Event Notification Report for December 02, 2018

LOST SOURCE

A pipeline pig was being used to clean out a pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. The pipeline pig was lost out of the receiver as it was being brought up from the depth. The pig had an attached source so it could be tracked while in the pipeline. The pig and the source are believed to have dropped to the sea floor, a depth of 7,000 feet. Efforts to recover the source have been abandoned.

The source is Ta-182 with an activity of 6.24 mCi.

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

INVALID CONTAINMENT VENTILATION ISOLATION ACTUATION

"This 60-day telephone notification is being submitted in accordance with paragraphs 10 CFR 50.73(a)(1) and 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) to report an invalid Containment Ventilation Isolation (CVI) actuation at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 1.

"On December 2, 2018 at 0028 Eastern Standard Time (EST), the Train A CVI actuated due to an invalid High Radiation signal from 1-RM-90-130, Containment Purge Exhaust Radiation Monitor. In addition to the Train A CVI, instrument malfunction alarms were received for 1-RM-90-106, Lower Containment Radiation Monitor and 1-RM-90-112, Upper Containment Radiation Monitor as the associated valves isolated for the CVI. A common instrument malfunction alarm was also received for 1-RM-90-130 and 1-RM-90-131, Containment Purge Exhaust Radiation Monitors. Prior to and following the invalid High Radiation alarm, all radiation monitors except 1-RM-90-130 were stable at their normal values. All required automatic actuations occurred as designed. Upon investigation, the cause of the invalid High Radiation alarm was due to a failed ratemeter for 1-RM-90-130.

"Control room operators performed appropriate checks and confirmed that the subject indication was an invalid high radiation signal. The ratemeter for 1-RM-90-130 was replaced and the monitor returned to service. At the time of the event, plant conditions for a High Radiation alarm did not exist; therefore, the CVI was invalid.

"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified."

ALERT DECLARED DUE TO EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR DAMAGE

"During the post-maintenance testing run of the Division III Emergency Diesel Generator [EDG], [a field operator] reported smoke coming from the diesel and an emergency shutdown was required. After the EDG was shutdown, significant damage [thrown rod] to the EDG was observed.

"Emergency Action Level HA 2.1 [an Alert] was declared at 0530 [EST]."

Currently, the plant is stable and operating at 100 percent power. All safety systems are available. The damage occurred approximately 20 minutes into the required 1 hour run. The licensee's emergency response organization has been activated. No offsite assistance was required or requested. There is a 14-day shutdown limiting condition for operation (LCO) in effect under technical specification 3.5.1 for the high pressure core spray system.

Notified DHS Senior Watch Officer, FEMA Operations Center, DHS NICC Watch Officer, HHS Operations Center, DOE Operations Center, EPA Emergency Operations Center, FDA EOC (email), FEMA NWC (email) and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).

The licensee has notified state and local authorities and the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATE ON 12/2/18 AT 0737 EST FROM TODD DAVIS TO HOWIE CROUCH * * *

The licensee terminated the Alert at 0731 EST on 12/2/18. The basis for termination was that the licensee has met all procedural requirements to terminate the emergency and on-shift personnel can operate the unit without further assistance.

Notified R1DO (Burritt), NRR EO (Miller), IRD MOC (Gott), HQPAO (Couret), ERDS Activation Group, DHS Senior Watch Officer, FEMA Operations Center, DHS NICC Watch Officer, HHS Operations Center, DOE Operations Center, EPA Emergency Operations Center, FDA EOC (email), FEMA NWC (email) and DHS Nuclear SSA (email).

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - PATIENT CONTAMINATION OF HOSPITAL ROOM

The following information was received via e-mail:

"On December 2, 2018, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that they had admitted a patient at 2210 hours [CST] on December 1, 2018, complaining about a sickness. At 0000 hours on December 2, 2018, the patient gave the treatment nurse a piece of paper from a hospital in Houston, Texas, stating this individual had received a thyroid treatment with iodine-131 on November 29, 2018. At this time the patient was moved to an appropriate room. At this point the patient had been in four different rooms. The four rooms were surveyed for contamination. No contamination was found in the first room surveyed. In the second room, only paperwork was found to be contaminated and the paperwork was disposed of. The third room was a bathroom. Seven tiles in the bathroom were found to be contaminated and were removed. The fourth room was also a bathroom. In this room, the toilet was found to be contaminated. The RSO stated the first survey performed with a 14C rate meter with a pancake GM probe read greater than 20 millirem per hour (mR/hr) (maximum reading on the instrument, i.e. pegged high). A second survey performed with a second instrument indicated a dose rate of 60 mR/hr (on scale reading). The RSO was asked if the reading was in mR/hr or microrem per hour. The RSO confirmed the reading was 60 mR/hr at one foot from the top of the bowl. The RSO stated the room has been isolated and posted. The RSO stated all contaminated laundry had been removed from the areas and placed in the appropriate storage location. The RSO stated the second bathroom would be isolated for an extended period of time. The RSO had been at the facility since 0000 hours so he was headed home for rest. The RSO stated he would provide additional information on Monday December 3, 2018. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident: 9641

* * * UPDATE ON 12/03/18 AT 1843 EST FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO BETHANY CECERE * * *

The following update was received from the State of Texas via e-mail:

"The licensee's RSO informed the Agency that during its follow-up survey of the bathroom in which they had removed contaminated floor tiles, a single spot was found with readings of 5 mR/hr on the toilet near its water supply line. Therefore, access to this bathroom will also remain restricted. The patient was released from the emergency room late in the day on 12/02/2018. More information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Gaddy) and NMSS Event Notification Group (by email).