| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
02/08/2007 - 02/09/2007 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Power Reactor | Event Number: 43153 | Facility: HATCH
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: FRANK GORLEY
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL | Notification Date: 02/08/2007
Notification Time: 05:25 [ET]
Event Date: 02/08/2007
Event Time: 04:32 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
CAROLYN EVANS (R2)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 96 | Power Operation | 96 | Power Operation | Event Text HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION (HPCI) SYSTEM INOPERABLE
"During performance HPCI Pump Operability (34SV-E41-002-1), HPCI Steam Supply Valve (1E41-F001) failed to open. When steam supply valve control switch was taken to open position, double indication was observed; however, HPCI turbine speed did not increase. Shortly afterward, HPCI Valve overload alarm was received. When steam supply control switch was taken to close position, a ground indication was received. The steam supply valve breaker tripped and ground indication cleared. Personnel in the field reported that the steam supply valve motor was hot to the touch."
All other required safety systems are operable and available. The electrical power system is in a normal configuration with no power sources unavailable.
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 43154 | Rep Org: US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL
Licensee: US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL
Region: 1
City: MIAMI State: FL
County:
License #: 08-17447-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LUKE MCCORMICK
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL | Notification Date: 02/08/2007
Notification Time: 09:30 [ET]
Event Date: 01/31/2007
Event Time: 15:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1)
WILLIAM RULAND (NMSS)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text POTENTIAL MISSING SOURCE
On 1/31/07 the licensee shipped a pig which was assumed to contain a training source (CS-137 with a strength of 7 milliCuries) from the Port of Miami location to the Los Angeles, CA location. When the shipment arrived in Los Angeles no source could be found in the pig. The source was verified by both survey and visual inspection to not be present. The officers in Los Angeles notified the RSO and the Port of Miami of the missing source. A search for the source was conducted in Port of Miami and Los Angeles, the source was not located. No pre-shipment survey was performed in Miami; therefore the source could not be verified, by radiation levels on the pig, to have been present when shipped.
During the investigation, several officers involved in the training and that routinely uses the licensee's sources at the Port of Miami, stated that they believe there was never a source in the storage pig. The licensee has contacted the source vendor, International Isotopes, to verify that a source was actually shipped in the pig to Miami. When the licensee attempted to locate the pre-shipment survey, it could not be found.
All other sources in the licensees possession have been accounted for.
The licensee continues to attempt to locate the source and will update the NRC as new information becomes available.
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.
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 43156 | Rep Org: ALPHA TESTING LABS
Licensee: SOURCE PRODUCTION
Region:
City: Casper State: WY
County:
License #: 43-29213-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PETE HANGES
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 02/08/2007
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 02/02/2007
Event Time: 12:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1)
CAROLYN EVANS (R2)
ERIC DUNCAN (R3)
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
WILLIAM RULAND (NMSS)
PART 21 COORDINATOR ()
VIA E-MAIL ()
| Event Text RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA WITH POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE SOURCE CONTROL CABLES
The licensee provided the following information via facsimile:
"RE: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Radioactive Materials License Number 43-29213-01
Reporting to requirement of 10 CFR 21.21 (d)(3)(i): Concerning Identification of a defect or a failure to comply.
"1. Description of the equipment problem:
"Alpha Testing Labs purchased a new exposure device with new associated equipment and new source from Source Production & Equipment Company (SPEC).
Exposure device model No. 150, S/N 1030
Source Model No. G-60, SIN OA 1704
The first use of the new equipment was of a field job site location in Casper, Wyoming February 2, 2007. Source strength - 4995 GBq
"The radiographer successfully cranked out the source for 10 exposures. On the 11th exposure, he experienced difficulty retracting the source back into the locked position. They did an inspection of the equipment (guide tubes and crank cable) and found no visible defects. They informed the RSO of the difficulty. They tried another exposure with the same results. Then they checked the drive cable and gear in the crank outs, replaced the safety stop spring on the drive cable and made 108 exposures with no problems. RSO called SPEC and reported the problem. They said they would overnight a new set of controls and related equipment.
"Dosimeter readings: Radiographer-40 mr, Assistant radiographer-45 mr, Assistant radiographer- 12 mr
"The next day, February 3, 2007, they made 2 exposures and the problem happened again. They informed the RSO and did not use the equipment again. SPEC sent a new set of associated equipment by overnight delivery and there have been no problems.
"2. Corrective action taken:
The equipment was returned to the manufacturer, Source Production & Equipment Company (SPEC). SPEC personnel will evaluate the equipment problem and submit a written reply.
"3. Place, Date and time of incident:
Field site location: Toromont Energy Systems (Wyoming) Inc., 2289 Renauna Ave., Casper, WY 82601 Dates: February 2 and 3rd 2007 at approximately 6:30 PM.
