| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
04/05/2007 - 04/06/2007 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 42009 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DEPT.
Region: 4
City: LA QUINTA State: CA
County:
License #: 1630-33
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK M. GOTTLIEB
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON | Notification Date: 09/22/2005
Notification Time: 19:58 [ET]
Event Date: 09/22/2005
Event Time: 14:30 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 04/05/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL SHANNON (R4)
SCOTT MOORE (NMSS)
LANCE ENGLISH (TAS)
MEXICAN GOVT REP ()
| Event Text CALIFORNIA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT: MISSING/STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The Riverside County gauge operator at the Jefferson Street Bridge Construction site located in La Quinta, CA was called to a meeting with the on-site construction inspector. The gauge operator placed a Troxler Model # 3440 moisture density gauge unsecured into the back of his open bed pickup truck with its tail gate down. The gauge handle was not locked, not in its case and not placed in a metal shipping case attached to the bed of the pickup truck. The gauge operator did not placed a cover over the gauge. He drove 1.75 miles to where he met with the on-site construction inspector and a water district official. He talked with them between 8 to 10 minutes. After he completed talking with them he found that the gauge was not in the back of the pickup truck. It either fell out of the back of the pickup truck or it was stolen while he was talking. Three different people retraced the route that he had taken several times without finding the gauge. A police report was made with the La Quinta Police, report number 0509-4479. The Riverside County Transportation Department was instructed to make a press release and offer a $500 reward for the missing gauge. Also the press release instructs people not to touch the gauge and to call the police if they find the gauge.
The Troxler gauge contains 8 millicuries of Cs-137 and 40 millicuries of Am-241/Be. The gauge was last leak checked in June of 2005.
**** UPDATE ON 09/27/05 AT 1928 EDT FROM MARK M. GOTTLIEB TO BILL GOTT *****
The activity of the Cs-137 is 9 millicuries instead of 8 millicuries and the activity of the Am-241/Be is 44 millicuries instead of 40 millicuries.
R4DO (B. Spitzberg), NMSS (Bill Reamer) notified. E-mailed to Mexican Govt Rep and NRC TAS.
* * * UPDATE FROM STATE OF CALIFORNIA (KRAJEWSKI) TO HUFFMAN AT 1124 EDT ON 4/5/07 * * *
The State reported that the licensee has recovered the gauge from the Police Department in Indio California. The police apparently found the gauge in a warehouse along with other stolen items and traced the gauge back to the licensee through its stolen items database. The gauge is intact and was found with the source in the retracted position. As stated in the original report, the gauge was not in its case. The licensee has taken possession if the gauge and will have the gauge leak tested and examined by a Troxler representative.
R4DO (Cain) and FSME (Morell) notified. ILTAB & Mexico notified by e-mail.
Less than the quantity of a 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. |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 43270 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: PEACHTREE CONSTRUCTION
Region: 4
City: FORT WORTH State: TX
County:
License #: L-05401
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 04/02/2007
Notification Time: 12:30 [ET]
Event Date: 03/30/2007
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/02/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
SANDRA WASTLER (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
"On March 30, 2007, in Dallas, TX, during a torrential rainstorm, the driver of a truck carrying radioactive material slammed into the guardrail of a bridge. The driver, who is the Radiation Safety Office for the company, was thrown from the truck and hospitalized. The moisture density gauge (Troxler Model 3450, S/N 544) transport case was thrown from the truck and fell [approximately] 40 feet to a service road where the transport case broke apart and the gauge ended up on the side of the road. The next morning the Dallas Fire and Rescue Department (DFD) was alerted that a nuclear gauge had been transported in the truck and was unaccounted for. Once the gauge was sighted and radiation symbols identified, DFD closed the service road and called in an environmental firm for assistance. Four hours later the Agency was notified by DFD via the Agency's answering service. DFD personnel suited up and retrieved the gauge. The gauge was found to be undamaged except for a broken display. The two sources in the gauge (40mCi, AmBe-241, S/N47-28488 and 8mCi, Cs-137, S/N750-7116) were still retracted into the body of the device and appeared undamaged. The instrument was removed to a secure location and the licensee is making arrangements for the manufacturer to retrieve and repair the unit. The investigation is on-going."
TX Incident No.: I-8400
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: 43273 | Rep Org: NC DIV OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: SUMMIT ECS, INC.
