Event Notification Report for August 15, 2008

INCIDENT REPORT ON UNRESOLVED MATERIAL DISCREPANCY ALARM

"10 CFR 74.57(c) requires notification of any MC&A (Material Control and Accountability) alarm that remains unresolved beyond the time period specified for its resolution in the licensee's Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan. In the Solvent Extraction area of Building 333, [there is an abrupt alarm value.] When the alarm test was run on 8/15/2008, the input minus output value [exceeded the abrupt alarm value.] The investigation is completed but the alarm is not resolved. Measurement data for one of the inputs is the most assignable cause. Although an assignable cause was not identified, there is no indication that a material loss has occurred."

The affected solvent extraction process has been shutdown by the license while alarm resolution is in progress.

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

SHUT DOWN REQUIRED BY TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

"Administratively entered technical specification 3.0.3 and complying with the action statement."

A 0.19 gpm leak developed from a structural weld crack on the charging system (4B reactor coolant pump seal injection line). This leak is isolable. The cause of the crack is being evaluated.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

"On Friday, August 15, 2008, the agency [State of Texas] received a phone call left as a message for an employee out on leave that a moisture density gauge [Humbolt model 5001EZ] was stolen after it was left at a work site. It was apparently left out of the transport case and the technician was distracted with other duties. When the employee returned there was no trace of the device.

"The RSO stated that a full investigation will be performed to ascertain how the instrument was left unattended and the local law enforcement authorities have been notified. A $300 reward has been offered for return of the device. Incident Investigation Program (IIP) has notified LEA and pawn brokers to be on alert for stolen device.

"Company (and State Agency) will conduct a thorough investigation. Protocols for proper storage and handling of gauges will be stressed at a future safety meeting and all employees will receive training on the consequences of mishandling company property.

"Sealed sources :Radionuclide(s): 10 mCi, Cs-137 & 40 mCi, Am/Be-241 Serial Numbers: device 515; Cs-137, 8567GF; Am-241, NJ00479"

TX-I-8541


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.

This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source

TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE STOLEN FROM THE BED OF A TRUCK

An authorized gauge user while working at a jobsite site in McDowell County, WV stayed overnight at a motel in Grundy, VA which is just across the state line. Sometime between 2200 hours on 8/14/08 and 0600 hours on 8/15/08, a Troxler Model 3440 (S/N 27535) containing two sources, i.e., 8 millicuries Cs-137 and 40 millicuries Am-241/Be, was stolen from the bed of the employee's pickup truck. The Troxler gauge was locked inside its case and contained inside a locked transport box chained and bolted to the bed of the truck. The chain had been cut and the lock on the transport box broken to remove both the Troxler gauge and its case.

The licensee notified the NRC Region I Office (Marie Miller) and filed a police report with the Grundy City Police department who are investigating the theft. The licensee has made no determination whether a reward will be offered.

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.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IRRADIATOR CRANK MECHANISM FAILURE

"On 9/2/08 at 16:30, the [Texas Department of State Health Services] received a letter from the licensee stating that on 8/15/08, they were unable to move the source head on a U.S. Nuclear Model E-0103 Irradiator. The device contains a Cesium (Cs) - 137 source with an estimated activity of 2251 curies and is used in research irradiation of in vitro samples. The source is fully shielded. Dose rates and contamination surveys conducted on the source head were normal. The unit has been taken out of service awaiting repairs."

TX Incident # I-8547

* * * UPDATE RECEIVED FROM ART TUCKER TO JOE O'HARA VIA E-MAIL AT 1538 ON 9/3/08 * * *

"The RSO called at 1444 and stated that he had some corrected information. He stated that the device contained two 2660 curie Cs 137 sources installed in 1975 and manufactured on 2/15/68 making the current activity 1045 curies each. He stated that the device had been repaired, but was still trying to find out when."

Notified R4DO(Jones), FSME(Turtil).