"4. Qualifications of personnel involved in incident:
Contact the HOO for details."
The licensee was operating a brand new SPEC Model 150 S/N 1030 radiography camera containing a 147 Curie source of Ir-192 when the operator experienced some binding while retracting the source control cable. The operator suspended the radiography operation, contacted SPEC, and performed an inspection of the guide tube and cables. The licensee operator noticed some raised metal in the guide tube and guide spring. SPEC provided replacement source guide cables and guide tubes and those components were replaced. The licensee replaced the control cables and guide tubes and no further binding problems were noticed. There were no personnel overexposures and the potentially defective cables are being inspected by the manufacturer. The licensee believes this is a manufacturers defect given that the equipment is brand new and being used for the first time. Additionally, the licensee has four other SPEC cameras and has not experienced any difficulties. The licensee has discussed this issue with Mr. Montgomery in Region IV. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43157 | Facility: FT CALHOUN
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] CE
NRC Notified By: ERICK MATZKE
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 02/08/2007
Notification Time: 18:40 [ET]
Event Date: 02/08/2007
Event Time: 13:42 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
| Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (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 RAW WATER PUMPS DECLARED INOPERABLE DUE TO A POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE PUMP BREAKER LINKAGES
"On February 8, 2007 at 10:22 CST, Raw Water Pump AC-10C was declared inoperable when the pump breaker experienced a plunger linkage failure during a scheduled pump start for a scheduled rotation. Due to a similar failure of Raw Water Pump AC-10B two weeks earlier, a condition report was initiated for engineering to review the potential for a common failure mode. Engineering reviewed the number of cycles of the breakers for AC-10A and AC-10D both have greater than 1600 cycles. The breaker for AC-10B had over 1200 cycles at the time of its failure and AC-10C was over 1700 cycles. Based on the similar numbers of cycles, engineering has determined that continued operation of AC-10A and AC-10D without breaker failure could not he assured. All other safeguards associated breakers have been verified to have less than 1000 cycles and are not considered to be susceptible to breaker failure at this time. After discussion with engineering, Raw Water Pumps AC-10A and AC-10D were declared inoperable on February 8, 2007 at 13:42 CST based on the number of breaker cycles for these two components in relation to the two breakers that failed.
"With three Raw Water Pumps inoperable, Fort Calhoun Station entered Technical Specification 2.0.1 which requires the plant be placed in hot shutdown within six (6) hours. The potential for a common mode failure of the linkage in the 4160 VAC circuit breakers (ABB Combustion Engineering Model No. 5VKBR-250) could have prevented operation of the Raw Water Pumps to fulfill the required design function to remove residual heat during a design basis accident.
"At 15:22 CST, repairs were completed on Raw Water Pump AC-10C breaker and the pump was declared operable. At 15:34 CST, Technical Specification 2.0.1 was exited and Technical Specification 2.4(1)c, 7-day LCO was entered for the inoperability of Raw Water Pumps AC-10A and AC-10D. The repair of the breakers for AC-10A and AC-10D are scheduled for February 9, 2007."
The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 43158 | Facility: LOUISIANA ENERGY SERVICES
RX Type:
Comments: URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY
GAS CENTRIFUGE FACILITY
Region: 2
City: EUNICE State: NM
County: LEA
License #: SNM-2010
Agreement: Y
Docket: 70-3103
NRC Notified By: VERNON HULL
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 02/08/2007
Notification Time: 18:49 [ET]
Event Date: 02/07/2007
Event Time: 17:30 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
PART 70 APP A (c) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION/NEWS REL
| Person (Organization):
CAROLYN EVANS (R2)
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
WILLIAM RULAND (NMSS)
| Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO DUE TO AN OVERTURNED CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE ON SITE
At approximately 1730 hours on 2/7/07, a Caterpillar Model 623G Wheeled Tractor Scrapper was being moved from a work area on the Louisiana National Enrichment Facility in Eunice, New Mexico to a parking lot when the tractor overturned and caught fire. The equipment operator escaped without serious injury and was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation. Eunice Emergency Services responded and extinguished the fire. The Lea County Sheriffs department and the New Mexico State Police also responded to the site. The fire was extinguished. There is no radioactive material involved in this accident. The accident occurred north of highway 176 approximately one half mile from the Texas /New Mexico border. The licensee reports there is no threat to human health, safety, property, or environmental resources. The quantity of fluids released from the vehicle is less than 25 gallons of transmission fluid and motor oil.
The licensee notified the New Mexico Environmental Department and the National Response Center. There is no planned press release. Tim Johnson and Deborah Seymour of the NRC were notified. | |