Event Notification Report for December 01, 2016

OFFICE AREA ALARM AUDIBILITY DISABLED

"On December 1, 2016, at 1014 hours (EST), the speakers for a portion of the bottom floor of Building 305, office and lunch room areas, were inadvertently disabled during construction activities to remove obsolete equipment. Special Nuclear Material (SNM) is not processed, handled, or stored within the areas where the speaker system was disabled; however, these areas require evacuation in the unlikely event of a nuclear criticality accident as described in the NFS [Nuclear Fuel Services] Emergency Plan.

"There were no actual radiological or other nuclear safety consequences. The potential consequence was that in the event of a nuclear criticality accident, evacuation could have been delayed for those personnel within these areas with a resultant increase of postulated doses. Additionally, awareness of a fire event could have been delayed for these same personnel. A series of compensatory actions were taken including restricting access to the affected areas to essential personnel, and establishing radio communications between the personnel in these areas and the personnel continuously monitoring the alarm station panel.

"On December 1, 2016, at approximately 1159 hours (EST), full compliance was restored by repairing a disabled cable in the speaker circuit and by successfully performing a speaker system test in the affected areas.

"The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector on. December 1, 2016."

FITNESS FOR DUTY - POLICY VIOLATION

A Supervisor employee failed to report for completion of random testing following notification. The employee's access to the plant has been suspended.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NON CONTAMINATED WATER LEAK INTO A CONTAMINATED BERMED AREA

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

"On December 3, 2016, M & EC [East Tennessee Materials & Energy Corporation] staff notified DRH [Tennessee Division or Radiological Health] regarding an event in which a [Fire Protection] water line outside an M & EC building began leaking [on 12/1/16]. The water entered the building flooding a non-contaminated area (radiologically clean) and a bermed contaminated area. After the leak was stopped, water removal was performed Friday and over the weekend. M & EC staff were able to segregate removal of water from the clean area from removal of water from the bermed contaminated area. A total of [approximately 136,000 to 242,000] gallons was removed, a large percentage of which was in the contaminated area. M & EC is in process of completing the clean up, and is also in the process of performing radio-analysis of both the clean and the contaminated water. The contaminated bermed area had an average contamination of [approximately] 15,000 dpm/100 cm2."

No release to the public has occurred and a follow-up investigation by the Tennessee DRH is being conducted and additional information will be provided by DRH when available.

Report #: TN-16-173

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FAILURE OF SOURCE CONNECTION

The following report was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency via email:

"Illinois Emergency Management Agency discovered a radiography incident involving McNDT Leasing, which had not been properly reported. The incident involved an exposure device (QSA Global model 880 Delta, serial #D13616) and a 3.7 TBq (100 Ci) Ir-192 source. A radiography team arrived at a job site on 12/1/2016 and, during equipment set up, noticed the drive cable connector was bent. Upon obtaining a new crank assembly, the team could not successfully crank out the source. The reel of the crank assembly did not move. After another failed attempt, they detached the crank assembly from the exposure device and noticed that place where the connector attaches to the source pigtail was worn and bent. The team returned to their facility and exchanged exposure devices. Preliminary investigation indicated that either the exposure device was damaged in previous work and had not been reported, or daily inspection and maintenance checks were inadequate or not performed prior to 10/11/2017. Corrective actions included obtaining new equipment.

"No exposures occurred since the source was not able to be cranked out of the device."

"Device/Equipment: Camera/ Radiography
Manufacture: QSA Global, Inc.
Model Number: 880 Delta
Equipment Serial Number: D13616

"Radionuclide: Ir-192
Activity: 100 Ci"

Illinois Item Number: 170517