U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 07/28/2008 - 07/29/2008 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | |