| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
09/03/2003 - 09/04/2003 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 40035 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: WHEELABRATOR
Region: 1
City: DORCHESTER State: MA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARIO IANNACCONE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT | Notification Date: 07/30/2003
Notification Time: 12:56 [EST]
Event Date: 07/30/2003
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/03/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES NOGGLE (R1)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT ON DAMAGED GENERALLY LICENSED LEVEL GAUGE
"On 7/28/03 Wheelabrator became aware that a TN [Texas Nuclear] Level Gauge, Cs-137 100 mCi [milli Curie] [Model Number: 5197] SN # B728 (SS&D No. TX634D119B) had gone missing. Plant was in shutdown and work was being performed on the associated hopper. The gauge was removed not following standard procedure. A search of the premises was conducted with negative results. A consultant was hired, and located the gauge in a scrap metal pile on the morning of 7/30/03. The shielding was partially melted away, it was surmised that the gauge may have passed through the boiler. The consultant performed radiation surveys and placed the gauge in a metal container in the storage area. The manufacturer was contacted, arrangements will be made to return the gauge.
"Cause description: Gauge removed from frame to accommodate work taking place on hopper (steel replacement).
"Precipitating factor: Not secured in storage area; typically used a secure holding area prior to shipping/installation."
State Event Number: MA 03-0023
Wheelabrator is located at 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA.
* * * UPDATE FROM IANNACCONE TO CROUCH ON 9/03/03 * * *
"On July 30, 2003, gauge was located: casing intact, Pb [Lead] shielding melted. Secured, survey. Leak test results SAT, dose assessment for members of public SAT, shipped to [manufacturer], and staff was re-trained."
Notified R1DO (Henderson) and NMSS EO (Broaddus). |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 40116 | Rep Org: KENTUCKY DEPT OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: MOUNTAIN ENTERPRISES
Region: 2
City: LEXINGTON State: KY
County:
License #: 201-447-51
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: RICK HORKY
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 08/29/2003
Notification Time: 14:00 [EST]
Event Date: 08/27/2003
Event Time: 09:15 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/29/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CAROLYN EVANS (R2)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN/RECOVERED TROXLER GAUGE
"At approximately 9:15 A.M. [on 08/27/03], [ ] the Area Manager of Ashland, KY called and advised [ ], RSO, that [ ] had his truck stolen with a Troxler 3440 gauge (s/n 14782) in it. He also indicated that the Ashland Police Department had been notified along with all other local police departments. Mountain Enterprises offered a $1000 reward for the return of the gauge, and also provided two employees to assist in the search for the gauge. At 1:30 P.M. the Ashland Police Department called and said that they found the truck in a yard at 2513 Newman St. The gauge was still locked in the bed of the truck and the case was still locked with the source locked in place. A survey was performed that showed the source to still be inside. The police said that another vehicle was stolen a block away so the indication is that the truck and gauge were stolen for the transportation and not for the gauge. The gauge will no longer be stored overnight anywhere but at the plant."
KY Item Number: KY030003. This event is closed by the State. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 40120 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: CORNERSTONE GEOTECHNICAL INC.
Region: 4
City: WOODINVILLE State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I0529-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: NATHAN SANFILIPPO | Notification Date: 08/29/2003
Notification Time: 17:52 [EST]
Event Date: 08/27/2003
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/29/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL RUNYAN (R4)
MELVYN LEACH (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE
"Subject: Event Report # WA-03-034
"ABSTRACT: (where, when, how, why; cause, contributing factors, corrective actions, consequences, Dept. of Health (DOH) on-site investigation; media attention) The license's representative, [...], reported that sometime between the evening of 27 August and the morning of 28 August that a Troxler, Model 3411B, moisture density gauge, Serial Number 13050, was stolen out of the trunk of the operator's transport vehicle parked outside the operator's residence in Everett, Washington. A police report was filed on 29 August and a reward posted.
"The operator violated several DOH requirements that contributed to the theft to the device. DOH requires that portable gauge licensees prohibit operators from taking gauges to residences if the work site is within 50 miles of the primary storage location. The gauges must be returned to that location. This didn't happen. Also DOH requires two independent layers of protection to keep the transport box, with secured gauge inside, secured to the vehicle. The licensee had not been using the two-layer method. And, gauges are not allowed to remain in the transport vehicle overnight as did happen. The licensee will be cited for at least 3 violations as a result of the event.
"A full report provided by the licensee, should be in the office, by the week of 1 September. This report will be updated after that. No media attention noted at present. Corrective actions will be discussed with the licensee.
"What is the notification or reporting criteria involved? 24-hour
"Activity and Isotope(s) involved: 370 megaBq (10 millicuries) Cesium 137 and 1850 megaBq (50 millicuries) Americium 241/Beryllium.
