Event Notification Report for December 28, 2011
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/27/2011 - 12/28/2011
Agreement State
Event Number: 47559
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: COMMERCE CITY State: CO
County:
License #: NONE
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PHILLIP PETERSON
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: COMMERCE CITY State: CO
County:
License #: NONE
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PHILLIP PETERSON
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 12/29/2011
Notification Time: 16:40 [ET]
Event Date: 12/28/2011
Event Time: 00:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/29/2011
Notification Time: 16:40 [ET]
Event Date: 12/28/2011
Event Time: 00:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/29/2011
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
JACK FOSTER (FSME)
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
JACK FOSTER (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TWO NUCLEAR GAUGES FOUND AT METAL RECYCLING FACILITY
The following report was received from the State of Colorado Radioactive Material Unit via facsimile:
"This memo is to serve as a preliminary report for an incident concerning fixed nuclear gauges which were discovered at a Colorado scrap yard which is not licensed for that type of material. The Department [State of Colorado] was notified on December 28, 2011 that two gauges were identified at Rocky Mountain Recycling in Commerce City, Colorado. The initial notification indicated that they were both TN 5100 gauges [subsequently determined to be TN 5200 gauges] with an original activity of 20 mCi in 1986.
"Rocky Mountain Recycling currently has a Colorado provisional radioactive materials license (Colo. 9016-01) and is licensed for six sections of scrap pipe which are contaminated with NORM in the form of pipe scale. For normal operations, Rocky Mountain Recycling does not possess a radioactive materials license.
"The Department responded to Rocky Mountain Recycling on December 29, 2011. Two fixed gauges were at that location, both TN Technologies model 5200 gauges with serial numbers B1130 and B1131. Both gauges contain Cs-137 (verified using an ldentiFinder). Gauge B1130 contains 20 mCi as of December, 1986 and gauge B1131 contains 20 mCi as of October, 1986. The gauges were being stored in a steel drum away from public access. A wipe test was taken in the field on the drum prior to opening and no contamination appeared to be present. Wipe tests were also taken on the shutters of both gauges and no contamination appeared to be present. Both gauges appeared to be in good shape, there was some rust and weathering on the outside of the source housing but otherwise the source housing and shielding appeared to be in working condition.
"The gauges were found without a lock to keep the shutter in the closed position. One gauge (B1131) was found with the shutter partially opened. Gauge B1130 could not have the shutter completely opened due to the steel mounting frame being bent. Both shutters could be manipulated by hand. Rocky Mountain Recycling provided padlocks to lock the shutter in the closed position for both gauges.
"Dose rate measurements were taken around the shielding of the gauges. On contact, both gauges measured approximately 2.5 mRem/hour. With the shutter open, the highest reading in the beam of gauge B1130 was approximately 60 mRem/hour on contact, 15-20 mRem/hour at approximately 1 foot, and 3-3.5 mRem/hour at approximately 1 meter. With the shutter open, the highest reading in the beam of gauge B1131 was approximately 70 mRem/hour on contact, 10 mRem/hour at approximately 1 foot, and 1.5 mRem/hour at approximately 1 meter.
"Around the drum the gauges were stored in, the highest reading on contact was 1.5 mRem/hour, the highest reading at one foot was 0.3 mRem/hour, and the highest reading at 1 meter was 0.08 mRem/hour."
Colorado Report Number: I11-23
The following report was received from the State of Colorado Radioactive Material Unit via facsimile:
"This memo is to serve as a preliminary report for an incident concerning fixed nuclear gauges which were discovered at a Colorado scrap yard which is not licensed for that type of material. The Department [State of Colorado] was notified on December 28, 2011 that two gauges were identified at Rocky Mountain Recycling in Commerce City, Colorado. The initial notification indicated that they were both TN 5100 gauges [subsequently determined to be TN 5200 gauges] with an original activity of 20 mCi in 1986.
"Rocky Mountain Recycling currently has a Colorado provisional radioactive materials license (Colo. 9016-01) and is licensed for six sections of scrap pipe which are contaminated with NORM in the form of pipe scale. For normal operations, Rocky Mountain Recycling does not possess a radioactive materials license.
"The Department responded to Rocky Mountain Recycling on December 29, 2011. Two fixed gauges were at that location, both TN Technologies model 5200 gauges with serial numbers B1130 and B1131. Both gauges contain Cs-137 (verified using an ldentiFinder). Gauge B1130 contains 20 mCi as of December, 1986 and gauge B1131 contains 20 mCi as of October, 1986. The gauges were being stored in a steel drum away from public access. A wipe test was taken in the field on the drum prior to opening and no contamination appeared to be present. Wipe tests were also taken on the shutters of both gauges and no contamination appeared to be present. Both gauges appeared to be in good shape, there was some rust and weathering on the outside of the source housing but otherwise the source housing and shielding appeared to be in working condition.
