Event Notification Report for February 17, 2004
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
02/16/2004 - 02/17/2004
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 40530
Rep Org: US AIR FORCE
Licensee: US AIR FORCE - JOHNSTON ATOLL
Region: 0
City: State:
County:
License #: 42-23539-01AF
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID PUGH
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Licensee: US AIR FORCE - JOHNSTON ATOLL
Region: 0
City: State:
County:
License #: 42-23539-01AF
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID PUGH
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 02/18/2004
Notification Time: 15:33 [ET]
Event Date: 02/17/2004
Event Time: 17:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/18/2004
Notification Time: 15:33 [ET]
Event Date: 02/17/2004
Event Time: 17:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/18/2004
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (NMSS)
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (NMSS)
UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
USAF personnel in the Johnston Atoll in the Pacific were attempting to remove the "batteries" from an exit sign they believed to be battery powered. During the attempt to open the case, they destroyed the sign only to discover that it was a tritium sign. All tritium modules were broken.
Five personnel were in the room at the time and all were potentially exposed to the tritium. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) isolated the room and the personnel clothing, etc. Pre-cleanup surveys indicated greater than 6 times the normal background survey readings in the room. The RSO double-bagged the sign and tritium module debris. The room and work areas were decontaminated. Post-cleanup surveys indicated normal background readings. Personnel uptake and dose evaluations are currently being assessed.
The tritium sign was an Isolite model 2040 with original activity of 15.0 Curies and was manufactured in March of 1993. Current activity was calculated to be 8.06 Curies.
The RSO will follow up with Region 4 concerning personnel tritium uptake and contamination levels as well as equivalent dose calculations.
The licensee will be notifying Region 4 Materials branch.
USAF personnel in the Johnston Atoll in the Pacific were attempting to remove the "batteries" from an exit sign they believed to be battery powered. During the attempt to open the case, they destroyed the sign only to discover that it was a tritium sign. All tritium modules were broken.
Five personnel were in the room at the time and all were potentially exposed to the tritium. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) isolated the room and the personnel clothing, etc. Pre-cleanup surveys indicated greater than 6 times the normal background survey readings in the room. The RSO double-bagged the sign and tritium module debris. The room and work areas were decontaminated. Post-cleanup surveys indicated normal background readings. Personnel uptake and dose evaluations are currently being assessed.
The tritium sign was an Isolite model 2040 with original activity of 15.0 Curies and was manufactured in March of 1993. Current activity was calculated to be 8.06 Curies.
The RSO will follow up with Region 4 concerning personnel tritium uptake and contamination levels as well as equivalent dose calculations.
The licensee will be notifying Region 4 Materials branch.
Power Reactor
Event Number: 40525
Facility: SEABROOK
Region: 1 State: NH
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DAMON RITTER
HQ OPS Officer: ARLON COSTA
Region: 1 State: NH
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DAMON RITTER
HQ OPS Officer: ARLON COSTA
Notification Date: 02/17/2004
Notification Time: 13:45 [ET]
Event Date: 02/17/2004
Event Time: 13:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/17/2004
Notification Time: 13:45 [ET]
Event Date: 02/17/2004
Event Time: 13:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/17/2004
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
JAMES TRAPP (R1)
JAMES TRAPP (R1)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO POTENTIAL NEWSWORTHY OCCURRENCE
"FPLE Seabrook station is issuing information to the media as a result of a potential newsworthy occurrence that took place today. An employee handling mail exhibited symptoms of a reaction. The station isolated and evacuated the area and contacted offsite law enforcement agencies per station guidelines. The area has been inspected by hazardous materials responders with no abnormalities noted and has been released for normal access."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, the state Emergency Preparedness Director, Local Law Enforcement and the FBI.
"FPLE Seabrook station is issuing information to the media as a result of a potential newsworthy occurrence that took place today. An employee handling mail exhibited symptoms of a reaction. The station isolated and evacuated the area and contacted offsite law enforcement agencies per station guidelines. The area has been inspected by hazardous materials responders with no abnormalities noted and has been released for normal access."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, the state Emergency Preparedness Director, Local Law Enforcement and the FBI.
General Information or Other
Event Number: 40527
Rep Org: STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: Parkersburg State: WV
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GEORGE S. COOK
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: Parkersburg State: WV
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GEORGE S. COOK
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 02/17/2004
Notification Time: 16:32 [ET]
Event Date: 02/17/2004
Event Time: 10:27 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/17/2004
Notification Time: 16:32 [ET]
Event Date: 02/17/2004
Event Time: 10:27 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/17/2004
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
PAMELA HENDERSON (R1)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (NMSS)
PAMELA HENDERSON (R1)
E. WILLIAM BRACH (NMSS)
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL DISCOVERED AT LANDFILL
West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) notified the NRC Operations Center that at 1022 hrs. EST on 2/17/04, they received a call from Northwest Landfill, Waste Management, Inc., located on Drybranch Road in Parkersburg, W.VA., stating that a truck full of household refuse alarmed a radiation monitor at the landfill.
WVBPH responded to the landfill and took radiation measurements on the outside of the vehicle. The highest dose measured was 1.2 millirem/hr. The truck was dumped and the trash searched until the source of the radiation was discovered. The inspectors discovered a metallic object approximately 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide that was the source. The object was odd-shaped and its use and origin is unknown. The material was bagged and isolated at the landfill where it will remain to decay away. Radiation readings at 1cm were 5 millirem/hr. Spectrum analysis indicates that the material is an iodine, possibly Iodine-131.
Notified R1DO (Henderson).
West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) notified the NRC Operations Center that at 1022 hrs. EST on 2/17/04, they received a call from Northwest Landfill, Waste Management, Inc., located on Drybranch Road in Parkersburg, W.VA., stating that a truck full of household refuse alarmed a radiation monitor at the landfill.
WVBPH responded to the landfill and took radiation measurements on the outside of the vehicle. The highest dose measured was 1.2 millirem/hr. The truck was dumped and the trash searched until the source of the radiation was discovered. The inspectors discovered a metallic object approximately 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide that was the source. The object was odd-shaped and its use and origin is unknown. The material was bagged and isolated at the landfill where it will remain to decay away. Radiation readings at 1cm were 5 millirem/hr. Spectrum analysis indicates that the material is an iodine, possibly Iodine-131.
Notified R1DO (Henderson).