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Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Event Notification Report for July 29, 2008

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
07/28/2008 - 07/29/2008

** EVENT NUMBERS **


44361 44370 44372 44373 44374

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General Information or Other Event Number: 44361
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: HARRINGTON GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING INC
Region: 4
City: ORANGE State: CA
County:
License #: 5657-30
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN 		Notification Date: 07/23/2008
Notification Time: 16:32 [ET]
Event Date: 07/23/2008
Event Time: 10:35 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/23/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
RICHARD DEESE (R4)
DENNIS RATHBUN (FSME)
ILTAB VIA E-MAIL ()
MEXICO VIA FAX ()

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the State via e-mail:

"On July 23, 2008, at approximately 10:35 a.m., [the] RSO for Harrington Geotechnical Engineering, Inc., notified RHB about a nuclear gauge (CPN model MC-3 S/N M35116478, 10 mCi Cs-137, 50 mCi Am:Be-241) that had been stolen at a residence (in Westminster, CA 92683, located near the intersection of Magnolia St. and McFadden Ave.) sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Due to an urgent personal need, the operator left the truck outside the residence, with the gauge locked to the bed of the truck by a cable. The cable was cut by the perpetrator to remove the transport case containing the gauge. The Westminster Police Department was notified and a police report was generated (report number 08-06699). The RSO stated that the residence of the operator was in an area that had some gang activity. The RSO was informed of the requirement for a written report within 30-days. The RSO stated that he would place an ad in the newspaper and to offer a reward for the gauge. RHB will investigate this incident.

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.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44370
Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: JERRY GOSMAN
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN 		Notification Date: 07/28/2008
Notification Time: 13:32 [ET]
Event Date: 07/28/2008
Event Time: 08:50 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/28/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
 Person (Organization):
PATTY PELKE (R3)

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

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO A SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE SPILL

"At approximately 0850 [CDT] on July 28, 2008 Xcel Energy notified the State of Minnesota's Duty Officer of a 53 gallon 12% Sodium Hypochlorite spill at the Prairie Island plant. The spill was due to a leak in the chemical piping. The release was stopped but only partially contained within the berms of the building. Some of the Sodium Hypochlorite seeped through the berms concrete walls and into the environment. The amount escaping the containment berm was less than the reportable quantity but was being reported since a portion did reach the soil."

The licensee informed both the State and the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Research Reactor Event Number: 44372
Facility: REED COLLEGE
RX Type: 250 KW TRIGA MARK I
Comments:
Region: 4
City: PORTLAND State: OR
County: MULTNOMAH
License #: R-112
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000288
NRC Notified By: STEPHEN FRANTZ
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN 		Notification Date: 07/29/2008
Notification Time: 14:30 [ET]
Event Date: 07/24/2008
Event Time: 14:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/29/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
NON-POWER REACTOR EVENT
 Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4)
DAN HUGHES (NRR)

Event Text

TEST REACTOR EXCEEDED LICENSED POWER LIMIT DURING CALIBRATION

"Performing calorimetric power calibration of nuclear instruments with a new fuel element installed per SOP-44. Indicated power was 230kW. Calculated power after 70 minutes was 281kW, in excess of licensed power of 250kW. Also, due to miscalibration the 110% scrams on linear and percent power would not occur until an actual power of 124%. Reactor power was lowered and another calibration confirmed the error. The reactor was shutdown and the NRR Project Manager (Dan Hughes) was called."

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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 44373
Rep Org: ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES
Licensee: ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES
Region: 1
City: CHANTILLY State: VA
County:
License #: 45-24974-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: OMER DUZYOL
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN 		Notification Date: 07/29/2008
Notification Time: 15:38 [ET]
Event Date: 07/29/2008
Event Time: 14:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/29/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
 Person (Organization):
RICHARD BARKLEY (R1)
KEVIN HSUEH (FSME)

Event Text

MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE RUN OVER BY COMPACTOR

At approximately 1400 EDT on 07/29/08 a CPN moisture density gauge, model #MC1DR - S/N M36056763, containing a Cs-137 10mCi and Am-241:Be 50 mCi source was run over by a compactor at a construction site at 7152 Heller Loop in Springfield, VA. The sources remained in the safe stored position during the incident, however, the Cesium source rod was broken off. The device was secured and removed from the construction site after a rad survey confirmed readings less than 0.4 mr/hr at 1 meter.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44374
Facility: SAN ONOFRE
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [ ] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: LEE KELLY
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN 		Notification Date: 07/29/2008
Notification Time: 19:09 [ET]
Event Date: 07/29/2008
Event Time: 14:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/29/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
 Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N Y 99 Power Operation 99 Power Operation
3 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

PRESS RELEASE CONCERNING IMPACT OF EARTHQUAKE ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON ASSETS

On July 29, 2008, SCE issued a press release regarding the earthquake that occurred on the same day. Along with information on other facilities, the press release included information on San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant and stated:

"The earthquake was felt at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station site. There were no safety issues reported and no indications of any damage. The plant continues to operate normally."

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021