Event Notification Report for July 25, 2003
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
07/24/2003 - 07/25/2003
EVENT NUMBERS
40031400214002240019
General Information or Other
Event Number: 40031
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: H&G INSPECTION
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: L02181
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: HELEN WATKINS
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Licensee: H&G INSPECTION
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: L02181
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: HELEN WATKINS
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 07/29/2003
Notification Time: 17:22 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 10:45 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/29/2003
Notification Time: 17:22 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 10:45 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/29/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
DANIEL GILLEN (NMSS)
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
DANIEL GILLEN (NMSS)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT OF PERSONNEL OVEREXPOSURE
"A [radiography] source was not retracted to the fully shielded position resulting in a 17.978 R exposure to a radiographer and a 2.650 R exposure to a trainee. A trainer was also at the job site, but was not exposed during the event. The radiographers were up on top of a scaffolding platform radiographing a 100 foot high vessel. The first exposure ran for 2 minutes and the film was too light for use. The second exposure ran for 5 minutes and the radiographer cranked the source back, but not all the way. The source remained 6-8 inches outside the shielded position. The radiographers were up on the scaffolding in an 8 foot space for about 15 minutes with the source exposed. When the radiographers came to make a third exposure, they noticed the source was out. It took about 1 to 11/2 cranks to retract it. The crank cables were about 35 feet long and guide tubes were used.
"The radiographer's ratemeter did not work and the trainee did not hear his above the excessive noise and the earplugs. Both pocket dosimeters were off scale. The dosimeters were sent for emergency processing on Friday, July 25, 2003, to determine if an overexposure had occurred. The exposure results were received by the Licensee on Monday, July 28, 2003. The Licensee then reported the exposure to the Agency. An Agency inspector made a site visit to the Licensee's facility to investigate the event on July 29, 2003."
Equipment: SPEC 300 exposure device ser. #: 009
Source: 99 Curie cobalt-60, SPEC Model G70, ser. #: C60-02
This occurred at the Amoco Refinery in Texas City, TX.
"A [radiography] source was not retracted to the fully shielded position resulting in a 17.978 R exposure to a radiographer and a 2.650 R exposure to a trainee. A trainer was also at the job site, but was not exposed during the event. The radiographers were up on top of a scaffolding platform radiographing a 100 foot high vessel. The first exposure ran for 2 minutes and the film was too light for use. The second exposure ran for 5 minutes and the radiographer cranked the source back, but not all the way. The source remained 6-8 inches outside the shielded position. The radiographers were up on the scaffolding in an 8 foot space for about 15 minutes with the source exposed. When the radiographers came to make a third exposure, they noticed the source was out. It took about 1 to 11/2 cranks to retract it. The crank cables were about 35 feet long and guide tubes were used.
"The radiographer's ratemeter did not work and the trainee did not hear his above the excessive noise and the earplugs. Both pocket dosimeters were off scale. The dosimeters were sent for emergency processing on Friday, July 25, 2003, to determine if an overexposure had occurred. The exposure results were received by the Licensee on Monday, July 28, 2003. The Licensee then reported the exposure to the Agency. An Agency inspector made a site visit to the Licensee's facility to investigate the event on July 29, 2003."
Equipment: SPEC 300 exposure device ser. #: 009
Source: 99 Curie cobalt-60, SPEC Model G70, ser. #: C60-02
This occurred at the Amoco Refinery in Texas City, TX.
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 40021
Rep Org: FEDERAL MOGUL
Licensee: FEDERAL MOGUL
Region: 3
City: SOUTH BEND State: IN
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PAUL FRODYMA
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: FEDERAL MOGUL
Region: 3
City: SOUTH BEND State: IN
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PAUL FRODYMA
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 07/25/2003
Notification Time: 14:30 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 07/25/2003
Notification Time: 14:30 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 07/25/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
ANNE MARIE STONE (R3)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
ANNE MARIE STONE (R3)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
SOURCE MISSING FROM FIXED LOCATION GENERAL LICENSE THICKNESS GAUGE
Federal Mogul Corporation at their South Bend, Indiana facility produces teflon coated pistons. In the production process, a fixed gauge manufactured by Oxford Instruments is employed to measure the teflon coating thickness using a beta backscatter probe. The gauge was last calibrated on 12/02 at which time the technician noted two (2) screws were missing on the faceplate. However, no repairs were made at that time. Earlier this year technicians replaced the missing screws not realizing that the source had fallen out and was no longer in the instrument. A survey and search of the area did not identify or recover the source. The instrument is a model GM-2, S/N 610130P, containing less than 1200 microCuries Promethium-147.
Call the Headquarter Operations Officer for contact information.
Federal Mogul Corporation at their South Bend, Indiana facility produces teflon coated pistons. In the production process, a fixed gauge manufactured by Oxford Instruments is employed to measure the teflon coating thickness using a beta backscatter probe. The gauge was last calibrated on 12/02 at which time the technician noted two (2) screws were missing on the faceplate. However, no repairs were made at that time. Earlier this year technicians replaced the missing screws not realizing that the source had fallen out and was no longer in the instrument. A survey and search of the area did not identify or recover the source. The instrument is a model GM-2, S/N 610130P, containing less than 1200 microCuries Promethium-147.
