Global, Inc.) made [a] telephone notification at 1532 EST on February 11, 2020 to the Agency (Massachusetts Radiation Control Program) that it discovered on same day, February 11, 2020 at 1437 EST, that a shipment destined for Beijing, China, last known to be at the carrier's hub in Memphis, TN, is missing.

"The licensee reported that the missing shipment is a Type A, Yellow II labeled package, UN3332, containing a single 62.9 GBq (1.7 Curies), QSA Global, Inc. Model CDC.CY3 cesium-137 gamma gauging sealed source, serial number A3585.

"The licensee reported that the package was shipped for export from its facility in Burlington, Massachusetts on February 3, 2020 and that the carrier reported on February 6, 2020 that the package will stay at the carrier's Memphis, TN hub until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"The licensee reported that the shipment is missing in the common carrier's system and that there is the possibility that it went un-manifested to China. The licensee additionally reported that the customer will be contacted and sent a photo to see if they have received the package.

"The licensee reported that the consignee is Beijing Shucheng Science and Technology Development Co., Beijing, China under NRC export license PXB11a.03.

"The reporting requirement is immediate and is of 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1), missing licensed radioactive materials in aggregate quantity equal to or greater than 1,000 times quantity specified in 105 CMR 120.297, Appendix C.

"The Agency considers this event to be open."

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

Agreement State Event Number: 54521
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: PINNACLEAIS INSPECTION LLC
Region: 4
City: PASADENA   State: TX
County:
License #: L-07014
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARTHUR TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: KERBY SCALES		 Notification Date: 02/11/2020
Notification Time: 22:30 [ET]
Event Date: 02/11/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/11/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
RAY AZUA (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - QSA EXPOSURE DEVICE OPEN SHUTTER AND CAP

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

"On February 11, 2020, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified of an event by the licensee's consultant. The consultant stated the licensee had purchased a QSA 880 exposure device containing a 111 Curie iridium - 192 source from a licensee in Houston, Texas. The licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) picked up the shipment at the common carrier shipping building in Amarillo, Texas and placed [it] in the back of his pickup truck. The RSO then surveyed the package. The RSO found readings of 40 millirem per hour (mR/hr) on three sides, but 400 mR/hr of the fourth side. The RSO confirmed the reading with a second meter. The RSO contacted the consultant and the consultant had the RSO tape a self-reading dosimeter (SRD) to the side of the box with the highest reading and leave it there for 10 minutes. After ten minutes the RSO read the SRD and found it reading 50 millirem.

"The RSO contacted the company manager (CM) in Dumas, Texas. The CM brought two additional meters to the common carrier location. New readings were taken and the highest dose rate was now 700 mR/hr. The RSO moved the truck to a remote area at the common carrier facility and placed barriers up. The consultant stated they have contacted the licensee who shipped the device who has provided pictures on how the device was packed for shipment.

"The RSO is qualified for source retrieval. It was decided that they would get a power screw driver (to minimize time in the area) and remove the top of the box and inspect the exposure device.

"At 2116 CST, the Agency was notified by the licensee that they had open the transportation container and inspected the device. The RSO found that both the shutter and cap were opened. The RSO closed the shutter and cap using a remote handling tool. A dose rate taken after closing the shutter and cap was 40 mR/hr. The licensee is transporting the device to its storage location.

"The licensee was instructed to provide dose estimates for any individual who may have been exposed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA300."

Exposure received from closure of the door and cap was approximately 3 millirem.

Texas Incident Number: 9742

Agreement State Event Number: 54522
Rep Org: ARIZONA DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: SCOTTSDALE HC DBA HONORHEALTH SCOTTSDALE SHEA MEDICAL CTR
Region: 4
City: SCOTTSDALE   State: AZ
County:
License #: 07-265
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BRIAN GORETZKI
HQ OPS Officer: KERBY SCALES		 Notification Date: 02/12/2020
Notification Time: 19:00 [ET]
Event Date: 02/11/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/12/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
RAY AZUA (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST BRACHYTHERAPY SEED

The following was received from the state of Arizona via email:

"The Department [Arizona Department of Health Services] has received notification from the licensee (Scottsdale Healthcare dba Honorhealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center) that one brachytherapy seed has been lost. It is assumed that the seed went down the drain of an autopsy table on 02/11/2020. All other seeds are accounted for and stored in the licensee's brachytherapy hot lab. The seed model is Civadot, and the isotope is Palladium-103. The Lot ID from which the seed originated is CSH-201. The calibrated activity of the seed on 12/10/2019 was 0.783 mCi (29.0 MBq). The calculated activity as of 02/12/2020 is 0.058 mCi (2.15 MBq). The Department has requested additional information and continues to investigate the event."

Arizona Incident Number: 20-003

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: 54531
Facility: WATTS BAR
Region: 2     State: TN
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: JUSTIN GALLAGHER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD		 Notification Date: 02/19/2020
Notification Time: 10:20 [ET]
Event Date: 02/19/2020
Event Time: 09:57 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/19/2020
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED		 Person (Organization):
RANDY MUSSER (R2DO)
LAURA DUDES (R2RA)
HO NIEH (NRR)
CHRIS MILLER (NRR EO)
SILAS KENNEDY (IRD)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N N 0 Hot Standby 0 Hot Standby
2 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

NOTIFICATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO FIRE IN CONTROL BUILDING

"At 0957 EST on February 19, 2020, a Notification of Unusual Event [NOUE] has been determined to be present at the Watts Bar plant Unit 1 under criteria HU4 for a fire potentially degrading the safety of the plant (fire for more than 15 minutes).

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified for this event."

Notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, CISA IOCC, FEMA NWC (email), DHS Nuclear SSA (email), and FEMA NRCC SASC (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 02/19/2020 AT 1151 EST FROM ANDREW WALDMANN TO DONALD NORWOOD * * *

The fire was declared extinguished at 1033 EST. The NOUE was terminated at 1126 EST. The investigation into the cause of the fire is in progress.

Notified R2DO (Musser), NRR EO (Miller), and IRD MOC (Kennedy). Additionally, notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, CISA IOCC, FEMA NWC (email), DHS Nuclear SSA (email), and FEMA NRCC SASC (email).

Power Reactor Event Number: 54532
Facility: WATTS BAR
Region: 2     State: TN
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: ANDY WALDMAN
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD		 Notification Date: 02/19/2020
Notification Time: 10:20 [ET]
Event Date: 02/19/2020
Event Time: 09:36 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/19/2020
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):
RANDY MUSSER (R2DO)
TOM STEPHEN (BC)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEAM

"At 0936 EST on February 19, 2020, the Watts Bar Unit 1 reactor was manually tripped while operating at 100 percent power in response to loss of control of water level for steam generator number 3. All control and shutdown bank rods inserted properly in response to the manual reactor trip. All safety systems including Auxiliary Feedwater actuated as designed. The plant is stable with decay heat removal through Auxiliary Feedwater and Steam Dump Systems. There is no impact to Unit 2.

"The manual actuation of the Reactor Protection System (RPS) is being reported as a four-hour report under 10 CFR 50. 72(b)(2)(iv)(B).

"The expected actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System (an engineered safety feature) is being reported as an eight-hour report under 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)(iv)(A).

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified for this event."

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021