Event Notification Report for November 15, 2019

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST/STOLEN TRITIUM EXIT SIGN

The following report was received from the Arizona Department of Health Services via email:

"The Department received notification that one (1) tritium exit sign has been lost/stolen. The Department has requested additional information and continues to investigate the event."

Arizona Incident Number: 19-027

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following report was received from the Kansas Department of Health and Environmental Services via email:

"The gauge operator stepped approximately 15 feet away from the gauge to observe fill material being placed and a bulldozer backed over the gauge, clipping the corner of it. The gauge was not in use at the time and the source was not out. The only damage is to the yellow housing and a crack in the grey battery housing.

"The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] conducted radiological surveys using a SE International Radiation Alert Monitor 4 and obtained background readings only.

"The gauge will be returned to the office and put into secure storage until it can be returned to the manufacturer for repair.

"Follow-up information will be provided to NRC."

The density gauge was a Troxler model 3430, serial number 25943, containing 333 MBq of Cs-137 and 1,628 GBq of Am-241/Be.

TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL ROOM ENVELOPE BOUNDARY

"At 2234 Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 15, 2019, a Main Control Room (MCR) alarm was received for low control room positive pressure.

"At 2236 EST, a Control Room Envelope (CRE) door was found ajar and immediately closed. Technical Specification 3.7.10 Control Room Emergency Ventilation System (CREVS) was declared not met for both trains. Watts Bar Unit 1 and Unit 2 entered Condition B.

"At 2236 EST on November 15, 2019, the alarm cleared, CREVS was declared operable and LCO 3.7.10 Condition B was exited for both units.

"This condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D).

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL ROOM ENVELOPE BOUNDARY

"At 2353 EST on November 15, 2019, a Main Control Room (MCR) alarm was received for low control room positive pressure.

"At 2355 EST, a Control Room Envelope (CRE) door was found ajar and immediately closed. Technical Specification 3.7.10 Control Room Emergency Ventilation System (CREVS) was declared not met for both trains. Watts Bar Unit 1 and Unit 2 entered Condition B.

"At 2355 EST on November 15, 2019, the alarm cleared, CREVS was declared operable and LCO 3.7.10 Condition B was exited for both units.

"This condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D).

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

See similar EN #54390. The licensee has taken compensatory measures while investigating the cause.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK OPEN SHUTTER ON NUCLEAR PROCESS GAUGE

The following summary report was received from the North Carolina Radioactive Materials Branch via email:

"This happened 11/15/19 and [the Nucor Environmental Manager] was made aware of the incident around [1400 EST], yesterday.

"Nucor Steel has a 2015 fixed nuclear gauge in a c-frame that was due for maintenance. The gauge was deemed offline and they rolled the c-frame to a locked location where they were to perform scheduled maintenance. It was at this time that they discovered the shutter was stuck open. They tried to close the shutter (with air) but it would not close. [The Nucor Environmental Manager] explained that they roll the gauge by motor, and that during this time the shutter was opened. No employee was exposed to radiation. This gauge is exposed to the elements and [the Nucor Environmental Manager] believes there is dirt inhibiting the shutter from closing. Since they could not get it to close, they rolled the gauge back to its normal online position where it can be open and not at risk to employees. [The Nucor Environmental Manager] stated there is no damage to the source and there [are] not any leaks.

"[The Nucor Environmental Manager] called the manufacturer to come perform maintenance yesterday. They arrived at his facility around [1400] today and are currently working on the gauge."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FOUND IN WASTE TRANSFER TRUCK

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

"[The] Division Manager from Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc., reported on November 15, 2019 that his route truck activated the radiation alarm at Sun Valley Paper Stock, Inc.

"Truck No. 1087, License Plate No. 7Y45540 driven by [a] Burrtec employee arrived at the transfer station at about 1130 PST on the same day. [A California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Health Physicist] arrived at the transfer station around 1430 PST and met with [the] Plant Manager. Using the FLIR Identifinder 2, the nuclide was identified as Ra-226. [The CDPH Health Physicist] contacted [the] Director of Radiation Management about the incident and the nuclide that was identified. Before [the CDPH Health Physicist] left he made arrangements with [the Plant Manager] that he will be back on Tuesday November 19, 2019 to dump the entire contents of the transfer truck to locate the radiation source and take custody of it.

"On November 19, 2019, [a CDPH and a Los Angeles County Public Health (LACPH), Health Physicist] arrived at the transfer station at 1000 PST. The entire contents of the truck was dumped, and surveyed. Using the FLIR Identifinder 2 [the Health Physicists] were able to locate the radioactive source containing Ra-226. The radioactive source was a piece of metallic object. It was placed in a gallon size ziploc bag. Using a Ludlum 26-3, no contamination was noted. Using a Victoreen 451, background was 5 microR/hr, the gross exposure rate from surface was 54mR/hr, 4.8mR/hr at 1 ft, and 0.48mR/hr at 3 ft and calculated activity of 544 microCuries. The rest of the trash was surveyed and no other sources were noted. An authorization to bury form was emailed to [the Plant Manager] on the same day for the rest of the load. [The] LACPH Health Physicist took possession of the metal item and transported it to a secure location facility."

California incident No.: 111519

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SEALED SOURCE

The following was received from the Maine Radiation Control Program via fax:

"At 0857 [EST on November 15, 2019,] NETCo, Inc. notified the state of Maine Radiation Control
Progam [the State] that they had received leak test results from their vendor [Radiation Safety & Control Services] RSCS. One the test results indicated the Ni-63 source in a replacement component to a SAFRAN Morpho Detection Trace device was leaking. Two additional tests on components with Ni-63 sources reported detectable activity but less than 0.0005 microCi. The source contains 10.0 mCi of Ni-63 and the leak test result was 0.1968 microCi on the leaking source.

"The RSO at NETCo has surveyed the work area where the leak tests were
performed along with the storage container and bag that they arrived in.
No detectable activity was found. NETCo will be also performing smear tests of all the areas that came in contact with the sources. The sources (components) in question will be put in a one gallon paint can awaiting proper disposal in our locked cabinet.

"The State has sent an inspector to perform additional surveys. Licensee will be providing a full report to the State as information becomes available."

* * * UPDATE ON 12/17/19 AT 1415 FROM TOM HILLMAN TO OSSY FONT * * *

The following was received from the State via email:

"The licensee and the State performed surveys and wipe samples. All surveys results were not above background. Wipe samples were all below 0.005 microCi. The wipe on the leaking source was slightly elevated but below the 0.005 microCi. The license notified the shipper of the sources, a radiation officer at Beaver Valley Power Plant. The sources were shipped for disposal and plans for disposal will continue."

The state has closed the event.

Notified R1DO (Werkheiser) and NMSS Events Notification.

Maine Event Report ID No.: ME 19-002