Call the Headquarter Operations Officer for contact information.
Power Reactor
Event Number: 40022
Facility: COMANCHE PEAK
Region: 4 State: TX
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DAVID BUTLER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Region: 4 State: TX
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DAVID BUTLER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 07/25/2003
Notification Time: 14:54 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 13:18 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/25/2003
Notification Time: 14:54 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 13:18 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/25/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
TROY PRUETT (R4)
TROY PRUETT (R4)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N | Y | 12 | Power Operation | 1 | Startup |
AUTOMATIC AUXILIARY FEEDWATER ACTUATION DUE TO MAIN FEEDWATER PUMP TRIP
While at 12% power, the operating Main Feedwater Pump "2-B" tripped on low suction pressure, possibly due to an entrained air bubble in one of the feedwater heaters. This resulted in an automatic AFW signal due to a loss of all feedwater (the "2-A" MFW was in the tripped condition since it was not required). Operators manually tripped the Main Turbine to minimize steam demand and stabilize the plant. All systems functioned as required.
The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.
While at 12% power, the operating Main Feedwater Pump "2-B" tripped on low suction pressure, possibly due to an entrained air bubble in one of the feedwater heaters. This resulted in an automatic AFW signal due to a loss of all feedwater (the "2-A" MFW was in the tripped condition since it was not required). Operators manually tripped the Main Turbine to minimize steam demand and stabilize the plant. All systems functioned as required.
The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.
General Information or Other
Event Number: 40019
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: DELLAVALLEY LABORATORIES
Region: 4
City: SACRAMENTO State: CA
County:
License #: 3194-10
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENT PREDERGAST
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: DELLAVALLEY LABORATORIES
Region: 4
City: SACRAMENTO State: CA
County:
License #: 3194-10
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENT PREDERGAST
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 07/25/2003
Notification Time: 13:00 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 09:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/13/2003
Notification Time: 13:00 [ET]
Event Date: 07/25/2003
Event Time: 09:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/13/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
TROY PRUETT (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
TROY PRUETT (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE
"[The licensee] got in late from work, and failed to take the gauge to storage location but instead left the gauge in the back of his pickup and covered it. The gauge was covered inside the camper shell. Sometime between 11 PM on 7/24/03 and 1:00 AM on 7/25/03, the pickup was stolen from it's parking location. The Sacramento Police were notified on 7/25/03 and the licensee will be placing an advertisement in the Sacramento Bee [newspaper], offering a reward for the stolen gauge.
"The Stolen gauge was a CPN 131, Model 503 DR, serial number H35126508 containing 50 millicuries of Americium 241 Beryllium."
*****UPDATE 8/12/03 AT 12:46 GREGER TO LAURA*****
"The stolen nuclear gauge reported in Event # 030603 [NMED Database number] was found in a business dumpster in Sacramento, the city in which it was stolen, on August 3, 2003 by a member of the public. Both the gauge and the truck in which the gauge was stored overnight (inside a camper shell) was stolen from a private residence. The truck has not been recovered. The gauge was found inside its protective transportation case. The lock on the transportation case had been removed, but the gauge remained locked (radioactive source not exposed). The individual finding the gauge stated he had seen the newspaper ad offering a reward for return of the gauge. The gauge will be tested for radioactive leakage before being returned to service. Enforcement action is being taken against the gauge company for failing to properly store the gauge."
Notified NMSS (J. Hickey) and R4DO (Phil Harrell).
"[The licensee] got in late from work, and failed to take the gauge to storage location but instead left the gauge in the back of his pickup and covered it. The gauge was covered inside the camper shell. Sometime between 11 PM on 7/24/03 and 1:00 AM on 7/25/03, the pickup was stolen from it's parking location. The Sacramento Police were notified on 7/25/03 and the licensee will be placing an advertisement in the Sacramento Bee [newspaper], offering a reward for the stolen gauge.
"The Stolen gauge was a CPN 131, Model 503 DR, serial number H35126508 containing 50 millicuries of Americium 241 Beryllium."
*****UPDATE 8/12/03 AT 12:46 GREGER TO LAURA*****
"The stolen nuclear gauge reported in Event # 030603 [NMED Database number] was found in a business dumpster in Sacramento, the city in which it was stolen, on August 3, 2003 by a member of the public. Both the gauge and the truck in which the gauge was stored overnight (inside a camper shell) was stolen from a private residence. The truck has not been recovered. The gauge was found inside its protective transportation case. The lock on the transportation case had been removed, but the gauge remained locked (radioactive source not exposed). The individual finding the gauge stated he had seen the newspaper ad offering a reward for return of the gauge. The gauge will be tested for radioactive leakage before being returned to service. Enforcement action is being taken against the gauge company for failing to properly store the gauge."
Notified NMSS (J. Hickey) and R4DO (Phil Harrell).