Event Notification Report for September 20, 2005

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
09/19/2005 - 09/20/2005

** EVENT NUMBERS **


41929 41988 41989 41990 41994 41998 41999 42000 42001 42002

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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 41929
Rep Org: SCHLUMBERGER INC.
Licensee: SCHLUMBERGER INC.
Region: 1
City: TRENTON State: NJ
County:
License #: 29-08636-02
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TOM BRACKE
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 08/18/2005
Notification Time: 14:25 [ET]
Event Date: 08/17/2005
Event Time: 12:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
RAYMOND LORSON (R1)
GARY SANBORN (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)

Event Text

MATERIAL EVENT - LOST TRITIUM SOURCE

A shipment of a pulse neutron generator containing a 1.5 curie tritium source was determined to be lost by the shipper (Federal Express) and reported to the licensee on 8/17/05. The neutron generator originated in New Jersey and was shipped to Texas where it was used under a well logging source license. Upon completion of use, the generator was to be returned to New Jersey from Texas. The shipment in question originated in Webster, Texas, and was destined for the licensee's Princeton Technology Center in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. The shipping date was 7/12/05. The licensee stated that the neutron generator failed to arrive as scheduled and that on or about 7/15/05 the shipper initiated an internal incident report to investigate the shipment. The neutron generator was tracked to the shipper's Trenton, New Jersey site. The licensee also reported that the shipper reported finding packaging related to the neutron generator shipment but that the contents were missing.

The tritium source in the neutron generator is less than the quantity of an IAEA Category 3 source.

Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury.

For some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are IAEA Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.

* * * * UPDATE FROM T. BRACKE TO M. RIPLEY 1640 EDT 09/19/05 * * * *

The licensee stated that the device and source have not yet been found. The shipper has, however, exhausted their search of their facilities in Webster, TX, Houston, TX, Trenton, NJ and Woodbridge, NJ.

Notified R1 DO (J. White) and NMSS EO (M. Burgess)

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41988
Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: MID-AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
Region: 3
City: SALIX State: IA
County:
License #: 0100-1-97-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DON FLATER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 09/14/2005
Notification Time: 09:56 [ET]
Event Date: 08/07/2004
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JULIO LARA (R3)
MICHELE BURGESS (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING FIRE DAMAGE TO GAUGE SOURCES

The State representative reported that a fire occurred at the Mid-America coal fired electrical power plant in Salix, Iowa on August 7, 2004. Two Thermo-Electron level and flow gauges used on the facility's coke tower were damaged by the fire. Each of the two gauges contained a 50 millicuries Cesium-137 sealed source. The facility RSO isolated access to the gauge location until they could be inspected by representatives of Thermo-electron. On August 11, 2004, Thermo-electron representatives arrived onsite and performed leak tests of the gauge sources. The sources were determined to be intact. Thermo-electron took possession of the gauges. The gauges have subsequently been repaired and returned to the licensee for reinstallation at its facility. It has been determined that no radiation was released as a result of this event.

The State has notified NRC Region 3 (Lynch) of this event.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41989
Rep Org: GEORGIA RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PGM
Licensee: ACUREN INSPECTION
Region: 1
City: SAVANNAH State: GA
County:
License #: GA 1115-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ELIZABETH DRINNON
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 09/14/2005
Notification Time: 10:30 [ET]
Event Date: 09/13/2005
Event Time: 16:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JAMES TRAPP (R1)
TRISH HOLAHAN (NMSS)
TIM MCGINTY (IRD)
BENJAMIN SANDLER (TAS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN/RECOVERED INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA

At 1600 EDT on 9/13/05 an Acuren Inspection vehicle was discovered missing from their satellite office located in Augusta, GA. The vehicle contained a TechOps industrial radiography camera, model and serial number unknown containing an Ir-192 source (source strength not available at time of the report). The vehicle was recovered four (4) hours later at 2000 EDT by law enforcement. The individual believed responsible for the theft, an employee, was arrested at 0300 EDT on 9/14. The corporate RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) is enroute to Augusta to examine the recovered vehicle and radiography camera. The State of Georgia will update this report as additional information becomes available.