Region: 1
City: CHARLOTTE State: NC
County:
License #: SC 777
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LEE COX
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 04/03/2007
Notification Time: 18:49 [ET]
Event Date: 04/03/2007
Event Time: 16:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/03/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
HAROLD GRAY (R1)
DENNIS RATHBUN (FSME)
| Event Text TROXLER GAUGE DAMAGED DURING FIRE
At approximately 1600 hours, a propane tank at a construction site located at 15136 Rutan Lane in Charlotte, NC exploded. The resulting fire fully engulfed a pickup truck containing a Troxler moisture density gauge. NC Radiation Protection was informed at 1703 hours by NC Emergency Management of the incident and has dispatched an Inspector to the scene to assist Hazmat. The initial radiation readings provided by Hazmat show preliminary readings of .3 mr/hr (not sure whether this is contact or near the gauge).
* * * UPDATE PROVIDED BY LEE COX TO JEFF ROTTON AT 2205 ON 04/03/07 * * *
The North Carolina Radiation Protection Inspector is onsite at the scene of the explosion. The truck was damaged beyond repair and the Inspector was able to locate both gauge sources with survey instruments. The Troxler gauge is a model 3440 with a 40 millicurie Am-241:Be source and a 8 millicurie Cs-137 source. Both sources were located in the bed of the truck. The Am-241 source was outside the gauge housing and the Cs-137 source was still attached to the source handle/rod. Neither source was breached. The Inspector was able to use various retrieval instruments to pickup both sources and place them into a temporary transportation package created on the scene and use available material for shielding and packaging to secure the sources. The temporary transportation package was secured in the bed of a truck with a cab over the truck bed. Radiation readings in the cab of the truck and on the sides of the truck bed were background. Radiation readings at a distance of 1 meter from the package was < 2 mR/hr. The radiation reading on contact was 15 mR/hr. The truck with the damaged Troxler gauge was escorted by the NC Radiation Protection Inspector to the South Carolina licensee's site located at 3575 Center Circle, Fort Mill, SC 29715, South Carolina License # -777. The gauge manufacturer, Troxler, was contacted and will be sending a DOT approved transportation container so that the licensee can return the damaged gauge to the manufacturer. NRC Region 1 (Kinneman) and the State of South Carolina were notified by the North Carolina Radiation Protection Office.
Notified R1DO (Gray) and FSME EO (Rathbun) |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 43274 | Rep Org: NEW MEXICO RAD CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: NEW MEXICO RAD CONTROL PROGRAM
Region: 4
City: ALBUQUERQUE State: NM
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: WALTER MEDINA
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 04/03/2007
Notification Time: 18:05 [ET]
Event Date: 04/01/2007
Event Time: [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/03/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
DENNIS RATHBUN (FSME)
ILTAB (via e-mail) ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text SEVERAL CHECK SOURCES STOLEN FROM A UTILITY TRAILER
The following information was received via e-mail from the State of New Mexico:
"[NM Radiation Protection Control Bureau] received notification at approximately 2:30 p.m. that seven (7) sets of button check sources licensed to the NM Radiation Control Bureau were being stored in a NM Department of Health utility trailer that was stolen in Albuquerque, NM over the weekend. These sources are used as check sources for survey meters (also stolen) during training sessions for emergency response personnel at facilities along the WIPP routes in NM. This incident is being investigated by NM State Police and the Albuquerque Police Department. Personnel from the Department of Homeland Security, the NM Department of Health, and the WIPP Emergency Response Program of the NM Radiation Control Bureau are also involved in the investigation and will provide a press release. The following sources were reported missing:
7-10 nanoCurie Pu-239
7-10 nanoCurie Sr-90 (exempt)
7-1 microCurie Cs-137 (exempt)
"More details will be provided as they become 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. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43279 | Facility: CALLAWAY
Region: 4 State: MO
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: KEELING
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON | Notification Date: 04/05/2007
Notification Time: 11:38 [ET]
Event Date: 04/05/2007
Event Time: 10:23 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/05/2007 | Emergency Class: ALERT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
| Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
BRUCE MALLET (R4)
JIM DYER (NRR)
M.J. ROSS-LEE (NRR)
BILL KANE (EDO)
C. McKENTRY (DHS)
I. CASTO (FEMA)
J. MUSE (DOE)
K. WILLIAMS (EPA)
L. MILLER (HHS)
|
| 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 ALERT DECLARED DUE TO A FIRE IN THE CONTROL BULDING
At 1023 Central Daylight Time the licensee declared an Alert due to a transformer fire in the non-safety related PN08 transformer phase 'A.' There were no visible flames seen by onsite licensee personnel but an area of the transformer was glowing with a smokey haze in the area. The fire brigade responded.
