| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
03/25/2008 - 03/26/2008 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 44079 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: BAKER ATLAS
Region: 4
City: PEARLAND State: TX
County:
License #: L00446-026
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LATISCHA HANSON
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 03/20/2008
Notification Time: 07:37 [ET]
Event Date: 03/20/2008
Event Time: 05:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/20/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN NEUTRON GENERATORS AND LOGGING TOOL
A representative of Baker Atlas, a fishing and well-logging company, reported that a F-250 pick-up truck was stolen this morning between midnight and 5:30 a.m. central time. Contained in the truck were 4 neutron generators with a source strength of less than 1 curie each and one well logging source with a source strength of 100 millicuries of Cs-137.
The State of Texas is following up on the report with more details to follow.
* * * UPDATE AT 1435 EDT ON 03/20/08 FROM LATISCHA HANSON TO S. SANDIN * * *
The following additional details were provided by the State of Texas via email:
"Event Description: On March 20, 2008, at 6:25 a.m., the agency received a telephone call from the licensee, reporting the theft of one of the company's vehicles, a Ford F-250 pick-up truck (licensee will find license plate number and submit later) from a hotel in Pharr, Texas, which had four neutron generators and one logging tool that contained a 100 milliCurie (mCi) radioactive material (RAM) stored on the truck. The licensee reported that the crew was from their Pearland, Texas site. The licensee stated the vehicle containing the sources was stolen from the LaQuinta hotel in Pharr, Texas between the hours of 12:30 and 5:00 A.M. on Thursday, March 20, 2008. The licensee immediately contacted the Pharr Police Department and filed a theft report. The licensee further reported that the initial police investigation shows that the vehicle has not crossed into Mexico.
"The licensee submitted the following information regarding the stolen equipment:
"A. The Cesium source is a Gulf Nuclear CS-2 with an original capsule number of CS2-985. This source was shipped with a tracking ID of S3H01 12. The activity is 3.7 GBq (100 mCi).
"B. The Pulsed Neutron Generators (SSDR, along with a section of our Transport Manual showing the container that the tools are carried in and a drawing of the tool section sent to Incident Investigation Program (IIP)). The tools in question are:
"1. Generator 370457 mounted in tool 8283PA-10041239 and containing tube 327.
"2. Generator 370453 mounted in tool 8283PA-370403 and containing tube 321.
"3. Generator 189707 mounted in tool 8283PA-190149 and containing tube 340.
"4. Generator 189496 mounted in tool 8283PA-370249 and containing tube 271.
"Each of these generators contains less than 37 GBq of H-3.
"The licensee stated that their company uses a tracking number system in place of the traditional model/serial numbers. The licensee will try to research the traditional numbers to submit later.
"Texas Incident #: I-8496
Notified R4DO (Whitten) and FSME (Burgess).
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.
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 Less than Cat 3 event.
Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 3" is different than the calculated value "Less than Cat 3" |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 44080 | Rep Org: NC DIV OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: CAROLINA CUSTOM FINISHING
Region: 1
City: ASHEBORO State: NC
County:
License #: 076-1820-0G
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: J. MARION EADDY III
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 03/20/2008
Notification Time: 11:45 [ET]
Event Date: 03/18/2008
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/20/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
NEIL PERRY (R1)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING LOSS OF GENERAL LICENSED MATERIAL
The following report was received via email:
"N.C. Radiation Protection Section was notified 19 March 2008 of two (2) missing polonium-210 static elimination devices. Information on the devices is as follows:
"1) NRC Model P-2021-8201, serial no. A2FC364, initially distributed on 22 Jun 2006, initial activity was 10 millicuries, decay-corrected activity (as of 18 March 2008) 0.415 millicuries
"2) NRC Model P-2021-8201, serial no. A2FK529, initially distributed on 01 Dec 2006, initial activity was 10 millicuries, decay-corrected activity (as of 18 March 2008) 0.935 millicuries
"The information will be turned over to the General License Coordinator for further investigation.
"N.C. Radiation Protection has not received any media attention as of this report. No press release has been issued."
Event Report ID No.: NC-08-13
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: 44083 | Rep Org: MAINE RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: REGAL CINEMAS
Region: 1
City: SOUTH PORTLAND State: ME
County:
License #: 05735G
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SHAWN SEELEY
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 03/20/2008
Notification Time: 13:45 [ET]
Event Date: 12/15/2007
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/20/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
NEIL PERRY (R1)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS
In December, 2007, the Regal Cinemas complex was sold and underwent renovation by a contracting company, PM Renovations. The contractor removed and disposed of fifty (50) general licensed tritium exits signs. The signs were manufactured by Best Lighting Products, Model # SLXTU1GB20, serial #'s 115741 through 115790. Each sign contained 11.47 Curies of tritium.
The State of Maine during an inspection on 03/11/08 noticed that the signs had been removed and is pursuing discussions with PM Renovations as to their final disposition. The signs may have been taken to one of two landfills located in Norridgewock, ME or Hampden, ME or incinerated. If the signs were disposed of in a landfill, the State will perform an assessment to determine potential impact on water supply.
