Event Notification Report for June 11, 2012

TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER OUT OF SERVICE FOR PLANNED MAINTENANCE

"On June 11, 2012, at approximately 0335 hours, the Hope Creek Technical Support Center (TSC) ventilation system was removed from service to perform planned maintenance to the system. The maintenance consists of a 12-year preventative maintenance overhaul of the ventilation supply fan and emergency filtration unit. The removal of ventilation potentially affects the TSC habitability during a declared emergency requiring activation. Appropriate compensatory measures are in place while ventilation is out of service. The Emergency Response Organization duty team has been notified of the maintenance and the possible need to activate the TSC in an alternate location. The ventilation system is scheduled to be out of service for approximately 60 hours."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. The local township will be notified.

* * * UPDATE FROM TOM FOWLER TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1225 EDT ON 6/18/2012 * * *

"The planned maintenance was completed and the TSC ventilation was returned to an operable status as of 0245 EDT on June 13, 2012. The TSC was not activated during the planned maintenance."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R1DO (DeFrancisco).

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

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

"The [North Carolina] Branch Manager received a call June 11, 2012 from a radioactive materials licensee S. T. Wooten Corporation (license number 098-0792-1) based out of Wilson, NC.

"An individual was on a worksite late. After completing his work, he stored the gauge, as well as other construction material, outside his residence at [redacted] in Sanford, NC. The licensee contact confirmed that the individual followed the 'two barrier' rule.

"At 5:45 a.m. on June 11, 2012, the individual reported the gauge and the additional construction material missing to the local law enforcement and to the Radiation Protection Section. He last saw the gauge at 11:30 p.m. on June 10, 2012.

"The truck was investigated by local law enforcement at the site and is on its way back to the headquarters office in Wilson, NC. [The North Carolina] regional inspector will meet the truck there for an onsite inspection. [The North Carolina] Increased Controls Coordinator has a good relationship with local law enforcement and has contacted them as well as informed emergency management. The proper notifications will be made to FBI, etc.

"The gauge is a Troxler model 4060B, it can contain up to 9 millicuries of Cs-137 (a beta/gamma emitter)."

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

HIGH PRESSURE CORE SPRAY INOPERABLE

"On June 11, 2012, at 0845 hours, an unexpected Division 3 battery DC system trouble alarm was received in the control room along with indication of lowering battery voltage. As a result of this condition, the plant operators declared the Division 3 DC electrical power subsystem inoperable at 0852 hours and entered the applicable Technical Specifications which require the High Pressure Core Spray System (HPCS) be declared inoperable. HPCS is a single-train safety system and its inoperable status is considered a loss of safety function. The cause of the trouble alarm was failure of the normal battery charger. Following a walkdown inspection of the Division 3 DC electrical bus with no abnormalities noted, the reserve charger was placed in service at 0858 hours to supply the bus. At 1245 hours, the HPCS system was declared operable following restoration of the Division 3 DC electrical power subsystem to operable status.

"This event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D). The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

FITNESS FOR DUTY

A non-licensed contractor refused a random fitness for duty test. The individual's access to the site has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING 28 MISSING TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS

The following report was received from the State of Nebraska via email:

"This is a preliminary report. We [Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services] will amend when we receive more information.

"On June 9, 2012, about 28 tritium exit signs (SLX 60 model, 11.5 Ci in 2005) were removed and new electrical exit signs were installed in the store by electricians. New lighting fixtures were also installed. The old fluorescent lighting was packaged to be picked up by a recycling facility. On June 11, 2012, the fluorescent lights were picked up. On August 12, 2012, Shaw Industries came to package the tritium exit signs and put labels on them. UPS would then pick them up to ship them to a facility licensed to receive the tritium signs. Shaw Industries could not find the exit signs on August 12, 2012. The store thinks that the tritium exit signs were picked up by the fluorescent lighting recycling company on June 11, 2012. The store is trying to find where the fluorescent lights were taken.

"[The State] has called all Bed and Bath stores that have had signs removed to make sure that only Shaw Industries can pick up the signs. Attempting to determine where the exit signs were taken and retrieve them for proper disposal."

Cause of this event is inattention to detail.

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