Event Notification Report for April 10, 2002
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/09/2002 - 04/10/2002
General Information or Other
Event Number: 38844
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TECHNICAL WELDING LAB INC
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County: HARRIS
License #: L-02187
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TEXAS DEPT OF HEALTH BRC
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Licensee: TECHNICAL WELDING LAB INC
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County: HARRIS
License #: L-02187
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TEXAS DEPT OF HEALTH BRC
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Notification Date: 04/10/2002
Notification Time: 16:29 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2002
Event Time: 04:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/10/2002
Notification Time: 16:29 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2002
Event Time: 04:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/10/2002
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
KRISS KENNEDY (R4)
JOHN HICKEY (NMSS)
KRISS KENNEDY (R4)
JOHN HICKEY (NMSS)
OVEREXPOSURE TO GAMMA RADIATION
The following is taken from a facsimile report:
"A radiographer was [radiographing] welds on a vessel shooting with a 35 curie Co-60 source and entered the vessel to change the source location without cranking the source into the shielded position. The radiographer has been taken for blood samples which will be repeated in 72 hours. Initial calculations indicate a possible whole body exposure of 70 rems. Further information forthcoming after investigation scheduled for May 14."
The Texas Incident Number for this event is I-7882.
The following is taken from a facsimile report:
"A radiographer was [radiographing] welds on a vessel shooting with a 35 curie Co-60 source and entered the vessel to change the source location without cranking the source into the shielded position. The radiographer has been taken for blood samples which will be repeated in 72 hours. Initial calculations indicate a possible whole body exposure of 70 rems. Further information forthcoming after investigation scheduled for May 14."
The Texas Incident Number for this event is I-7882.
Power Reactor
Event Number: 38845
Facility: SALEM
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: TIM SHETRONE
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: TIM SHETRONE
HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG
Notification Date: 04/10/2002
Notification Time: 20:44 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2002
Event Time: 18:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/10/2002
Notification Time: 20:44 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2002
Event Time: 18:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/10/2002
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
Person (Organization):
J. BRADLEY FEWELL (R1)
TAD MARSH (NRR)
TIM MCGINTY (IRO)
HUB MILLER (RA)
J. BRADLEY FEWELL (R1)
TAD MARSH (NRR)
TIM MCGINTY (IRO)
HUB MILLER (RA)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
| 2 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling |
OFFSITE NOTIFICATION OF ADEQUACY OF SECURITY QUESTIONED IN PRESS RELEASE
"On April 10, 2002 Representative Edward Markey, (D-MA), issued a press release alleging that security clearance practices for temporary access in vital areas at US nuclear plants is not sufficient. Representative Markey within the body of a letter to NRC Chairman Meserve states that a senior security officer at Salem raised concerns about the adequacy of the NRC's security background check requirements and that temporary workers with less than a complete background check were allowed in vital areas without being escorted by security officers.
"The NRC issued an order on February 25 directing specific activities to increase security at all commercial nuclear power plants. The information and specifics of the order is confidential and cannot be shared. The order also gave each nuclear utility until August 31, 2002 to come into compliance with the specifics of the order.
"One component of the order issued, referred to vital area access control for workers with temporary security clearance. PSEG Nuclear developed a program to come into compliance with this particular element of the order, and implemented the program prior to the start of the current refueling outage. We are confident that our program, as designed, is in compliance with the NRC order, and that we have fully implemented the stringent requirements of our own security program.
"Since media interest may be generated by Representative Markey's press release, PSEG Nuclear is making a 4-hour report in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b) (2) (xi)."
The licensee made state (NJ & DE) and local (LAC township) notifications of this event.
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee.
"On April 10, 2002 Representative Edward Markey, (D-MA), issued a press release alleging that security clearance practices for temporary access in vital areas at US nuclear plants is not sufficient. Representative Markey within the body of a letter to NRC Chairman Meserve states that a senior security officer at Salem raised concerns about the adequacy of the NRC's security background check requirements and that temporary workers with less than a complete background check were allowed in vital areas without being escorted by security officers.
"The NRC issued an order on February 25 directing specific activities to increase security at all commercial nuclear power plants. The information and specifics of the order is confidential and cannot be shared. The order also gave each nuclear utility until August 31, 2002 to come into compliance with the specifics of the order.
"One component of the order issued, referred to vital area access control for workers with temporary security clearance. PSEG Nuclear developed a program to come into compliance with this particular element of the order, and implemented the program prior to the start of the current refueling outage. We are confident that our program, as designed, is in compliance with the NRC order, and that we have fully implemented the stringent requirements of our own security program.
"Since media interest may be generated by Representative Markey's press release, PSEG Nuclear is making a 4-hour report in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b) (2) (xi)."
The licensee made state (NJ & DE) and local (LAC township) notifications of this event.
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee.
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 38846
Rep Org: BETHLEHAM STEEL
Licensee: BETHLEHAM STEEL
Region: 1
City: BETHLAHAM State: PA
County:
License #: 37-01861-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TONY LAMASTRA
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Licensee: BETHLEHAM STEEL
Region: 1
City: BETHLAHAM State: PA
County:
License #: 37-01861-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TONY LAMASTRA
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 04/11/2002
Notification Time: 09:41 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2002
Event Time: 08:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/11/2002
Notification Time: 09:41 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2002
Event Time: 08:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/11/2002
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Person (Organization):
J. BRADLEY FEWELL (R1)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
J. BRADLEY FEWELL (R1)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
SHUTTER FAILED TO OPEN ON A DMC/RADIOMETRIE GAUGE.
A DMC/Radiometrie Model E6 source housing shutter failed to open. The licensee swapped out the housing and will send the defective housing back to Radiometrie, located in Gaithersburg, MD. The DMC/Radiometrie Model E6 gauge contains one curie of Americium-241 which is used to measure the thickness of thin sheets of steel. Bethlehem Steel Company has 30 or 40 of these in the plant and this is the first time that a shutter on one of these gauges has failed to open. The licensee stated that they have had these gauges since the 1970's.
A DMC/Radiometrie Model E6 source housing shutter failed to open. The licensee swapped out the housing and will send the defective housing back to Radiometrie, located in Gaithersburg, MD. The DMC/Radiometrie Model E6 gauge contains one curie of Americium-241 which is used to measure the thickness of thin sheets of steel. Bethlehem Steel Company has 30 or 40 of these in the plant and this is the first time that a shutter on one of these gauges has failed to open. The licensee stated that they have had these gauges since the 1970's.