Event Notification Report for August 5, 2008

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
08/04/2008 - 08/05/2008

** EVENT NUMBERS **


44375 44376 44378 44380 44381 44382 44383 44384

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General Information or Other Event Number: 44375
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: RONE ENGINEERING SERVICES
Region: 4
City: DALLAS State: TX
County:
License #: L02356
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 07/30/2008
Notification Time: 17:29 [ET]
Event Date: 07/30/2008
Event Time: 14:31 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/30/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4)
KEVIN HSUEH (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 - LOST TROXLER GAUGE

The following report was provide by the State of Texas via e-mail:

"On 7/30/08 at about 1620 CDT the Agency was notified by a licensee that a moisture/density gauge was being returned from a work location in the city of Rowlett, Texas to its normal storage location via a truck when the user remembered he had left the gauge on the tail gate of the truck outside of it's transportation container. The individual stopped the truck and went to the back of the truck to retrieve the gauge. The gauge was no longer on the tailgate. The individual drove back to the work location via the same path he had traveled, but did not find the gauge on the road or near the road surface. He stated that he found no evidence that the gauge had been hit by a vehicle. After returning to the work location, the individual called his company RSO, who in turn called the State of Texas. The RSO also contacted the City of Rowett Police Department and notified them of the event. The RSO then dispatched four additional trucks to search the area for the gauge. The gauge is a Troxler model 3430 M/D gauge serial #25249 containing one 8 millicurie Cs-137 source ser#75-8052, and one 40 millicurie Am 241 source ser #47-21519. The individual using the gauge stated that he had not traveled for more than 10 minutes before he realized that he had not secured the gauge properly. The RSO stated that they would continue to search for the gauge and notify the State when it is found." The State noted that the source rod had been in the shielded position and locked when it was placed on the tailgate.


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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General Information or Other Event Number: 44376
Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: MAGNA State: UT
County:
License #: UT 1800289
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GWYN E. GALLOWAY
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL
Notification Date: 07/31/2008
Notification Time: 10:57 [ET]
Event Date: 07/28/2008
Event Time: 07:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 07/31/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN SHUTTER ON FIXED GAUGE

The state provided the following information via fax:

"The shutter on an Ohmart fixed gauge, (Model SH-F2, serial number 1404CG), containing 1000 mCi of Cs-137 needed to be closed for maintenance to be performed on other equipment. When maintenance personnel tried to close the shutter, the shutter would not move to the closed position. Maintenance personnel tried to force the shutter closed and one of the screws for the operating handle broke. The shutter still would not close. The licensee removed the gauge from service, shielded the device, and had the device repaired by an authorized licensee."

Utah event number: UT080001

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General Information or Other Event Number: 44378
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN JOSE
Region: 4
City: SAN JOSE State: CA
County:
License #: 2625-43
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK GOTTLIEB
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 07/31/2008
Notification Time: 18:11 [ET]
Event Date: 04/01/2008
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/31/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
NEIL O'KEEFE (R4)
KEVIN HSUEH (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 - LOSS OF LESS THAN CAT 3 LEVEL Gd-153 SOURCES

"The licensee disposed of an ADAC camera in April 2008 and inadvertently failed to remove the 2 Gd-153 sources, isotope products serial numbers E2-886 and E2-890, which contained 250 mCi (9.25 GBq) each as of May 2007. The Gd sources were contained within lead shielding in the device. The sources in their shielding do not present a hazard. Currently, each of the unshielded sources would present a hazard with an exposure rate of about 124 mr/hr at one foot. Currently, the sources have decayed to around 67 mCi (134 mCi total). As of 7/31/2008, the licensee has not been successful in locating the sources.

"According to the licensee, Norcal, a company that performs installation and removal of medical devices, removed the ADAC Vantage camera, and disposed of it sometime in April 2008 to a Waste Transfer Station, Waste Management, in San Leandro.

"Waste Management was contacted and provided the names of the 2 metal recycling companies they would have used to recycle the metal. DC Metals and ALCO metals were both contacted and stated that they do not have any such device at their facility. They indicated if they had received it, the gamma camera would have been recycled to scrap metal very quickly.

"The RSO stated that she just learned of this incident after their consultant had asked them last week for information regarding the disposition of the two 250 mCi Gd- 153 sources. After checking, they learned the sources had not been removed and were missing. The licensee is investigating to try and determine the location of the missing two Gd-153 sources."

Per report, the discovery date of this event was 7/24/2008.

California Report #073008.

