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Event Notification Report for February 27, 2003








                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

                              Operations Center



                              Event Reports For

                           02/26/2003 - 02/27/2003



                              ** EVENT NUMBERS **



39539  39613  39615  39620  39621  39622  



!!!!!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED  !!!!!!!

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39539       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| REP ORG:  CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM    |NOTIFICATION DATE: 01/27/2003|

|LICENSEE:  ISOTOPE PRODUCTS LABORATORIES        |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:16[EST]|

|    CITY:  BURBANK                  REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        01/23/2003|

|  COUNTY:  LOS ANGELES               STATE:  CA |EVENT TIME:        16:30[PST]|

|LICENSE#:  CA-1509               AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  02/26/2003|

|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+

|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |

|                                                |WILLIAM JONES        R4      |

|                                                |FRED BROWN           NMSS    |

+------------------------------------------------+TIM MCGINTY          IRO     |

| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  ROBERT GREGER                |CREWS                NRC     |

|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  GERRY WAIG                   |JOHN HICKEY          NMSS    |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |

|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |

|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



                                   EVENT TEXT                                   

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED PACKAGE                                |

|                                                                              |

| The following is taken from a facsimile from the State of California:        |

|                                                                              |

| "On 1/24/03 the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] @ IPL [Isotope Products       |

| Laboratories] reported their receipt of a contaminated package. The package  |

| had been picked up from LAX & delivered to IPL on 1/23 @ 2:25 pm by Kamino   |

| Int'l Transport, 2580 Santa Fe, Redondo Beach, contact person [DELETED]. The |

| package was wiped upon receipt, and received the results approximately 4:30  |

| pm. The RSO was notified the next morning. The contamination appears to be   |

| H-3, although the licensee needs to perform an energy calibration on their   |

| liquid scintillation counter to verify both this and their quantification of |

| the package wipes. It appears that all sides of the package were             |

| contaminated, at up to approximately 100,000 dpm/wipe. The latest wipes      |

| measured up to approximately 40,000 dpm/wipe.                                |

|                                                                              |

| "The package came from a company in Switzerland called RC Tritec AG, who is  |

| a distributor for a Russian company (unknown name at this time). IPL         |

| believes that the box was trans-shipped, & was never actually at Tritec, but |

| they're still trying to get Lufthansa's paperwork. IPL is also trying to get |

| info on the Russian company.                                                 |

|                                                                              |

| "IPL had the delivery truck return to IPL, & they found a small area of      |

| contamination, about 12 X 10 inches, on the carpet, where the package was    |

| located, of about 800 dpm/wipe. After vacuuming, they got nothing. About 11  |

| other wipes in the truck were negative. They checked the driver's gloves-    |

| there's no removable contamination. All wipes @ IPL's Shipping Dept were     |

| negative. They think there was at least one other package on the truck that  |

| was destined for an electronics company, but they're still trying to get     |

| info on that. There was at least one other package for IPL on the truck that |

| was not contaminated (they're checking to see if it had come from the same   |

| Russian company).                                                            |

|                                                                              |

| "Note: Assuming that the contamination is H-3, the dose consequences of      |

| 100,000 dpm/wipe are approximately equivalent to the dose consequences of    |

| 2.5 dpm/wipe of Cs-137."                                                     |

|                                                                              |

| * * * RETRACTION ON 02/26/03 BY GREGER TO CROUCH * * *                       |

|                                                                              |

| This retraction was e-mailed to the Headquarters Operations Officer on       |

| 1/29/03 but not posted until 02/26/03 due to administrative oversight:       |

|                                                                              |

| "This package was not contaminated with H-3 as initially thought.  The       |

| substance causing the liquid scintillation counts was a non-radioactive      |

| phosphorescent material that got on the package at the shippers facility.    |

| This was confirmed by holding the wipes overnight in a dark environment      |

| before counting them. THIS REPORT IS BEING RETRACTED."                       |

|                                                                              |

| Notified Fred Brown (NMSS), Eric Leeds (NMSS) and David Graves (R4DO) via    |

| e-mail.                                                                      |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39613       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| REP ORG:  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH           |NOTIFICATION DATE: 02/24/2003|

|LICENSEE:  SPECTRO ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS       |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:06[EST]|

|    CITY:  MARBLE FALLS             REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        02/13/2003|

|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  TX |EVENT TIME:             [CST]|

|LICENSE#:  L-02788-003           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  02/24/2003|

|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+

|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |

|                                                |DAVID GRAVES         R4      |

|                                                |DOUG BROADDUS        NMSS    |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  JIM OGDEN                    |                             |

|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  HOWIE CROUCH                 |                             |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

|EMERGENCY CLASS:                                |                             |

|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |

|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



                                   EVENT TEXT                                   

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SEALED SOURCE                               |

|                                                                              |

| The following information was obtained from the Texas Department of Health   |

| via facsimile:                                                               |

|                                                                              |

| "During routine service of an ASOMA (SPECTRO) Model 200, Serial No 4390, a   |

| wipe test was performed on a 20 millicurie Am-241 source, Serial No 13730W.  |

| Contamination of 0.035 microcuries was detected on the wipe.  The source is  |

| an AEA Technology (Amersham) Model AMC.D2 with a source product code         |

| AMCK2175.  It is encapsulated in an X10/2 capsule. The source was removed    |

| and is being returned to the manufacturer for evaluation.  All other         |

| interior components and exterior surfaces of the instrument were wipe tested |

| and found to have no contamination above the Licensee's minimum detection    |

| limit of 360 picocuries.  Agency was notified by telephone of the leaking    |

| source on February 13, 2003.  A written report was sent to this Agency that  |

| same date.  This incident was closed February 24, 2003.  No violations have  |

| been cited.                                                                  |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39615       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| REP ORG:  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH           |NOTIFICATION DATE: 02/24/2003|

|LICENSEE:  SPECTRO ANALYTIC INSTRUMENTS         |NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:46[EST]|

|    CITY:  MARBLE FALLS             REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        02/24/2003|

|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  TX |EVENT TIME:        14:00[CST]|

|LICENSE#:  L-02788-003           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  02/24/2003|

|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+

|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |

|                                                |DAVID GRAVES         R4      |

|                                                |ROBERT PIERSON       NMSS    |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  JIM OGDEN                    |                             |

|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  HOWIE CROUCH                 |                             |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |

|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |

|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



                                   EVENT TEXT                                   

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SEALED SOURCE                               |

|                                                                              |

| The following information was obtained from the Texas Department of Health   |

| via facsimile:                                                               |

|                                                                              |

| "Leaking source was discovered during routine servicing of an ASOMA Model    |

| 200 analytical instrument, Serial No 4668. The instrument contained a sealed |

| Amersham 13 millicurie, Cm-244 source, Serial No 2695LM, Amersham Model No.  |

| CLCL. Last assay date was 08/15/95.  Leakage detected was from a routine     |

| wipe test which resulted in 0.0077 microcuries of removable contamination.   |

| The source is being prepared for return to the manufacturer for evaluation   |

| and disposal.  All other interior components and exterior surfaces of the    |

| instrument were wipe tested and found to have no contamination above the     |

| Licensee's minimum detection limit of 360 picocuries."                       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   39620       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| FACILITY: KEWAUNEE                 REGION:  3  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 02/26/2003|

|    UNIT:  [1] [] []                 STATE:  WI |NOTIFICATION TIME: 02:05[EST]|

|   RXTYPE: [1] W-2-LP                           |EVENT DATE:        02/26/2003|

+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        00:17[CST]|

| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  FRANSON                      |LAST UPDATE DATE:  02/26/2003|

|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  CHAUNCEY GOULD               +-----------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |

|EMERGENCY CLASS:          UNUSUAL EVENT         |THOMAS KOZAK         R3      |

|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |MICHAEL JOHNSON      NRR     |

|AAEC 50.72(a) (1) (i)    EMERGENCY DECLARED     |PATRICK HILAND       IRO     |

|ASHU 50.72(b)(2)(i)      PLANT S/D REQD BY TS   |AL AUSTIN            FEMA    |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+

|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |

+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+

|1     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |

|                                                   |                          |

|                                                   |                          |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| PLANT ENTERED A NOUE DUE TO BOTH EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATORS BEING DECLARED  |

