Event Notification Report for August 16, 2011

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER IDENTIFIED FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE

The following was received via email:

"On August 17, 2011, the Agency [Texas Department of Health] was notified that they were unable to open the shutter on a Ronan Engineering model GS 400 nuclear gauge. The gauge contains 20 milliCuries of cesium 137.

"The gauge had been taken out of service by the licensee to conduct maintenance in the area around the gauge. Once the work was completed, they were unable to get the gauge shutter to open. The licensee has taken the gauge out of service until it can be replaced.

"The gauge does not present an exposure hazard to anyone. The manufacturer has been contacted and is making arrangements to replace the gauge. The gauge was installed in 2010. The Radiation Safety Officer stated that the gauge has been cycled several times since it was installed. The licensee was not able to determine the cause for the failure. Additional information will be provided as it is received."

Texas Incident No. I-8878

CALIFORNIA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING IODINE-125 BRACHYTHERAPY SEEDS

The following information was obtained from the State of California via email:

"UCLA contacted the Brea office of RHB [Radiologic Health Branch] to report a leaking source of I-125 brachytherapy seeds. Initial survey of the packaging, upon receipt, did not show any contamination. Subsequent testing showed 1.8 microCuries of contamination. The order was for 19 seeds, 16 for treatment, one for calibration and 2 for spares. A physician was preparing an eye plaque using the 16 seeds. A dish of acetone was used to remove glue from the seeds. A radiation survey discovered that the dish had become contaminated with I-125. The patient's procedure was cancelled and EH&S [Environmental Health and Safety] personnel were notified about the issue. EH&S collected all 19 seeds and performed a leak test on the 16 treatment seeds by soaking them in isopropyl alcohol. The fluid was analyzed on a liquid scintillation counter which found 1.8 microCuries of removable contamination.

"Per 10 CFR 35.3067, a licensee shall file a report within 5 days if a leak test required by 35.67 reveals the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 uCi) or more of removable contamination.

"RHB is requesting UCLA to obtain copies of the leak tests performed by the manufacturer to determine if the seeds were leaking prior to being shipped to UCLA. These copies will be in the final report. If the seeds were discovered to be shipped in a compromised condition, the Virginia Division of Radiological Health will be notified since the manufacturer (Best Medical International, Inc. of Springfield, Virginia) is located within their jurisdiction."

California Report Number: 5010-081611

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO AN ON-SITE, NON-WORK RELATED, FATALITY

"The purpose of this report is to notify the NRC of a fatality involving a contract worker from Duke Energy's Oconee Nuclear Station. At approximately 0600 EDT, the control room was notified of an unconscious individual, located in a non-radiological area outside the protected area. The Medical Emergency Response Team was activated and dispatched to the scene. At 0640, the worker left the site in an ambulance. The individual was pronounced dead at the local hospital. This fatality was the result of a medical emergency and was not occupationally related.

"Duke Energy is making a notification to the South Carolina Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This ENS notification is in response to a notification to another government agency in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi).

"The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

The following was received via fax:

The state reported that their licensee has a gauge with a shutter is in the stuck position. The device contains 300 mCi of Cs-137. The device is secured and no one was exposed during this event. The licensee has contacted the vendor for repairs and will notify the department (Pennsylvania Department of Radiation Protection) when repairs have been made. The department (Pennsylvania Department of Radiation Protection) plans to do a reactive inspection."

PA Report #: PA110021

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO CHLORINE SPILL

A potential spill of 1 to 2 gallons of Chlorine was discharged to the Delaware River through a storm drain that had a piping leak. This discharge was reported to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (case #: 11-08-16-2024-28). Chlorination was isolated and the storm drain plugged. Clean up is in progress.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will notify Lower Alloways Creek Township.

IMPROPER CRITICALITY SAFETY EVALUATION

"As part of the ongoing GNF-A review of the Fuel Manufacturing Operation (FMO) Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA), facility walk downs of the UO2 sinter furnace area were performed that identified a configuration that had not been properly analyzed. Based on a review of this as-found condition, it was determined at approximately 12 p.m. on August 16, 2011 that a floor trench in the furnace area was improperly analyzed in a criticality safety evaluation. This resulted in a condition in which criticality controls that were documented as being necessary to meet double contingency were not maintained or available because the geometry of the trench was not properly modeled. There was not an actual loss of double contingency.

"The floor trench does not normally contain uranium, and has removable covers in place to prevent material accumulation and per procedure, is routinely inspected. It was inspected during the spring maintenance shut down and was inspected again today. These inspections confirmed that no visible uranium accumulation was present. At no time was an unsafe condition present. Additional corrective actions and extent of condition are being evaluated.

"This event is being conservatively reported pursuant to GNF-A internal procedure reporting requirements within 24 hours of discovery."

The licensee will notify North Carolina State Radiation Protection agency and the New Hanover County Emergency Coordinator.