U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 12/10/2003 - 12/11/2003 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | General Information or Other | Event Number: 40376 | Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: STATE OF FLORIDA Region: 1 City: DAVIE State: FL County: License #: 0109-1 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: JERRY EAKINS HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG | Notification Date: 12/05/2003 Notification Time: 11:54 [ET] Event Date: 12/04/2003 Event Time: [EST] Last Update Date: 12/05/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): RICHARD CONTE (R1) TOM ESSIG (NMSS) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- FLORIDA - LOST OR STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE The following information was received via facsimile and telephone conversation: "Loss of Control - Lost, Abandoned, or Stolen Materials "Incident Location: Suspected Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) job site at US1 just north of North Bridge Road, St. Lucie, Florida in unrestricted area. "Incident Description: POC [Point of Contact] reported he looked for gauge in the bed of transport truck this AM. Gauge was not in carrying case. He believes he left the gauge at the job site on 4 Dec. He has the locks for the transportation case and the box attached to the truck bed and they were intact. The gauge handle was locked and he has the keys. He had a crew in Ft. Pierce make a futile search for the gauge at the work site. He called the Ft. Pierce PD [Police Department] and they had no reports of a gauge being found. This office requested a press release and reward for the return of the gauge be issued and the gauge be reported lost or stolen to the Ft. Pierce PD. Further investigation of this incident will be by the Radioactive Materials section." The subject gauge is a Troxler model 3440, serial number 20515, 40 milliCuries Am-241:Be, 8 milliCuries Cs-137 moisture density gauge licensed to the FDOT. Florida incident number FL03-217. | General Information or Other | Event Number: 40377 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY Region: 4 City: COLLEGE STATION State: TX County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: HELEN WATKINS (fax) HQ OPS Officer: GERRY WAIG | Notification Date: 12/05/2003 Notification Time: 18:52 [ET] Event Date: 12/03/2003 Event Time: [CST] Last Update Date: 12/05/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): CLAUDE JOHNSON (R4) THOMAS ESSIG (NMSS) | Event Text Cs-137 SOURCE CONTAINED WITHIN A LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTER WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING The following is taken from a facsimile received from Texas Department of Health [TDH], Bureau of Radiation Control: "Event Description: A 30 microcurie cesium-137 source located in a scintillation counter was found with 430,000 cpm counts on a swab leak test conducted by a serviceman. No contamination was found outside the source assembly. "Texas Incident No. I-8024 The Licensee's report to TDH was also faxed to the NRC and is identified, in part, below: "On December 3, 2003, the Radiological Safety Officer at Texas A&M University (TAMU) was notified by a service representative of Beckman Coulter that a Cs-137 source contained within a liquid scintillation counter was leaking. After obtaining information from the service representative, the RSO then made a telephone notification to the Texas Department of Health-Bureau of Radiation Control, informing Ms. Helen Watkins of the situation. "This letter is a written notification of the leaking sealed source, in accordance with TAC 289.202 (ddd). The following information identifies the liquid scintillation counter and specifies of the source: Location: Chemistry Bldg., Room 2516 Manufacturer: Beckman Model: LS 6000 SE S/N: 7060437 Source: Cs-137 Activity: 30 uCi [microcuries] "The device user, a professor at TAMU, noticed that the device was not operating properly and contacted Beckman for service. The service representatives performed diagnostics on the device including a smear (cotton swab) of the plastic sphere source. The swab was counted with a result of approximately 430,000 cpm [counts per minute]. No parts have been removed from the device, but the intention is to replace the source, source housing, and source elevator. These components will then be returned to Beckman. Repair parts have been ordered. The device has been removed from service with signage indicating 'No Usage' and 'Contact Radiological Safety.' In addition, Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHSD) personnel performed contamination surveys on the device, the service representatives, and within the room. No contamination was detected." | Power Reactor | Event Number: 40381 | Facility: PALISADES Region: 3 State: MI Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] CE NRC Notified By: LAURIE LAHTI HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT | Notification Date: 12/10/2003 Notification Time: 16:19 [ET] Event Date: 12/09/2003 Event Time: 19:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 12/10/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION | Person (Organization): MARK RING (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 OFFSITE NOTIFICATION FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION ERROR DURING EMERGENCY PLAN DRILL "On December 9, 2003, at 1900 hours, an unannounced emergency planning staff augmentation drill was initiated via a staff augmentation vendor. An incorrect message was inadvertently sent out. The message described a chemical spill and advised people to take shelter. The message did not indicate that there was an emergency at Palisades. It named a chemical plant in another town. An attempt to send the correct message was made, and the same erroneous message was sent. The erroneous message was only sent to plant personnel, however, several responders who received the message called local agencies to find out more about the emergency described in the message. (Note there was NO actual emergency at Palisades or at a chemical plant.) Various agencies then called the plant to request information. Courtesy calls were made later to state and local agencies that might be affected to explain the error in the message. Information was also FAXed to the agencies so they could make further courtesy calls. The error was also discussed with local media, although no press release had been issued. "There was no impact on plant operations. "This report is not being made within the required time period. The original review for reportability was made before the outside agencies were notified, and the error was believed to be an internal communication error. The Senior Resident Inspector was notified of the communication error. Plant staff had not planned on discussing it with outside agencies. However, once subsequent discussions were initiated, it was not immediately recognized that the NRC should be notified." The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 40382 | Facility: FT CALHOUN Region: 4 State: NE Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] CE NRC Notified By: RICH LOWERY HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT | Notification Date: 12/10/2003 Notification Time: 21:12 [ET] Event Date: 12/10/2003 Event Time: [CST] Last Update Date: 12/10/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 73.71(b)(1) - SAFEGUARDS REPORTS | Person (Organization): DAVID GRAVES (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 SAFEGUARDS REPORT Discovered vulnerability in a safeguard system that could allow access to a controlled access area for which compensatory measures have not been employed. The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details. | Power Reactor | Event Number: 40384 | Facility: PEACH BOTTOM Region: 1 State: PA Unit: [2] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4 NRC Notified By: ALAN RAUSH HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 12/10/2003 Notification Time: 23:49 [ET] Event Date: 12/10/2003 Event Time: 18:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 12/11/2003 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION | Person (Organization): ANIELLO DELLA GRECA (R1) | Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text REDUCTION IN ACCIDENT MITIGATION DUE TO IMPROPER HPCI SUCTION TRANSFER "During the performance of planned Unit 2 High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) Logic System Functional Surveillance testing an unexpected condition occurred. It was observed during the HPCI suction swap from the Condensate Storage Tank (CST) to the Torus, that the CST level lowered and the Torus level rose unexpectedly. At that time, the test was aborted and the system was restored to an available status but maintained Tech. Spec. inoperable pending additional evaluation. Following the evaluation, it was determined that the HPCI system Torus suction check valve permitted reverse flow. The HPCI system could not be restored to an operable status and requires additional troubleshooting and maintenance to return to an operable status." The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |