Event Notification Report for August 11, 2006
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/10/2006 - 08/11/2006
Power Reactor
Event Number: 42764
Facility: HOPE CREEK
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BERNARD LITKETT
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BERNARD LITKETT
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Notification Date: 08/11/2006
Notification Time: 13:28 [ET]
Event Date: 08/11/2006
Event Time: 09:55 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/11/2006
Notification Time: 13:28 [ET]
Event Date: 08/11/2006
Event Time: 09:55 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/11/2006
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):
JOHN CARUSO (R1)
JOHN CARUSO (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 |
INADVERTENT OCA SIREN ACTIVATON
"At 0955 EST, the Security Secondary Alarm Station (SAS) operator, in preparation for activity on the site firing range, proceeded to activate the Owner Control Area (OCA) Public Address system to make a site page announcement informing station personnel of range activity. During this process, the SAS operator inadvertently depressed the OCA Siren pushbutton instead of the Public Address pushbutton activating the onsite emergency sirens. The OCA siren system also activates an automatic prerecorded page address which informs non-essential personnel to evacuate the Owner Controlled Area. Approximately 50 to 75 nonessential personnel left the Salem and Hope Creek site, prior to the siren being secured and a page announcement made informing personnel of the inadvertent siren activation. Due to the common OCA, the inadvertent siren actuation affected both Salem and Hope Creek. The siren activation was inadvertent and there was not an actual event requiring site evacuation. Local, County and State agencies were informed of the inadvertent siren actuation. This event is being reported in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification of Other Government Agencies."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.
"At 0955 EST, the Security Secondary Alarm Station (SAS) operator, in preparation for activity on the site firing range, proceeded to activate the Owner Control Area (OCA) Public Address system to make a site page announcement informing station personnel of range activity. During this process, the SAS operator inadvertently depressed the OCA Siren pushbutton instead of the Public Address pushbutton activating the onsite emergency sirens. The OCA siren system also activates an automatic prerecorded page address which informs non-essential personnel to evacuate the Owner Controlled Area. Approximately 50 to 75 nonessential personnel left the Salem and Hope Creek site, prior to the siren being secured and a page announcement made informing personnel of the inadvertent siren activation. Due to the common OCA, the inadvertent siren actuation affected both Salem and Hope Creek. The siren activation was inadvertent and there was not an actual event requiring site evacuation. Local, County and State agencies were informed of the inadvertent siren actuation. This event is being reported in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi), Notification of Other Government Agencies."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.
General Information or Other
Event Number: 42765
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: GEO TEK, INC
Region: 4
City: VISTA State: CA
County: SAN DIEGO
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL
Licensee: GEO TEK, INC
Region: 4
City: VISTA State: CA
County: SAN DIEGO
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL
Notification Date: 08/11/2006
Notification Time: 14:36 [ET]
Event Date: 08/11/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/11/2006
Notification Time: 14:36 [ET]
Event Date: 08/11/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/11/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RUSSELL BYWATER (R4)
CINDY FLANNERY (NMSS)
ILTAB E-MAIL
MEXICO VIA FAX
RUSSELL BYWATER (R4)
CINDY FLANNERY (NMSS)
ILTAB E-MAIL
MEXICO VIA FAX
AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The State provided the following information via email:
"The RSO called RHB this morning to report a missing gauge that he believes was stolen. He personally had placed the gauge in the locked storage location in Vista, CA on Wednesday, August 2, 2006. The gauge user that normally uses this gauge states he used a different one on August 3 - 4, 2006, but did not sign the in and out log on those two days. That user was on vacation Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday August 9 - 10, he did sign out a different gauge. On August 9, that user asked the RSO what had happened to the gauge he normally used. The RSO said it was either in the storage locker, or someone else had checked it out. The RSO decided to perform a full inventory of the gauges on Friday morning, the 11th. It was at this point that the RSO discovered that gauge was missing. The storage location is locked, and the gauges are stored in a locked area within that location. Nothing else was apparently taken, although there are several other gauges stored there. The RSO reported this to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, who will be investigating. The RSO also stated he would post a reward in a local paper. The RSO has contacted all the gauge users, and they state they have no information about the whereabouts of this gauge. The gauge is a Troxler, Model 3440, with a nominal 9 mCi Cs-137 and 44 mCi Am-241. RHB will follow up with the licensee."
The licensee will post reward in either San Diego Union Tribune or North County Times.
* * *UPDATE PROVIDED BY HAMERICK TO KOZAL VIA E-MAIL ON 8/11/06 AT 1808* * *
"Earlier today the California Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) provided a report regarding a stolen moisture-density gauge from Geo Tek, Inc. The RSO from Geo Tek just called, and the gauge had been taken out three days ago by an authorized technician who failed to record it being checked out on the daily log. As of now, all gauges owned by Geo Tek are accounted for and in their locked storage area. RHB will follow up with the licensee regarding the potential procedural violations."
Notified R4DO (Gody), NMSS (Holahan), ILTAB (e-mail), Mexico (via fax)
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.
The State provided the following information via email:
"The RSO called RHB this morning to report a missing gauge that he believes was stolen. He personally had placed the gauge in the locked storage location in Vista, CA on Wednesday, August 2, 2006. The gauge user that normally uses this gauge states he used a different one on August 3 - 4, 2006, but did not sign the in and out log on those two days. That user was on vacation Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday August 9 - 10, he did sign out a different gauge. On August 9, that user asked the RSO what had happened to the gauge he normally used. The RSO said it was either in the storage locker, or someone else had checked it out. The RSO decided to perform a full inventory of the gauges on Friday morning, the 11th. It was at this point that the RSO discovered that gauge was missing. The storage location is locked, and the gauges are stored in a locked area within that location. Nothing else was apparently taken, although there are several other gauges stored there. The RSO reported this to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, who will be investigating. The RSO also stated he would post a reward in a local paper. The RSO has contacted all the gauge users, and they state they have no information about the whereabouts of this gauge. The gauge is a Troxler, Model 3440, with a nominal 9 mCi Cs-137 and 44 mCi Am-241. RHB will follow up with the licensee."
The licensee will post reward in either San Diego Union Tribune or North County Times.
* * *UPDATE PROVIDED BY HAMERICK TO KOZAL VIA E-MAIL ON 8/11/06 AT 1808* * *
"Earlier today the California Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) provided a report regarding a stolen moisture-density gauge from Geo Tek, Inc. The RSO from Geo Tek just called, and the gauge had been taken out three days ago by an authorized technician who failed to record it being checked out on the daily log. As of now, all gauges owned by Geo Tek are accounted for and in their locked storage area. RHB will follow up with the licensee regarding the potential procedural violations."
Notified R4DO (Gody), NMSS (Holahan), ILTAB (e-mail), Mexico (via fax)
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.