| INOPERABLE                                                                   |

|                                                                              |

| The licensee declared an unusual event at 0026 CST due to both Emergency     |

| Diesel Generators being inoperable resulting in the loss of on-site power    |

| capability.   At 0017 the "B" Diesel Generator failed to start during an     |

| attempt to verify operability as required by TS 3.7.b.2 since the "A" Diesel |

| Generator was out of service for maintenance.  They are investigating the    |

| cause for the no start of the "B" Diesel Generator.  The plant has 6 hrs to  |

| be in hot standby and the following 6 hrs to hot shutdown.                   |

|                                                                              |

| The NRC Resident Inspector will be notified.  State and local agencies were  |

| notified and there may be a press release.                                   |

|                                                                              |

| * * * UPDATE AT 0804 EST ON 2/26/03 FROM JERRY RISTE TO ARLON COSTA * * *    |

|                                                                              |

| "Unusual Event Termination                                                   |

|                                                                              |

| "At  0624 the B emergency diesel generator was returned to service.  This    |

| exited the condition in EPIP-AD-02, Emergency Class Determination,"          |

| requiring declaration of an Unusual Event.  At 0656 the Unusual Event was    |

| terminated."                                                                 |

|                                                                              |

| The licensee replaced a faulty speed sensing relay at the "B" EDG relay      |

| panel and was subsequently able to re-start the diesel from the control      |

| room.  The unit is currently stable, holding power at 9.3% and all systems   |

| are functioning as required.  The licensee notified the NRC Resident         |

| Inspector, the State and local authorities.  A media/press release was       |

| issued by the licensee.                                                      |

|                                                                              |

| Notified R3DO(Kozak), NRR EO (Johnson), DIRO (Hiland) and FEMA (Caldwell).   |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

|Other Nuclear Material                           |Event Number:   39621       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| REP ORG:  US ARMY                              |NOTIFICATION DATE: 02/26/2003|

|LICENSEE:  US ARMY                              |NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:54[EST]|

|    CITY:  WINDER                   REGION:  2  |EVENT DATE:        12/12/2002|

|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  GA |EVENT TIME:             [EST]|

|LICENSE#:  19-30563-01           AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  02/26/2003|

|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+

|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |

|                                                |WALTER RODGERS       R2      |

|                                                |ERIC LEEDS           NMSS    |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  DAVID COLLINS                |                             |

|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  YAMIR DIAZ                   |                             |

+------------------------------------------------+                             |

|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |

|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |

|BLO1 20.2201(a)(1)(i)    LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X  |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



                                   EVENT TEXT                                   

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTOR DISCOVERED MISSING DURING INVENTORY                  |

|                                                                              |

| A Chemical Agent Detector, serial #Z03-D-04277 containing 300 microcuries of |

| Americium-241 was discovered missing during a inventory that took place at   |

| the US Army Soldiers and Biological/Chemical Command in December 2002.  The  |

| National Guard  initiated an investigation to determine location and cause   |

| of the loss of the missing chemical agent detector.                          |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

|Power Reactor                                    |Event Number:   39622       |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| FACILITY: COMANCHE PEAK            REGION:  4  |NOTIFICATION DATE: 02/26/2003|

|    UNIT:  [1] [2] []                STATE:  TX |NOTIFICATION TIME: 12:12[EST]|

|   RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP                |EVENT DATE:        02/25/2003|

+------------------------------------------------+EVENT TIME:        17:05[CST]|

| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  ED LESSMAN                   |LAST UPDATE DATE:  02/26/2003|

|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  HOWIE CROUCH                 +-----------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------+PERSON          ORGANIZATION |

|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |DAVID GRAVES         R4      |

|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |

|APRE 50.72(b)(2)(xi)     OFFSITE NOTIFICATION   |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

|                                                |                             |

+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+

|UNIT |SCRAM CODE|RX CRIT|INIT PWR|   INIT RX MODE  |CURR PWR|  CURR RX MODE   |

+-----+----------+-------+--------+-----------------+--------+-----------------+

|1     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |

|2     N          Y       100      Power Operation  |100      Power Operation  |

|                                                   |                          |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                                   EVENT TEXT                                   

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO SPILL OF BIOCIDE TREATED FIRE PROTECTION WATER   |

|                                                                              |

| The following information was obtained from the licensee via facsimile:      |

|                                                                              |

| "On 02/25/2003, we received a fire panel alarm for X-04 fire pump run with   |

| water flow.  The source of leakage was identified as a broken sprinkler      |

| (40A1) in the MMO building which is located outside our protected area.  The |

| leak was isolated and the [fire protection] system was placed back in        |

| standby at 1922 [hrs] that same day.  The initial alarm was received at      |

| 1705.                                                                        |

|                                                                              |

| "On 02/26/2003 at 0915, we notified our contact person (Shannon Kennedy) at  |

| the TCEQ [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] by voice mail.  The     |

| following release information:                                               |

|                                                                              |

| "'Based on the level change of our fire protection tank, CPSES [Comanche     |

| Peak Steam and Electric Station] released approx[imately] 11,500 gallons of  |

| [fire protection] water to the environment.  Of that, approx[imately] 8000 - |

| 9000 gallons were discharged to our lake (Squaw Creek Res[ervoir]).  The     |

| [fire protection] water contained 50 ppm of biocide and had a pH of 8.5.     |

| Based on day light visual inspection of our lake, there was no indication of |

| stressed or dead fish.  There was no observed environmental impact.'"        |

|                                                                              |

| The NRC Resident Inspector was notified by the licensee.                     |

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+





                    

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