Event Notification Report for October 01, 2011
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/30/2011 - 10/01/2011
Power Reactor
Event Number: 47311
Facility: BRUNSWICK
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JOHN W. MILLER
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JOHN W. MILLER
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 10/01/2011
Notification Time: 23:10 [ET]
Event Date: 10/01/2011
Event Time: 16:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/01/2011
Notification Time: 23:10 [ET]
Event Date: 10/01/2011
Event Time: 16:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/01/2011
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R2DO)
REBECCA NEASE (R2DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
| 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
LOSS OF ERDS CONNECTIVITY DUE TO A COMPUTER ISSUE
"On 10/1/2011, for a period of approximately 4 hours between 1600 EDT to 2000 EDT, the capability of transferring Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) information to the NRC Operations Center was lost for Brunswick Units 1 and 2. The cause was attributed to a software issue affecting communication between plant process computing and the network server. This constituted a loss of emergency preparedness capabilities and is reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
"On 10/1/2011, for a period of approximately 4 hours between 1600 EDT to 2000 EDT, the capability of transferring Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) information to the NRC Operations Center was lost for Brunswick Units 1 and 2. The cause was attributed to a software issue affecting communication between plant process computing and the network server. This constituted a loss of emergency preparedness capabilities and is reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
Agreement State
Event Number: 48261
Rep Org: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
Region: 4
City: LAS VEGAS State: NV
County:
License #: 03-13-0305-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SNEHA RAVIKUMAR
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
Region: 4
City: LAS VEGAS State: NV
County:
License #: 03-13-0305-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SNEHA RAVIKUMAR
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 08/31/2012
Notification Time: 15:48 [ET]
Event Date: 10/01/2011
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 04/24/2013
Notification Time: 15:48 [ET]
Event Date: 10/01/2011
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 04/24/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
DAVID PROULX (R4DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
DAVID PROULX (R4DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUDENT RECEIVED POTENTIAL INHALATION OVEREXPOSURE
The following information was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"A graduate student inhaled a mixture of U-233 and U-238 while working in the lab grinding a compound of Uranium Octoxide. [The graduate student] used a glove box instead of the hood with the HEPA filter, contrary to UNLV [University of Nevada Las Vegas] approved procedure.
"This happened twice and could have been between October 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012.
"The first bioassay, based on an inhalation date of October 1, 2011, showed 17.72 rem total. When the inhalation date was assumed to be April 1, 2012, the result was 5.52 rem.
"[U-233]*1.6 = [U-238] contribution.
"The student will be getting a third bioassay on September 5, 2012 at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). This will involve a low-energy chest count to detect Th-234 and an organ count, looking at the kidneys for Uranium.
"The student has been restricted from all lab work since April.
"The bioassay was done at Test America."
* * * UPDATE AT 1553 EDT ON 10/24/12 FROM SNEHA RAVIKUMAR TO S. SANDIN * * *
The following update was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"NMED Item No.: NV120022
"Preliminary results:
"1. September 5, 2012:
Low-energy lung count, kidney count and hand count were performed at LLNL.
The lung count was less than MDA for U-233, Th-234, U-234 & U-2235.
The detect/non-detect kidney & hand counts were both non-detect.
"2. September 12, 2012:
Third Bioassay results received.
U-238 - 0.66 dpm/sample
U-235 - less than CRDL
U-233/234 - 1.25 dpm/sample"
Notified R4DO (Hagar) and FSME Events Resource via email.
* * * UPDATE AT 1540 EDT ON 11/15/12 FROM RAVIKUMAR TO HUFFMAN * * *
The following update was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"All personnel having access to the UNLV lab where the original uptake occurred had bioassay samples taken. UNLV determined that 46 persons should be in this group, including the RSO and ARSO. From the data submitted thus far, an additional graduate student appears to have received an uptake. This student has been restricted from further RAM work and a dose assessment undertaken. The actual dose will be dependent on the time and source of the uptake. If the timeframe and source are the same as that of the original graduate student, the magnitude will be the same. Thirteen remaining bioassays remain to be analyzed. Three of the thirteen are yet to be collected. The RSO attributed his elevated uptake to previous DOD work. The latest ten bioassays were collected within the last three weeks and with expedited processing results, should be available by mid-December."
Notified the R4DO (Drake) and FSME Events Resource via e-mail.
* * * UPDATE AT 1411 EST ON 02/12/13 FROM RAVIKUMAR TO SNYDER * * *
The following update was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"Dependent on the particle size of the uptake the grad student's exposure could be either 6760 mrem for size M (medium) particles versus 154 mrem for size S (small) particles. UNLV has indicated a delay till March, 2013, for this analysis. It appears only the one Grad Student had an uptake.