* * * UPDATE ON 09/15/05 @ 1525 FROM ELIZABETH DRINNON TO CHAUNCEY GOULD * * *

The model of the camera is AEA 660B serial # B2655. The source model AEA 424-9 serial number 21291B, containing iridium 192. The strength of the source at the time of the theft was 18.5 curies.

Notified Reg 1 RDO (Trapp), NMSS EO (Hodges), IRD (Wilson), TAS (English), TAS(Sandler), and DHS (Cartledge)

IAEA Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example, level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41990
Rep Org: NC DIV OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: DUPONT FLUOROPRODUCTS
Region: 1
City: FAYETTVILLE State: NC
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LEE COX
HQ OPS Officer: ARLON COSTA
Notification Date: 09/14/2005
Notification Time: 12:30 [ET]
Event Date: 06/01/2005
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JAMES TRAPP (R1)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TRITIUM SOURCES DISPOSED AT LANDFILL

Nineteen Tritium Exit Signs were inadvertently disposed in Robeson County Landfill in St. Pauls, North Carolina in mid June 2005, totaling 403 Curies of Tritium gas (H-3). The incident location is at 22828 NC Way 87 W. Fayetteville, NC. 28306-7332. A survey of the landfill has not yet been performed and there are no significant exposure hazards. No one has been injured by the event. (NC Incident No.05-32).

Less than the quantity of an IAEA Category 3 source. Sources that are 'Less than IAEA Category 3 sources,' are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. These are IAEA Category 5 sources and are not dangerous: No one could be permanently injured by this amount of radioactive material.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41994
Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: CARDINAL HEALTH 414, INC.
Region: 4
City: FIFE State: WA
County:
License #: WN-NP005-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN C SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: ARLON COSTA
Notification Date: 09/14/2005
Notification Time: 13:18 [ET]
Event Date: 08/15/2005
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
M. WAYNE HODGES (NMSS)
CANADA CNSC (FAX) ()

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOSS OF CASE CONTAINING TECHNETIUM-99m

The licensee provided the following information via email:

"A customer of Cardinal Health called Cardinal on Tuesday, 16 August 2005, to inform Cardinal that they had not received part of their nuclear medicine order for Monday, 15 August. Only one of the two cases ordered had been delivered. The missing case contained 6 doses of diagnostic technetium-99m (a maximum total activity of 9.36 Megabecquerels [253 millicuries] as of ~ 06:30 am on 15 August). Cardinal Health indicates the doses were prepared early the morning of 15 August. The driver who delivered to the customer location on 15 August stated that only one case had been picked up from the pharmacy for that customer. Survey of delivery vehicle confirmed absence of missing radioactive material. The customer is sure that they did not receive the shipment. ORP performed a Cardinal facility site investigation on 19 August. Cardinal Health has not yet been able to explain what actually happened. Cardinal Health and ORP continue to investigate the event (Event Report # WA-05-047)."

Less than the quantity of an IAEA Category 3 source. Sources that are 'Less than IAEA Category 3 sources,' are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury.

For some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are IAEA Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.

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Fuel Cycle Facility Event Number: 41998
Facility: FRAMATOME ANP RICHLAND
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: LEU CONVERSION
                   FABRICATION & SCRAP RECOVERY
                   COMMERCIAL LWR FUEL
Region: 2
City: RICHLAND State: WA
County: BENTON
License #: SNM-1227
Agreement: Y
Docket: 07001257
NRC Notified By: BOB LINK
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 09/18/2005
Notification Time: 23:49 [ET]
Event Date: 09/18/2005
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
70.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
Person (Organization):
JOEL MUNDAY (R2)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS)

Event Text

CONTAMINATION EVENT IN UNCONTROLLED AREA

The licensee observed a puddle of water on a blacktop surface in an area outside the Uranium Oxide (UO2) building under conditions where no water would ordinarily be expected. The puddle was characterized as about 4 feet by 8 feet in size. The area was barricaded and samples were taken for analysis. The sample analysis has still not been completed, however, the puddle has evaporated and radiological survey of the blacktop area with a GM tube type probe indicated an on-contact radiological contamination count rate of 4000 CPM (counts per minute). The licensee has covered the blacktop surface with a tarpaulin now that the area is dry and a decontamination plan is under development.

