Event Notification Report for July 16, 2010

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGES LEFT IN WAREHOUSE BY BANKRUPT BUSINESS

The following information was received via facsimile:

"On 7-16-2010, MSDH DRH [Mississippi State Department of Health Division of Radiological Health] received a call from a gentleman who owns a warehouse in Columbus, MS. He stated that as he was going through the contents of his warehouse to determine what could be sold as used equipment or as scrap metal, he discovered a nailed-shut wooden crate with the word 'Radioactive' written in marker on the side. On 7/19/10, DRH inspectors went to the warehouse and discovered that 2 fixed nuclear gauges were in the wooden box. Both gauges were the same model, FM1R-1, manufactured by Mahlo. Labels indicated that each had been loaded with one 100 mCi Pm-147 (Promethium) source. According to the assay dates found on the labels on the gauges, both sources were decayed to less than 0.1 mCi. One other gauge was found in the warehouse. This one was still bolted to a piece of manufacturing equipment. It was an Ohmart fixed gauge loaded with a 60 mCi Kr-85 source in 1994, therefore it is decayed to approximately 10 mCi. DRH inspectors brought the three gauges to DRH office for safe storage until proper disposal can be arranged. Note: The man who reported the box with 'Radioactive' marked on it, had been leasing to a company involved in textile manufacture. The leasee went bankrupt and owed the warehouse owner substantial payments. The owner is legally selling the contents of the warehouse to recoup some of his losses. The owner has no knowledge or background with nuclear gauges. Gauge info follows:
Manufacturer Model Gauge Ser # Isotope
Mahlo FMIR-1 610/61/U1 Pm-147
Mahlo FMIR-1 610/61/IU2VG89 PM-147
Ohmart BAL 2860BX Kr-85

"Further investigation revealed that the Ohmart gauge was identified on a General License in Alabama, licensed to Crown Textile Co.(now out of business). Also a former employee of a company named American Nonwovens (now out of business) said that all three gauges were brought from Alabama to the warehouse in Columbus, MS where they were found.

"MSDH Div of Radiological Health continues to keep the abandoned gauges for safe-keeping and has contacted a disposal company to dispose of the gauges."

MSDH DRH Report: MS-10005.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- TEXAS - STUCK OPEN SHUTTER ON A PROCESS GAUGE

The following report was received via e-mail from the State of Texas Department of State Health Services Radiation Branch:

"On August 13, 2010, the Agency [Texas Department of Health] was notified by the licensee that on July 16, 2010 they discovered that the shutter on a TN Technologies Model 5205 nuclear gauge containing 100 millicuries (original activity) of Cesium (Cs) - 137 was inoperable. The gauge shutter was stuck in the open position, which is the normal operating position. There was no additional exposure risk to any individual due to the failure. The licensee discontinued the use of the gauge and contacted the manufacturer to schedule the repair of the gauge shutter. On July 29, 2010, the manufacturer's technician arrived at the plant to repair the gauge. The technician found a build up of corrosion had occurred preventing the gauge shutter from operating properly. The technician advised the licensee that the gauge and source should be replaced due to the corrosion.

"The gauge was removed from the vessel on July 29, 2010. The technician secured shielding over the source. No significant exposures were received during the source/gauge removal. A leak test of the source was conducted and the results were below the limit. The licensee is making arrangements to dispose of the source and gauge. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA 300."

Texas Incident #: I - 8771

PART 21 REPORT FOR AN OPTIONAL SUBASSEMBLY USED ON VALVE ACTUATORS

The following information was received by facsimile:

"Rotork designs and manufactures valve actuators; a product that attaches to a valve to permit the remote operation of the valve.

"[Rotork Controls] is writing to notify the NRC that Duke Energy has received from Rotork a basic assembly containing a defective sintered gear Pt. No. 22641. No other [NRC] licensee has received this part. The defective component is part of an optional subassembly called an 'Add On Pack' (AOP). Duke Energy purchased AOPs with all Rotork NA1E type actuators.