The plant was already in a shut down condition entered on 4/1/07 for a refueling outage. Decay heat was being removed using Residual Heat Removal the train 'B.' The licensee declared the alert based on a potential impact to the operating Residual Heat Removal train.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 1215 ON 4/5/07 FROM LICENSEE COMMUNICATOR TO SNYDER * * *
The licensee exited the Alert condition at 1215 Eastern Daylight Time based on their assessment that no impact to operating safety related RHR equipment occurred and any impact would have been conservative in that flow to the core would not have been interrupted.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43280 | Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: STEPHEN SEILHYMER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 04/05/2007
Notification Time: 14:01 [ET]
Event Date: 04/05/2007
Event Time: 09:08 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/05/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(A) - ECCS INJECTION
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
| Person (Organization):
LAURA KOZAK (R3)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | A/R | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 0 | Hot Standby | Event Text AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP CAUSED BY SPURIOUS SAFETY INJECTION DURING TESTING
"At 09:08 am on 4/5/2007, during surveillance testing of Unit 2 Train A safeguards logic at power, a spurious Train A safety Injection (SI) actuation occurred resulting in reactor protection system (RPS) actuation. Train A SI was in "Test" at the time and should not have caused the RPS trip. The operating crew manually actuated Train B SI as required by emergency operating procedures. All automatic actions for a reactor trip and safety Injection occurred as required. Reactor Coolant System (RCS) pressure decreased below the shutoff head of the high head Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) pumps during the transient, resulting in momentary ECCS discharge to the RCS. SI has been terminated per emergency operating procedures.
"Prairie Island Unit 2 has been stabilized in mode 3, at about 2235 psig and 547 degrees average RCS temperature. Decay heat Is currently being removed by auxiliary feedwater and secondary steam dump to the main condenser. The cause of the actuation signal is under investigation. All control rods fully inserted. No primary power operated relief valves or safety valves lifted. No steam generator safeties lifted. Safeguards buses are powered by offsite power. The Unit 2 Emergency Diesel Generators (EDG) started but did not load.
"Unit 1 Control Rod Drive Mechanism cooling isolated as designed in response to the actuation and has since been restored. Otherwise, Unit 1 was unaffected and remains in mode 1 at 100% power."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. The licensee will also be notifying the State, local and other Government agencies and will be issuing a press release. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43281 | Facility: CALLAWAY
Region: 4 State: MO
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: KEITH DUNCAN
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 04/05/2007
Notification Time: 15:23 [ET]
Event Date: 04/05/2007
Event Time: 10:23 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/05/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (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 OFFSITE NOTIFICATION - ALERT DECLARED DUE TO REPORT OF A FIRE IN THE CONTROL BUILDING
"At 1023 on April 5, 2007, an ALERT was declared because of a control room alarm and local report of a fire at transformer XPN08A. There was a possibility of affecting safety related equipment. Investigation at the scene did not reveal evidence of an active fire. Smoke and a red glow in the back of the transformer was observed. The transformer has been isolated from the bus and power supply.
"There was no evidence of equipment damage other than to the affected transformer. Areas adjacent to the transformer room were checked for fire, with no evidence of fire. The ALERT was closed out at approximately 1115.
"The NRC Resident Inspector was informed. State, local and other government agencies were informed of the event declaration. A press release was issued.
"NOTE: initial notification of the ALERT was made to the NRC (HOO) at 1040 CDT. (See EN43279)" |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43282 | Facility: PERRY
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: ALAN D. RABENOLD
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 04/05/2007
Notification Time: 21:22 [ET]
Event Date: 04/05/2007
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/05/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
50.72(b)(3)(xii) - OFFSITE MEDICAL
| Person (Organization):
LAURA KOZAK (R3)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED PERSON WITH A BACK INJURY TRANSPORTED TO LAKE EAST HOSPITAL
"At 2005, an injury occurred to a worker when the individual fell and injured his back. At 2122, the worker was attended by local Emergency Medical Personnel who transported the individual to our local Hospital. Due to his back injury his back will not be able to be completely monitored until arrival to the hospital. The individual is being classified as potentially contaminated. Radiation [Protection] personnel are accompanying the victim on the ambulance and to the local hospital emergency room to aid in radiological assessment.
"Due to our procedures we will be making notifications to the State Of Ohio and the local county Emergency Management Agencies of the incident. Due to the offsite notifications a 4 hour non-emergency call is required."
The individual was a contractor onsite for outage support.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 2249 ON 4/5/07 FROM A. RABENOLD TO SNYDER * * *
"The contractor individual was found in the Containment Drywell 630 foot elevation. He fell off of scaffolding approximately 4-5 feet to the grating. When the medical personnel arrived at the scene they found him unconscious. He regained [consciousness] when medical personnel arrived at the scene.
"At 2218 [the licensee received a] report from Radiation Protection personnel that the individual was not contaminated."
Notified R3DO (L. Kozak). | |