"The gauges were found without a lock to keep the shutter in the closed position. One gauge (B1131) was found with the shutter partially opened. Gauge B1130 could not have the shutter completely opened due to the steel mounting frame being bent. Both shutters could be manipulated by hand. Rocky Mountain Recycling provided padlocks to lock the shutter in the closed position for both gauges.
"Dose rate measurements were taken around the shielding of the gauges. On contact, both gauges measured approximately 2.5 mRem/hour. With the shutter open, the highest reading in the beam of gauge B1130 was approximately 60 mRem/hour on contact, 15-20 mRem/hour at approximately 1 foot, and 3-3.5 mRem/hour at approximately 1 meter. With the shutter open, the highest reading in the beam of gauge B1131 was approximately 70 mRem/hour on contact, 10 mRem/hour at approximately 1 foot, and 1.5 mRem/hour at approximately 1 meter.
"Around the drum the gauges were stored in, the highest reading on contact was 1.5 mRem/hour, the highest reading at one foot was 0.3 mRem/hour, and the highest reading at 1 meter was 0.08 mRem/hour."
Colorado Report Number: I11-23
Power Reactor
Event Number: 47556
Facility: HOPE CREEK
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: TOM FOWLER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: TOM FOWLER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 12/29/2011
Notification Time: 02:00 [ET]
Event Date: 12/28/2011
Event Time: 22:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/29/2011
Notification Time: 02:00 [ET]
Event Date: 12/28/2011
Event Time: 22:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/29/2011
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):
JUDY JOUSTRA (R1DO)
JUDY JOUSTRA (R1DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
OFFSITE NOTIFICATION TO STATE OF NEW JERSEY DUE TO A DISCHARGE INTO THE DELAWARE RIVER
"At 2209 EST on 12/28/11 following a planned station service water (SSW) pump swap, a motor operated valve (MOV) failed to close in a water treatment system for the SSW pump that was secured. This was discovered shortly after the pump was removed from service by the field operators. The control room was notified at 2230 EST of the issue and ongoing efforts to troubleshoot and correct the malfunction. The release was terminated by closing a manual isolation valve at 2240 EST. This malfunction resulted in the discharge of approximately 17 gallons of 15% sodium hypochlorite (product) to the idle SSW pump intake which communicates with the Delaware river, The idle SSW pump was restarted at 2240 EST thus withdrawing all residual product from the intake and directing it to plant treatment systems (dechlorination on the cooling tower outfall). A sample was obtained from the Delaware river just outside the intake structure and there was no detectable chlorine in the sample and there were no abnormal conditions noted on the river. Based on Environmental Licensing review, this is reportable to the state of NJDEP [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection] within 2 hours. The report to the state was initiated at 0017 EST on 12/29/11.
"The HC Senior NRC Resident has been informed. Affected systems are limited to the Station Service Water (SSW) system and the Sodium Hypochlorite water treatment system. There were no actuations or initiating signals. There was no impact on plant operations and these systems remain fully operable. The failure was limited to the MOV which has been isolated via a manual valve. There was nothing unusual or not understood. All safety related equipment continues to function as required. There were no injuries or reported wildlife impact."
"At 2209 EST on 12/28/11 following a planned station service water (SSW) pump swap, a motor operated valve (MOV) failed to close in a water treatment system for the SSW pump that was secured. This was discovered shortly after the pump was removed from service by the field operators. The control room was notified at 2230 EST of the issue and ongoing efforts to troubleshoot and correct the malfunction. The release was terminated by closing a manual isolation valve at 2240 EST. This malfunction resulted in the discharge of approximately 17 gallons of 15% sodium hypochlorite (product) to the idle SSW pump intake which communicates with the Delaware river, The idle SSW pump was restarted at 2240 EST thus withdrawing all residual product from the intake and directing it to plant treatment systems (dechlorination on the cooling tower outfall). A sample was obtained from the Delaware river just outside the intake structure and there was no detectable chlorine in the sample and there were no abnormal conditions noted on the river. Based on Environmental Licensing review, this is reportable to the state of NJDEP [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection] within 2 hours. The report to the state was initiated at 0017 EST on 12/29/11.
"The HC Senior NRC Resident has been informed. Affected systems are limited to the Station Service Water (SSW) system and the Sodium Hypochlorite water treatment system. There were no actuations or initiating signals. There was no impact on plant operations and these systems remain fully operable. The failure was limited to the MOV which has been isolated via a manual valve. There was nothing unusual or not understood. All safety related equipment continues to function as required. There were no injuries or reported wildlife impact."