Event Notification Report for May 31, 2001
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
05/30/2001 - 05/31/2001
** EVENT NUMBERS **
37990 38007 38036 38037 38038
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 37990 |
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| REP ORG: NC DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION |NOTIFICATION DATE: 05/15/2001|
|LICENSEE: S&ME |NOTIFICATION TIME: 14:56[EDT]|
| CITY: GREENSBORO REGION: 2 |EVENT DATE: 05/12/2001|
| COUNTY: STATE: NC |EVENT TIME: [EDT]|
|LICENSE#: 041-0922-1 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 05/30/2001|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |CHARLES R. OGLE R2 |
| |DON COOL NMSS |
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| NRC NOTIFIED BY: SHARN JEFFRIES | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: LEIGH TROCINE | |
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|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT REGARDING A TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE |
| LOST/STOLEN FROM S&ME IN WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA |
| |
| The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the North |
| Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of |
| Radiation Protection: |
| |
| "SUBJECT: Incident 01-14" |
| |
| "Today, a North Carolina Portable Gauge Licensee (S&ME 041-0922-1 |
| Greensboro) reported a loss/theft of a Portable Moisture Density Gauge from |
| Winston Salem, NC, between the evening on Friday, May 11, 2001, and |
| Saturday, May 12, 2001. Local and State law enforcement agencies were |
| notified on Saturday, May 12, 2001. This Agency was notified by NC |
| Emergency Management of the incident at [1630] on Monday, May 14, 2001. The |
| Licensee reported the incident to this Agency [on] May 15, 2001." |
| |
| "The device that was lost/stolen is:" |
| |
| "Troxler 3411B Moisture Density Gauge SN 14682 |
| Cs-137 #50-3361 8 mCi |
| Am-241:Be #47-10037 40 mCi" |
| |
| (Call the NRC operations officer for a State contact telephone number.) |
| |
| * * * UPDATE ON 05/30/01 AT 0938 ET BY SHARN JEFFRIES TAKEN BY MACKINNON * |
| * * |
| |
| Troxler gauge was found by a member of the public and returned to the |
| licensee. The licensee has shipped the gauge to Troxler for inspection and |
| testing. R2DO (R. Bernhard) & NMSS EO (Fred Brown) notified. |
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!!!!!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!!!
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|Fuel Cycle Facility |Event Number: 38007 |
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| FACILITY: PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT |NOTIFICATION DATE: 05/18/2001|
| RXTYPE: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 08:36[EDT]|
| COMMENTS: 2 DEMOCRACY CENTER |EVENT DATE: 05/17/2001|
| 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE |EVENT TIME: 14:40[CDT]|
| BETHESDA, MD 20817 (301)564-3200 |LAST UPDATE DATE: 05/31/2001|
| CITY: PADUCAH REGION: 3 +-----------------------------+
| COUNTY: McCRACKEN STATE: KY |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|LICENSE#: GDP-1 AGREEMENT: Y |GARY SHEAR R3 |
| DOCKET: 0707001 | |
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| NRC NOTIFIED BY: MATT MAUER | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DOUG WEAVER | |
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|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|OCBA 76.120(c)(2) SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILUR| |
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EVENT TEXT
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| SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE |
| |
| At 1440 on 05/17/01, the Plant Shift Superintendent (PSS) was notified by |
| engineering that load cell calibration data for the C-333 U/5 C/9 and C-337 |
| U/2 C/2 freezer sublimers is suspected to be non-conforming. The load cells |
| are part of the High High Weight Trip System for the freezer sublimers which |
| is required by TSR to be operable. It is suspected that a batch of 24 load |
| cells do not meet the specifications credited in the existing setpoint |
| calculations and the calibration procedures. The load cell calibration data |
| from 2 other load cells in this batch indicated less weight than what is |
| actually applied. It has been determined that this deficiency may affect |
| the freezer sublimers ability to actuate the High High Weight Trip System at |
| the required Limited Control Setting (LCS). This deficiency would not |
| affect the ability of the freezer sublimers to actuate the High High Weight |
| Trip System below the Safety Limit (SL). These 2 suspected freezer |
| sublimers were declared inoperable by the PSS. |
| |
| The safety system deficiency is reportable to the NRC as required by |
| 10CFR76.120(c)(2). The equipment is required by TSR to be available and |
| operable and should have been operating. No redundant equipment is |
| available and operable to perform the required safety function. |
| |
| The NRC resident inspector was notified.. |
| |
| |
| * * * UPDATE ON 5/30/01@ 2337 BY WALKER TO GOULD * * * RETRACTION |
| |
| Following the Identification of this problem, the suspected load cells were |
| removed from service and tested. The test results were evaluated by the |
| responsible System Engineer against the F/S set-point calculations and, |
| although outside the optimum error band, the load cells were within the |
| allowable error band and could have performed their intended safely function |
| to trip the F/S at or below the High-High Weight Safety System setting. |
| Thus, 10 CFR 76.120 (c)(2) reporting criteria is not met and the subject |
| notification is being retracted. |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. |
| |
| The DOE Representitive will be notified. |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 38036 |
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| REP ORG: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE: 05/30/2001|
|LICENSEE: SYNCOR |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:51[EDT]|
| CITY: GOLDEN REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 05/30/2001|
| COUNTY: STATE: CO |EVENT TIME: 09:20[MDT]|