The location of the contamination is within the facility's security zone that is not a contamination-controlled area. There was no release or potential of release outside the facility. There was no personnel contamination associated with this event. The licensee believes the contamination is from Uranium but is still awaiting lab results. The source of the contamination is still unknown. The license was performing fire protection deluge testing at approximately the time the puddle was discovered but the connection between this testing and the generation of the contaminated water is not known.

The licensee plans to contact the Region.

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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 41999
Rep Org: GEOMECHANICS
Licensee: GEOMECHANICS
Region: 1
City: ELIZABETH State: PA
County:
License #: 37-17332-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: WALTER LORENCE
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 09/19/2005
Notification Time: 08:32 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2005
Event Time: 07:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
JOHN WHITE (R1)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
TAS (e-mail) ()

Event Text

STOLEN HUMBOLDT SCIENTIFIC MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

An employee of Geomechanics notified his company that a Humboldt Scientific gauge was stolen from his truck. The moisture density gauge is a Humboldt Scientific (Model 5001, S/N 4731) with 40 millicuries of Am-241/Be and 10 millicuries of Cs-137. The source serial numbers are NJ04997 and 5850CM respectively. The employee was parked overnight in a Holiday Inn Express parking lot in Charleston West Virginia when the theft occurred. The gauge was locked in a container, which was chained to the bed of the truck. The licensee notified the LLEA and they are investigating the incident. The licensee is not expecting any media attention, and is not offering a reward.

Less than the quantity of an IAEA Category 3 source.

Sources that are 'Less than IAEA Category 3 sources,' are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury.

For some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are IAEA Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.

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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 42000
Rep Org: GEOTEST, INC
Licensee: GEOTEST, INC
Region: 3
City: ST LOUIS State: MO
County:
License #: 24-26550-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DANIEL BARNES
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 09/19/2005
Notification Time: 10:10 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2005
Event Time: 07:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
JULIO LARA (R3)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
TAS (e-mail) ()

Event Text

STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

An employee of GeoTest notified his company that a moisture density gauge was stolen from his job site in Jefferson County, MO. The gauge is a Troxler (Model 3440, S/N 36277) with 40 millicuries of Am-241/Be and 8 millicuries of Cs-137. The employee had the gauge locked inside a cabinet that was inside a locked trailer at the job site. The licensee notified the LLEA (Police Dept in Herculaneum, MO) and they are investigating the incident. The licensee is not expecting any media attention, and is not offering a reward.

Less than the quantity of an IAEA Category 3 source.

Sources that are 'Less than IAEA Category 3 sources,' are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury.

For some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are IAEA Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42001
Facility: TURKEY POINT
Region: 2 State: FL
Unit: [3] [4] [ ]
RX Type: [3] W-3-LP,[4] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: GRANT MELIN
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 09/19/2005
Notification Time: 11:26 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2005
Event Time: 11:04 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2005
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
Person (Organization):
JOEL MUNDAY (R2)
ERIC BENNER ()
PETER WILSON (IRD)
EACHES (FEMA)
MIKE INZER (DHS)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
3 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
4 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO HURRICANE RITA

"Turkey Point nuclear power plant is under a hurricane warning from the National Hurricane Center, starting at 11:00 EDT for Tropical Storm Rita."

On-site facilities are not being activated at this time. No off-site assistance is requested. All 4 Emergency Diesel Generators are available and fully operable if needed. The electrical grid is stable. The licensee has notified the State and local agencies.

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATE FROM D. FUNK TO W GOTT AT 1917 ON 09/19/05 * * *

Tropical storm force winds are expected between 0700 and 2100 on 09/20/05. Maximum expected sustained wind speed is 53 MPH.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified R2DO (C Ogle) and R2 IRC (J. Hufham)

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Power Reactor Event Number: 42002
Facility: SEABROOK
Region: 1 State: NH
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: PAUL DUNDIN
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 09/19/2005
Notification Time: 16:25 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2005
Event Time: 07:22 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.73 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
Person (Organization):
JOHN WHITE (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

FITNESS FOR DUTY

A licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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