U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 11/20/2003 - 11/21/2003 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | General Information or Other | Event Number: 40334 | Rep Org: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH Licensee: NV DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Region: 4 City: LAS VEGAS State: NV County: License #: 00-14-0404-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: STAN MARSHALL HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD | Notification Date: 11/18/2003 Notification Time: 14:13 [ET] Event Date: 11/15/2003 Event Time: [PST] Last Update Date: 11/18/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): KRISS KENNEDY (R4) ROBERTO TORRES (NMSS) | Event Text NEVADA STATE LICENSEE REPORTED A STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE The Nevada Department of Transportation notified the Nevada Division of Rad Health on 11/17/03 that on 11/15/03 a Troxler 4640B, s/n 2361 was stolen out of a field lab trailer. The gauge was secured in the trailer, but the thief was able to defeat the locks and barriers. The gauge contained 8 millicuries of Cs-137. Notifications were made to the local police, the FBI and other states of the stolen gauge. | General Information or Other | Event Number: 40337 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION Licensee: SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER Region: 4 City: SEATTLE State: WA County: License #: WN-M008-1 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD | Notification Date: 11/18/2003 Notification Time: 17:59 [ET] Event Date: 11/17/2003 Event Time: [PST] Last Update Date: 11/18/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): KRISS KENNEDY (R4) JOHN GREEVES (NMSS) | Event Text PATIENT RECEIVED AN OVERDOSE DURING A BRACHYTHERAPY PROCEDURE The licensee's RSO reported on 18 November 2003, that a patient, at Swedish Medical Center, Providence Campus, was scheduled to receive an intravascular Brachytherapy procedure that involved the use of a NOVOSTE Bata-Cath device. The device, Serial Number ZB638, employed a total activity of 2907 Megabecquerels (78.56 millicuries) of Strontium 90/Yttrium 90, in a sealed source-train, Serial Number 91837. The cardiologist was unable to insert the source-train for the treatment because, as reported by the RSO, it was into a small artery and the routing did not follow a direct path. This resulted in a 143 second, 13.78 Gray (1378 Rad), exposure to healthy patient tissue. The source-train was partially inserted into the patient when the cardiologist experienced difficulty. A 143 second exposure time elapsed before the cardiologist withdrew the source-train even though medical center procedure requires the sources to immediately be withdrawn once a problem is understood. The delay apparently occurred as the cardiologist first worked to fully insert the source-train and then discussed correcting the problem with the oncologist. The cause of the exposure was failure to follow established procedures. The cardiologist has been suspended from further licensed activities until the details of the event are fully understood. It is anticipated that no health affects to the patient will be realized as a result of the exposure. A DOH staff health physicist will pursue additional details of the event. There is no media attention at this time. Patient and referring physician were notified. | Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 40342 | Rep Org: CROW BUTTE RESOURCES, INC Licensee: CROW BUTTE RESOURCES, INC Region: 4 City: CRAWFORD State: NE County: License #: SUA-1534 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: MIKE GRIFFIN HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 11/20/2003 Notification Time: 10:16 [ET] Event Date: 11/19/2003 Event Time: 14:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 11/20/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 40.60(b)(3) - MED TREAT INVOLVING CONTAM | Person (Organization): KRISS KENNEDY (R4) ROBERTO TORRES (NMSS) | Event Text MEDICAL TREATMENT INVOLVING CONTAMINATION On 11/19/03, a contract worker at the licensee's facility fell from a ladder breaking his shoulder while working in a contaminated area. The worker was transported to the hospital with the licensee's RSO while wearing his protective clothing. The protective clothing had removable contamination measured at 1380 dpm/100 cm2 (disintegrations per minute per 100 square-centimeters). The employee was released from the hospital and the contaminated clothing was recovered by the licensee. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 40343 | Facility: VERMONT YANKEE Region: 1 State: VT Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4 NRC Notified By: ANDREW WISNIEWSKI HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 11/20/2003 Notification Time: 11:19 [ET] Event Date: 11/20/2003 Event Time: 09:25 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/20/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION | Person (Organization): BRIAN MCDERMOTT (R1) | 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 HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION (HPCI) SYSTEM DECLARED INOPERABLE At 0925, while performing the HPCI time to rated flow surveillance, operators discovered the HPCI flow controller to be operating sluggishly in the automatic mode. The surveillance was stopped and HPCI was declared inoperable. The licensee entered a 24-hour LCO per Technical Specification 3.5.5.2 due to Torus Cooling being in service on RHR loop "A". The licensee is now in a 14-day LCO as a result of securing Torus Cooling and restoring RHR LPCI loop "A". Troubleshooting was performed with I&C prior to securing HPCI. I&C is pursuing controller restoration to operability. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 40344 | Facility: CALLAWAY Region: 4 State: MO Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: DAVID M EPPERSON HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 11/20/2003 Notification Time: 12:11 [ET] Event Date: 11/20/2003 Event Time: 10:20 [CST] Last Update Date: 11/20/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH | Person (Organization): KRISS KENNEDY (R4) JACK FOSTER (NRR) WILLIAM RULAND (NRR) BRIAN MCDERMOTT (R1) DAVID AYRES (R2) CHRISTINE LIPA (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 | Event Text LOW VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER DEFECT AND NONCOMPLIANCE REPORT Deviation related to upper stud assemblies for General Electric Nuclear AKR-30 low voltage circuit breakers. The deviation is specific to upper stud assemblies supplied under part number Q139C4632G1 and consist of an incorrect angle between the stud and pivot. Of the fifteen assemblies supplied with possible deviations to AmerenUE, five were returned and ten had been installed in Callaway Plant. The deviation will not prevent the circuit breakers from performing their design basis function at the Callaway Plant, however, the capability of the assemblies is indeterminate for severe faulted conditions. A circuit breaker could fail if an upper stud assembly with identified deviation was installed and the circuit breaker was called upon to interrupt a severe fault. "Callaway has concluded that this deviation does not constitute a "defect" as defined in 10CFR Part 21 because the breakers would still perform their design basis requirements and would not create a substantial safety hazard. However, Callaway can not determine if the potential for a significant safety hazard or exceeding of a technical specification safety limit could exist at another nuclear power plant." Received written documentation that the licensee has notified the NRC resident inspector. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 40345 | Facility: WOLF CREEK Region: 4 State: KS Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: DAVID SEENEY HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 11/20/2003 Notification Time: 18:43 [ET] Event Date: 11/20/2003 Event Time: 17:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 11/20/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE | Person (Organization): KRISS KENNEDY (R4) | Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | 1 | N | N | 0 | Cold Shutdown | 0 | Cold Shutdown | Event Text LOSS OF SPDS FOR GREATER THAN 8 HOURS "During the performance of the control room logs CKL ZL-003 the updating of the SPDS [Safety Parameter Display System] program on the Nuclear Plant Information System (NPIS) computer system was noted to have not changed state. With the recent restoration of the condenser off gas monitor GE RE-092 the computer log had not updated and indicated that the computer was not updating. A review of the computer services backlogs indicates the program has not updated since 11/14/2003 @ 10:29 [CST]. "This condition is being reported as a Loss of Emergency Preparedness under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii). The loss of NPIS affects Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS). SPDS is considered a significant portion of the WCGS emergency assessment capability. Because SPDS has been lost for longer than a short period OF time, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation is making this notification pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii). There is no other loss of normal procedures and are taking local readings of equipment normally monitored by the NPIS computer. Current plant status is still Mode 5, 0%." The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector. | |