| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
01/27/2006 - 01/31/2006 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 42284 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: TULANE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Region: 4
City: NEW ORLEANS State: LA
County:
License #: LA-0004-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOE NOBLES
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 01/24/2006
Notification Time: 10:23 [ET]
Event Date: 10/18/2005
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/24/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
ENGLISH(e-mail) (TAS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - MISSING SOURCES FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA
The State reported that a number of radioactive sources are missing following detailed inventories in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The following two sources appear to have disappeared under suspicious circumstances (possibly associated with looting of the hospital after the hurricane):
Co-57 Button IP SSM-057-100U #1111-41-2, 100 microCi 4/1/05, now 56.4 microCi
Co-57 Button IP SSM-057-100U #1111-41-5, 100 microCi 4/1/05, now 56.4 microCi
Material is also missing after the refurbishment of the Radiation Laboratory Room. The detectable radioactive sources were removed from the room before it was gutted. Inventory after the material was sorted out showed that the following sources were missing:
1. Co-57 button source Syncor 644-10A 200 microCi 3/1/99 now 0.4 microCi
2. Ba-133 liquid scintillation counter quench source 19 microCi 12/31/87 now 6 microCi
3. Lead pig containing approximately 0.1 microCi R-226 fixed contamination now 0.1 microCi
4. I-125 radiation therapy eye plaque seeds (886 seeds dating from 12/95 to 12/03) in lead container marked "Haik AA" now 0.6 microCi
5. I-125 radiation therapy eye plaque seeds (116 seeds dating from 4/04 to 3/05) in lead container marked "Haik BB" now 2.8 microCi
All material debris from the room was placed into dumpsters for disposal in landfills.
No Louisiana Event # was provided with this report.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
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. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are 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. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 42287 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TEAM COPPERHEAT
Region: 4
City: CORPUS CHRISTI State: TX
County:
License #: L0087
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT FREE
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 01/25/2006
Notification Time: 17:41 [ET]
Event Date: 01/25/2006
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/30/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
JOSEPH HOLONICH (NMSS)
LANCE ENGLISH (TAS)
CNSNS MEXICO - Email ()
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY DEVICE MISSING
The State provided the following information via email:
"A Texas licensee reported on January 25, 2006 that an industrial radiograph crew departed Corpus Christi for Victoria, Texas, and found on arrival that the radiography device they were carrying was not on the transport vehicle. The radiation source, a 21 Curie industrial radiography source, was lost in its shielded container. Company crews are searching for the device and have not located it at this time. DSHS radiation control staff have been dispatched to aid in the search. Local law enforcement are being notified of the loss."
The radionuclide is Ir-192. Texas Incident Report No. I-8292
* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT FREE TO JOE O'HARA AT 1407 ON 1/30/06 * * *
"Radiography device found by private citizen on 1/25/06 and returned 01/26/06."
Notified the R4DO(Runyon), NMSS EO(Morell), IRD Manager(Wilson), TAS(Perez), and Mexico.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
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.
Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Category 3 event.
Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 2" is different than the calculated value "Category 3" |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 42290 | Facility: SUSQUEHANNA
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: RICH KLINEFELTER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON | Notification Date: 01/27/2006
Notification Time: 14:15 [ET]
Event Date: 01/27/2006
Event Time: 08:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/27/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
NEIL PERRY (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 UNIT 2 EMERGENCY RESPONSE DATA SYSTEM (ERDS) MODEM FAILED
"`AT 0800 ON 01/27/2006 the Unit 2 ERDS modem failed its testing criteria. The modem will not transmit any of the Unit 2 ERDS data. At 1234, the determination was made that repairs will exceed 8 hours. The data points transmitted by ERDS are operable. Only the transmission of the Unit 2 data to the NRC is inoperable. Unit 1 ERDS remains operable.
"A review of the ability of the Emergency organization to function without ERDS was performed. The NEP (Nuclear Emergency Planning) Duty Planner has established another data line. In response to a Unit 2 event, the affected NERO (Nuclear Emergency Response Organization) positions will verbally transmit the Unit 2 data to the NRC. All affected NERO positions have been notified.
"Since the Unit 2 ERDS computer system will be unavailable for greater than 8 hours, this is considered a Loss of Offsite Communications Capability and reportable under 10 CFR 50/72(b)(3)(xiii)."
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee |
| Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 42292 | Facility: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: LEU CONVERSION (UF6 TO UO2)
LEU FABRICATION
LWR COMMERICAL FUEL
Region: 2
City: WILMINGTON State: NC
County: NEW HANOVER
License #: SNM-1097
Agreement: Y
Docket: 07001113
NRC Notified By: LON PAULSON
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT | Notification Date: 01/28/2006
Notification Time: 09:28 [ET]
Event Date: 01/27/2006
Event Time: 15:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/28/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
RESPONSE-BULLETIN
| Person (Organization):
CHARLIE PAYNE (R2)
JOSEPH HOLONICH (NMSS)
| Event Text 24 HR NRC BULLETIN 91-01 DUE TO CRITICALITY CONTROLS DEGRADATION
"At approximately 1500 on January 27, 2006, operations leadership notified nuclear safety that five (5) loaded rod trays were discovered stored on a conveyor at the Automated Bundle Assembly Machine (ABAM). A physical barrier intended to limit the number of rod trays to four (4) had failed, and was not in place. This event constitutes a loss of geometry control.
"The independent control on moderation remained intact, thus no unsafe condition existed. This event is reported pursuant to NRC Bulletin 91-01 within 24 hours. The rod trays were removed from the conveyor, and the geometry control re-established within 4 hours. The ABAM unit has been shutdown pending investigation and implementation of additional corrective actions."
The licensee will notify NRC Region 2, and State and Local authorities. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 42293 | Facility: OYSTER CREEK
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-2
NRC Notified By: STEVE FULLER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT | Notification Date: 01/29/2006
Notification Time: 06:37 [ET]
Event Date: 01/29/2006
Event Time: 04:40 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/29/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
NEIL PERRY (R1)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Hot Shutdown | 0 | Hot Shutdown | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
"The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the sighting of 10 dead and approximately 40 stressed Bluefish in the Oyster Creek discharge canal at 0440 January 29, 2006, following a plant shutdown."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.
*** UPDATE ON 01/29/06 AT 1649 EST BY GEORGE VOISHNIS TO MACKINNON *****
"This is a NRC ENS 24 hr notification per Oyster Creek Environmental Tech Spec Section B 1.1.1 A.
"At 11:45 on 01/29/06 a total of 100 fish were spotted either dead or stressed in the discharge canal following a Reactor S/D (shutdown) that was completed at 22:22 on 01/28/06" R1DO (N. Perry) notified.
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee. The state will be notified. |
| Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 42294 | Rep Org: SOLAR TESTING LABORATORY, INC.
Licensee: SOLAR TESTING LABORATORY, INC.
Region: 1
City: PITTSBURGH State: PA
County:
License #: 34-16119-04
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK MURPHY
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 01/30/2006
Notification Time: 09:39 [ET]
Event Date: 01/28/2006
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/30/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
| Person (Organization):
GLENN MEYER (R1)
CHRISTINE LIPA (R3)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
TAS (via email) ()
| Event Text TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE STOLEN
Sometime between Friday night (1/27/06) and early Saturday morning (1/28/06), the authorized gauge user's vehicle was stolen from a residential location in Sharpsburg, PA. The vehicle's trunk contained a locked and secured Troxler Model 3440 S/N 18315 (8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am-241/Be). The local Sharpsburg Police Department was informed of the theft (report #060309). The licensee is evaluating whether a reward will be offered.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
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. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are 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. | |