"The defective gear could cause the AOP to seize and fail to operate. The actuator will continue to perform its safety related function with a seized AOP. The AOP provides position information, through auxiliary switches, during the actuator's operation.

"Duke Energy was first notified of the condition on July 16, 2010 and on August 6, 2010 received a formal letter in which the extent of condition was communicated. Rotork proceeded to investigate the problem, run life tests and understand the failure mode. On September 3, 2010 Duke Energy informed Rotork in writing that the AOP must support the design-basis function of the associated valve/actuator assembly. On the same date Rotork shared with Duke energy [information] which confirmed that the gear design was sound and that the gear failure was attributable to the supplier's manufacturing process.

"The gear supplier's production process has been corrected and Rotork quality assurance is verifying that subsequent batches are conformant to specification. Duke Energy is being provided with replacement AOPs and conformant gears on an as requested basis."

AGREEMENT STATE REORT - THIRTEEN TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS LOST

The following was received via fax from the NE Division of Radioactive Materials:

"Six Isolite model 2040-01-12 Tritium exit signs were shipped to Campbell Soup Company at 333 South 3rd Street in Tecumseh, NE in 1993 with 10 Curies of tritium per sign. Six Evenlite model 201 Tritium exit signs were shipped in 1995 with 12.5 Curies of Tritium per sign. One additional sign from Brandhurst, Inc was shipped in 1986. Isolite, Evenlite and Brandhurst did not provide Nebraska with the serial numbers. MBA Poultry bought the facility from Campbell Soup Company in 1998. MBA Poultry sold it to Tecumseh Poultry in 2000. Tecumseh Poultry does not know where the 13 tritium exit signs went."

Manufacturer Activity Model Manufacturer Activity Model
1) Isolite 10.0 Ci 2040 7) Evenlite 12.5 Ci 201
2) Isolite 10.0 Ci 2040 8) Evenlite 13.5 Ci 201
3) Isolite 10.0 Ci 2040 9) Evenlite 12.5 Ci 201
4) Isolite 10.0 Ci 2040 10) Evenlite 12.5 Ci 201
5) Isolite 10.0 Ci 2040 11) Evenlite 12.5 Ci 201
6) Isolite 10.0 Ci 2040 12) Evenlite 12.5 Ci 201
13) Brandhurst unknown 201
Nebraska Report No: NE100001


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

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

MANUAL SCRAM DUE TO UNISOLABLE CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM LEAK

"At approximately 1641 EDT on July 16, 2010, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Unit 1 reactor was manually scrammed due to a large unisolable circulating water system leak in the main condenser area. Attempts to isolate the source of the leakage were unsuccessful. During these attempts, reactor operators lowered reactor power from approximately 90% to about 39%. Based on rising water level in the condenser area and unsuccessful isolation of the source of the leakage, Operations decided to shut down the plant. The reactor operator placed the mode switch in shutdown. All control rods [fully] inserted. Reactor water level lowered to -28 inches causing Level 3 (+13 inches) isolations. The Operations crew subsequently maintained reactor water level at the normal operating band using RCIC. No steam relief valves opened. The main steam isolation valves were manually closed and the circulating water system was shut down. Pressure control was initiated using HPCI in the pressure control mode. All safety systems operated as expected. The reactor is currently stable in Mode 3. Actions to isolate and investigate the cause of the circulating water system leakage are underway. Unit 2 continued power operation."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector, and will be issuing a press release.

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO EMERGENCY SIREN INADVERTENTLY ALARMING

"At 2134 [CDT] on 7/16/2010 the NextEra Energy Duane Arnold control room was informed that an emergency siren in the Cedar Rapids area was alarming with an emergency message. This information came via a local news station stating that they had been receiving several phone calls regarding the siren message.

"No emergency condition existed at NextEra Energy Duane Arnold and the siren appears to have malfunctioned and incidentally relayed the emergency message. NextEra Energy Duane Arnold has informed local media and the Linn County Emergency Director of the malfunctioning siren, and that no emergency condition exists at NextEra Energy Duane Arnold. The single siren (of the 144 total in the local siren system) was deactivated."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.