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

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44380
Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: DOUG LARAMER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 08/03/2008
Notification Time: 05:29 [ET]
Event Date: 08/03/2008
Event Time: 03:52 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2008
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
Person (Organization):
PATTY PELKE (R3)
BRIAN McDERMOTT (IRD)
SAMSON LEE (NRR)
CALDWELL (R3)
JOHN FROST (DHS)
GENE CANUPP (FEMA)
JIM WIGGINS (NRR)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 28 Power Operation 28 Power Operation

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT - HYDRAZINE LEAK IN NON-VITAL AREA OF THE TURBINE BUILDING

"A hydrazine leak has occurred in the Unit 1 Turbine Building sump area approaching levels (IDLH) Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. An NUE was declared @ 0352 CST. At this point, the leak is not within or contiguous to any vital areas. The area has been evacuated, accountability is complete, and no injuries have resulted due to the leak."

The leak is ongoing in the area of the condensate and heater drain pumps. The licensee stopped adding hydrazine to the condensate at 1800 CDT on 8/2/2008.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector

* * * UPDATE RECEIVED ON 08/03/08 AT 2340 EDT FROM JENSEN TO NORWOOD * * *

Licensee terminated from Unusual Event EAL HU3.1, Release of Toxic or flammable gases deemed detrimental to normal operation of the plant at 2220 hours CDT. Criteria used to exit - Three (3) consecutive air samples had less than detectable limits of hydrazine for the entire area. No press release scheduled. Current plant condition - Mode 1, 100% power.

Licensee notified NRC Resident Inspector, State, Local, and tribal authorities.

Notified NRR EO (Samson Lee), IRD (McDermott), R3DO (Pelke), DHS (Frost), and FEMA (LaForty).

* * * UPDATE RECEIVED AT 1034 EDT ON 08/04/08 FROM JOHN KEMPKES TO JEFF ROTTON * * *

At 2345 CDT on 08/03/08, the licensee issued a press release for the termination of the NUE and the return to full power of Prairie Island Unit 1.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, the state, and local emergency response organizations.

Notified the R3DO (Pelke).

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44381
Facility: CALLAWAY
Region: 4 State: MO
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: FRED BIANCO
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Notification Date: 08/04/2008
Notification Time: 11:07 [ET]
Event Date: 08/04/2008
Event Time: 09:46 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL SHANNON (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

PLANNED LOSS OF ERDS FOR PROCESS COMPUTER UPGRADE

"The Callaway Plant Process Computer is being upgraded to a newer system. This implementation period is expected to start on August 4, 2008 and last approximately 14 days. During the implementation time for this upgrade, the Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) system will be out of service. Compensatory actions for emergency situations have been established.

"This event is reportable per 10 CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii) since this constitutes a loss of ERDS for the duration of the evolution."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44382
Facility: BROWNS FERRY
Region: 2 State: AL
Unit: [1] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: Kevin Casey
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 08/04/2008
Notification Time: 13:14 [ET]
Event Date: 08/04/2008
Event Time: 08:12 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
Person (Organization):
JAY HENSON (R2)

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 Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
3 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

24 HOUR FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT

A non-licensed contract employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The contract employee's access to the plant has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44383
Facility: INDIAN POINT
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [ ] [3] [ ]
RX Type: [2] W-4-LP,[3] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: JOHN DIGNAM
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 08/04/2008
Notification Time: 14:17 [ET]
Event Date: 08/04/2008
Event Time: 12:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
MEL GRAY (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

SPECIFIED SYSTEM ACTUATION - BOTH AUXILIARY BOILER FEEDWATER PUMPS STARTED UNEXPECTEDLY

"On August 4, 2008 at approximately 1200 hours, both motor driven auxiliary boiler feed pumps automatically started during the performance of procedure 3PT-M13B1, 'Reactor Protection Logic Channel Functional Test Train B'. Operations secured the pumps and returned them to auto at approximately 1207 hours. The event did result in water addition to the steam generators but Operations did not observe any reactivity changes on the nuclear instrumentation. The cause of the event is under investigation."

Operators did observe a 2% increase in steam generator water level but no limits or alarms were approached.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and New York State Public Service Commission.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 44384
Facility: BYRON
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: STEVE GODBY
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 08/04/2008
Notification Time: 22:00 [ET]
Event Date: 08/04/2008
Event Time: 18:45 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/05/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
DAVID HILLS (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

LOSS OF 84 OF 94 EMERGENCY SIRENS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

"At approximately 1830, a severe thunderstorm moved through Ogle County. At 1845, 84 of 94 emergency sirens for Byron Station became inoperable. There is currently no estimated time of repair due to the severe number of power outages."

Sirens affected provide coverage for Ogle County (population ~52,000) and a small portion of Winnebago County (population ~296,000). These are utility owned sirens. These sirens are not shared with other sites. In the event of a need for the sirens, a contingency plan using a "route alert" by the state will be implemented.

There are no off-site power or grid concerns.

The NRC Resident Inspector was notified by the licensee. No other state or local government agencies have been notified by the licensee.

* * * UPDATE ON 8/5/08 AT 0321 FROM GODBY TO SNYDER * * *

Troubleshooting and restoration activities continue for the emergency sirens. Presently 73 of 94 sirens remain inoperable.

Notified R3DO (Hills).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021