|LICENSE#: 16205 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 05/30/2001|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |DALE POWERS R4 |
| |JOHN HICKEY NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+RUDOLPH BERNHARD R2 |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: PENTECOST | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD | |
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|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| On 4/27/01 Syncor reportedly shipped 68 I-125 bracytherapy seeds each |
| containing 250 microcuries, to a facility in Atlanta, GA. The facility |
| reported receiving 66 seeds. An investigation was unable to determine how |
| many seeds were actually shipped. The discrepancy is believed due to a |
| miscount at the time of shipment from Syncor. They are still investigating. |
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|Power Reactor |Event Number: 38037 |
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| FACILITY: NINE MILE POINT REGION: 1 |NOTIFICATION DATE: 05/30/2001|
| UNIT: [] [2] [] STATE: NY |NOTIFICATION TIME: 17:20[EDT]|
| RXTYPE: [1] GE-2,[2] GE-5 |EVENT DATE: 05/30/2001|
+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME: 13:08[EDT]|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: PETRELLI |LAST UPDATE DATE: 05/30/2001|
| HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD +-----------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------+PERSON ORGANIZATION |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY |ERIC REBER R1 |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|*IND 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) ACCIDENT MITIGATION | |
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+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR| INIT RX MODE |CURR PWR| CURR RX MODE |
+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+
| | |
|2 N Y 100 Power Operation |100 Power Operation |
| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| REACTOR CORE ISOLATION COOLING RCIC SYSTEM WAS DECLARED INOPERABLE |
| |
| |
| The Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System (RCIC) was inoperable and |
| available for planned maintenance and surveillance testing. During the |
| planned surveillance testing it was discovered that the mechanical overspeed |
| mechanism for the RCIC turbine was found tripped with no overspeed trip |
| testing having been performed. The overspeed trip mechanism may be |
| degraded thereby constituting a condition that could have prevented the |
| system from performing its function. RCIC is currently in standby and |
| inoperable but available. Trouble shooting is in progress to determine the |
| cause of the trip. This report may be retracted if the cause of the trip is |
| determined to not affect the operability of the system. |
| |
| |
| The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. |
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 38038 |
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| REP ORG: WA Division of Radiation Protection |NOTIFICATION DATE: 05/30/2001|
|LICENSEE: ANVIL CORPORATION |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:07[EDT]|
| CITY: BELLINGHAM REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE: 05/11/2001|
| COUNTY: STATE: WA |EVENT TIME: [PDT]|
|LICENSE#: WN-IR031-1 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 05/30/2001|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |DALE POWERS R4 |
| |LARRY CAMPER NMSS |
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| NRC NOTIFIED BY: FRAZEE (E-MAIL) | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD | |
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|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| A 47.5 CURIE IR-192 SOURCE WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO THE CAMERA DUE TO |
| RESISTANCE IN THE GUIDE TUBE. |
| |
| Radiographers were performing field site radiography at a refinery and a |
| radiograph was required at about the 80 foot level on the refinery |
| structure. The collimator was firmly taped to a wooden pole attached to the |
| structure. The AEA Technologies, Model 660B camera and controls were |
| placed on the next level down. Two guide tubes were connected end to end to |
| connect camera and collimator. The area was secured and the shot timed. |
| At the end of the exposure the radiographer attempted to retract the AEA |
| Tech. model 424-9 source and discovered that it would only come back part |
| way. After several unsuccessful attempts cranking the source back and |
| forth, the radiographer left the source in the fully extended position (in |
| the collimator) and called the RSO for assistance. The RSO made sure the |
| site was roped off and under observation and then called AEA Technology to |
| send a retrieval expert. The state Division of Radiation Protection was |
| also notified and staff sent to observe the recovery operation. |
| |
| The retrieval was performed by using a crane to hook onto the camera and, |
| once the collimator was cut free from the structure, to lay out the camera |
| and the dangling guide tube and collimator behind a concrete barrier. The |
| control cable was also stretched out straight using the crane. Once in |
| place and shielded, the control cable was used to easily retract the source. |
| The manufacturer has taken the device and guide tubes for analysis. |
| However, the immediate supposition is either dirt in the guide tube or too |
| tight of a turn in the guide tube may have created enough friction to |
| prevent the source from retracting smoothly even though it cranked out |
| without difficulty. The highest exposures received due to this event were |
| to the two individuals involved in cutting the collimator loose from the |
| structure. The crane operator and a radiographer each received 4 millirem |
| while using a 10 foot pole pruner to cut the wooden stick holding the |
| collimator. One other individual received 1 millirem exposure during this |
| event. |
| |
| What is the notification or reporting criteria involved? Equipment |
| malfunction. Activity and Isotope(s) involved: 47.5 Ci Ir-192. |
| |
| Overexposure? Two individuals received 4 millirem whole body and one |
| individual received 1 millirem whole body exposures. |
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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021