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: 44090 | Facility: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR
Region: 4 State: AR
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: CHUCK OLSON
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 03/24/2008
Notification Time: 23:48 [ET]
Event Date: 03/24/2008
Event Time: 22:48 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (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 | | 2 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text SPDS OOS FOR PLANNED MAINTENANCE
"Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 is removing power from the Safety Parameters Display System (SPDS) for 18 month preventative maintenance and scheduled corrective maintenance. SPDS is a computer based system that is utilized by both Unit I and Unit 2 to provide critical information during an emergency. Unit 2 is currently performing a refueling outage. Compensatory measures are being taken to ensure necessary backup monitoring is established on Unit 1, the operating unit. The duration of the maintenance is scheduled for approximately 24 hours."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, and the Arkansas Department of Health. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44091 | Facility: INDIAN POINT
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [ ] [3] [ ]
RX Type: [2] W-4-LP,[3] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: DAN LYON
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE | Notification Date: 03/25/2008
Notification Time: 14:38 [ET]
Event Date: 03/25/2008
Event Time: 11:18 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
| Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 3 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR DURING SURVEILLANCE TESTING
"On March 25, 2008, during scheduled monthly testing per surveillance procedure M628, '480 Volt Undervoltage Degraded Grid Protection System Bus 5A Functional', an Instrumentation & Control technician conducting the test inadvertently caused an undervoltage condition on 480 volt AC safeguards Bus 5A, resulting in the automatic actuation of the associated Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG)-33. In accordance with design EDG-33 started and loads on Bus 5A were stripped and required loads were sequenced back onto Bus 5A. All equipment performed as designed. Normal power for Bus 5A has been restored and all equipment returned to pre-event condition. Investigation into the cause of the event is in progress. Unit 2 is currently in a refueling outage and was unaffected. Licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the State Public Service Commission." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44092 | Facility: SAN ONOFRE
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: SUSAN GARDNER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 03/25/2008
Notification Time: 15:26 [ET]
Event Date: 03/25/2008
Event Time: 08:40 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(i) - PLANT S/D REQD BY TS
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4)
|
| 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 PLANT SHUTDOWN INITIATED DUE TO DEGRADED BATTERY VOLTAGE
"On March 25, 2008 at approximately 0640 PDT, SCE discovered a battery with voltage slightly below Technical Specification limits. At approximately 0840 PDT, plant operators began cooling Moisture Separator Reheaters (MSR) in preparation for a Shutdown as required by TS 3.8.4. Initiating MSR cooldown reduced reactor power by 0.1%. Although plant operators had not initiated boration or control rod insertion, SCE is, nevertheless, reporting this occurrence in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(i).
"At approximately 0850 PDT, the battery was restored to Operable status and MSR cooldown was suspended. At approximately 1112 PDT, the Unit was returned to full power. SCE is continuing to assess if additional actions are required.
"At the time the shutdown was initiated, Unit 2 was operating at about 100% power. Unit 3 continues to operate at about 100% power. The NRC Resident Inspectors have been briefed on the shutdown plans and will be provided with a copy of this report."
Preliminary information indicates that the degraded voltage was due to loose terminal bolts. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44093 | Facility: HATCH
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: FRANK GORLEY
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 03/25/2008
Notification Time: 17:06 [ET]
Event Date: 03/25/2008
Event Time: 15:22 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2008 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
JAY HENSON (R2)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 60 | Power Operation | 60 | Power Operation | Event Text LOSS OF HEALTH PHYSICS VENTILATION SYSTEM USED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
"Shift received alarms which lead to the discovery of MCC 1 R24-S030 being de-energized. This MCC supplies power to the Health Physics emergency HVAC air handling unit (1Z41-B100). Maintenance has been notified and is currently working to restore the system to OPERABLE status.
"This event is reportable per 10CFR50.72 (b)(3)(xiii) as described in NUREG-1022, rev. 2 as an emergency facility (Plant Hatch Operational Support Center) affected due to the Health Physics emergency HVAC out of service."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 44094 | Facility: BYRON
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: RICHARD WILLIAMS
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 03/25/2008
Notification Time: 20:24 [ET]
Event Date: 03/25/2008
Event Time: 18:49 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2008 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
| Person (Organization):
DAVID HILLS (R3)
JIM CALDWELL (R3 R)
JIM WIGGINS (NRR)
BRIAN McDERMOTT (IRD)
ELIOT BRENNER (PAO)
SAMSON LEE (NRR)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 99 | Power Operation | Event Text LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER DUE TO STATION AUXILIARY TRANSFORMER FAULT
"At 1835 on March 25, 2008, Unit 2 experienced a Loss of Offsite Power. At 1849, an Unusual Event was declared. Station Auxiliary Transformer (SAT) 242-2, Phase C, experienced a Phase Overcurrent. This resulted in an isolation of the SAT, a loss of offsite power, and an automatic Fire Protection deluge of the SAT. No fire was confirmed. All equipment responded as required. The appropriate abnormal operating procedure was entered for event mitigation and is in progress. The Unit 2 Emergency Diesel Generators are supplying required safety-related power. Unit 2 remains at power."
The plant is stable and all equipment is functioning as required. The licensee is assessing a cross-tie to Unit 1 which is unaffected by this event and in the refueling mode.
The licensee notified the State and local authorities and the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified DHS (Greg Ray), FEMA (Erwin Casto), DOE (Sal Morrone), USDA (Timmons), HHS (Rick Turner), EPA/NRC (Petty Officer Thompson Report #866038).
* * * UPDATE BY SCOTT PURIN TO NRC AT 2230 EDT ON 3/25/08 * * *
The emergency buses on Unit 2 have been re-energized by offsite power supply sources via Unit 1 SAT. The Unit 2 EDGs have been secured and placed back in standby. The licensee is developing a recovery plan to restore a Unit 2 SAT to supply offsite power to Unit 2 loads. This will require such things as analyzing chemistry samples of the affected SAT transformers and assessing the protective relaying. In addition, some switchyard realignment will be necessary. The licensee is currently in a 72 hour LCO under Tech Spec 3.8.1 for the current electrical alignment.
The NRC Resident Inspector is onsite and the NRC Region continues to monitor the situation. | |