"What corrective action(s) were taken to prevent a recurrence?
"Existing procedures were reviewed & rewritten, and additional new monitoring, controls, training and procedures are now in place to prevent a recurrence."
Notified the R4DO (Hagar) and FSME Events Resource via e-mail.
* * * UPDATE AT 1152 EDT ON 04/24/13 FROM SNEHA RAVIKUMAR TO CHARLES TEAL * * *
The following is excerpted from an email received from the State of Nevada:
"All of the activity ratios (especially the one from the ICP-MS [Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry], which has the lowest uncertainty) are consistent with that of natural uranium. This supports the conclusion that the student's observed bioassay results are the result of an intake of natural uranium form non-occupational sources and not a result of material she was handling at UNLV."
Notified R4DO (Whitten) and FSME Event Resource via email.
The following information was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"A graduate student inhaled a mixture of U-233 and U-238 while working in the lab grinding a compound of Uranium Octoxide. [The graduate student] used a glove box instead of the hood with the HEPA filter, contrary to UNLV [University of Nevada Las Vegas] approved procedure.
"This happened twice and could have been between October 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012.
"The first bioassay, based on an inhalation date of October 1, 2011, showed 17.72 rem total. When the inhalation date was assumed to be April 1, 2012, the result was 5.52 rem.
"[U-233]*1.6 = [U-238] contribution.
"The student will be getting a third bioassay on September 5, 2012 at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). This will involve a low-energy chest count to detect Th-234 and an organ count, looking at the kidneys for Uranium.
"The student has been restricted from all lab work since April.
"The bioassay was done at Test America."
* * * UPDATE AT 1553 EDT ON 10/24/12 FROM SNEHA RAVIKUMAR TO S. SANDIN * * *
The following update was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"NMED Item No.: NV120022
"Preliminary results:
"1. September 5, 2012:
Low-energy lung count, kidney count and hand count were performed at LLNL.
The lung count was less than MDA for U-233, Th-234, U-234 & U-2235.
The detect/non-detect kidney & hand counts were both non-detect.
"2. September 12, 2012:
Third Bioassay results received.
U-238 - 0.66 dpm/sample
U-235 - less than CRDL
U-233/234 - 1.25 dpm/sample"
Notified R4DO (Hagar) and FSME Events Resource via email.
* * * UPDATE AT 1540 EDT ON 11/15/12 FROM RAVIKUMAR TO HUFFMAN * * *
The following update was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"All personnel having access to the UNLV lab where the original uptake occurred had bioassay samples taken. UNLV determined that 46 persons should be in this group, including the RSO and ARSO. From the data submitted thus far, an additional graduate student appears to have received an uptake. This student has been restricted from further RAM work and a dose assessment undertaken. The actual dose will be dependent on the time and source of the uptake. If the timeframe and source are the same as that of the original graduate student, the magnitude will be the same. Thirteen remaining bioassays remain to be analyzed. Three of the thirteen are yet to be collected. The RSO attributed his elevated uptake to previous DOD work. The latest ten bioassays were collected within the last three weeks and with expedited processing results, should be available by mid-December."
Notified the R4DO (Drake) and FSME Events Resource via e-mail.
* * * UPDATE AT 1411 EST ON 02/12/13 FROM RAVIKUMAR TO SNYDER * * *
The following update was received from the State of Nevada via email:
"Dependent on the particle size of the uptake the grad student's exposure could be either 6760 mrem for size M (medium) particles versus 154 mrem for size S (small) particles. UNLV has indicated a delay till March, 2013, for this analysis. It appears only the one Grad Student had an uptake.
"What corrective action(s) were taken to prevent a recurrence?
"Existing procedures were reviewed & rewritten, and additional new monitoring, controls, training and procedures are now in place to prevent a recurrence."
Notified the R4DO (Hagar) and FSME Events Resource via e-mail.
* * * UPDATE AT 1152 EDT ON 04/24/13 FROM SNEHA RAVIKUMAR TO CHARLES TEAL * * *
The following is excerpted from an email received from the State of Nevada:
"All of the activity ratios (especially the one from the ICP-MS [Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry], which has the lowest uncertainty) are consistent with that of natural uranium. This supports the conclusion that the student's observed bioassay results are the result of an intake of natural uranium form non-occupational sources and not a result of material she was handling at UNLV."
Notified R4DO (Whitten) and FSME Event Resource via email.