"Overexposures? (number of workers/members of the public; dose estimate; body part receiving dose; consequence) N/A
"Lost, Stolen or Damaged? STOLEN (mfg., model, serial number) noted above
"Disposition/recovery: pending
"Leak test? Unknown
"Vehicle: (description; placards; Shipper; package type; Pkg. ID number) Unknown
"Release of activity? N/A
"Activity and pharmaceutical compound intended: N/A
"Misadministered activity and/or compound received: N/A
"Device (HDR, etc.) Mfg., Model; computer program: N/A
"Exposure (intended/actual); consequences: N/A
"Was patient or responsible relative notified? N/A
"Was written report provided? Pending
"Was referring physician notified? N/A
"Consultant used? N/A |
| Hospital | Event Number: 40129 | Rep Org: UNIV OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY OF NJ
Licensee: UNIV OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY OF NJ
Region: 1
City: PISCATAWAY State: NJ
County:
License #: 29-15188-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PATRICK McDERMOTT
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 09/03/2003
Notification Time: 16:00 [EST]
Event Date: 08/26/2003
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/03/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
| Person (Organization):
PAMELA HENDERSON (R1)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS)
| Event Text P-32 SOURCE INADVERTANTLY DISCARDED TO RECYCLING
Late on the afternoon of 8/26 a 607 microcurie P-32 source was delivered to the Towers Building at the University of Medicine & Dentistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School located in Piscataway, NJ. Due to a missed communication, the packaging was discarded with the source vial to the cardboard recycling dumpster. The dumpster was picked up on 8/28 and delivered to the cardboard recycling facility located in Port Newark, NJ for bailing and shipment to China. The recycling facility produces about 550 bails/day. A rad survey at the recycling facility found no detectable radiation. The transit time to China is estimated between 4-6 weeks where the material will either enter the pulping process or municipal waste.
The licensee has corrective actions under review. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 40130 | Facility: BRAIDWOOD
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: CRAIG INGOLD
HQ OPS Officer: NATHAN SANFILIPPO | Notification Date: 09/03/2003
Notification Time: 16:57 [EST]
Event Date: 09/03/2003
Event Time: 07:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/03/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT
| Person (Organization):
RONALD GARDNER (R3)
|
| 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 | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text 24-HOUR REPORT REQUIRED BY LICENSE CONDITION -- POTENTIAL VIOLATION OF MAXIMUM POWER LEVEL
The following report was submitted by the licensee via fax:
"This 24-hour report is being made as required by Braidwood Unit 1 License Condition 2.G and Braidwood Unit ~ License Condition 2.G as a potential violation of the maximum power level (3586.6 MWt) as stated in Unit 1 and Unit 2 License Condition 2.C(1).
"Braidwood received Nuclear Safety Advisory Letter (NSAL) 03-6 from Westinghouse Electric Company. This NSAL documented that errors were found in calculations that may result in the use of a non conservatively high net heat input value to the plant calorimetric calculation. The net heat input is the difference between the reactor core power and the nuclear steam supply system power.
"The values used in the NSAL were based on generic values for certain operational parameters. The NSAL documented that an increase in actual reactor power could be as much as 0.4 MWt. This equates to an error in reactor power of approximately 0.011%. Braidwood reviewed the power history and 8-hour average calorimetric values on Unit 1 and Unit 2 since full power uprate was applied on each Unit. Several time periods were identified on each Unit where the 8-hour calorimetric value exceeded the license thermal power limit when the 0.011% error was added to the 8-hour calorimetric value. Therefore, the licensed power limit of 3586.6 MWt was slightly exceeded on both Unit 1 and Unit 2.
"The power level on both Units was reduced to less than 100% to account for the 0.4 MWt error. The calorimetric program was then updated to account for this error. This issue was identified at 0730 on September 3, 2003, and has been entered into the Corrective Action Program. Additional information will be contained in the 30-day licensee event report."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 40131 | Facility: GRAND GULF
Region: 4 State: MS
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: FRANK WEAVER
HQ OPS Officer: NATHAN SANFILIPPO | Notification Date: 09/03/2003
Notification Time: 23:18 [EST]
Event Date: 09/03/2003
Event Time: 20:05 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/03/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
CHARLES MARSCHALL (R4)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO DEATH OF EMPLOYEE
The following was received via fax from the licensee:
"Radiation protection technician passed away due to what appears to be a heart attack. On-site emergency medical attention was given and the individual was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Although this event occurred on-site, the individual was not within the Controlled Access Area (CAA) and was not contaminated."
The licensee made an offsite notification to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |