Event Notification Report for February 11, 2009

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
02/10/2009 - 02/11/2009

** EVENT NUMBERS **


44829 44835 44837 44838 44843 44844

To top of page
General Information or Other Event Number: 44829
Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: TOLEDO EDISON COMPANY
Region: 3
City: OREGON State: OH
County:
License #: 31201490021
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEPHEN JAMES
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 02/05/2009
Notification Time: 09:26 [ET]
Event Date: 02/01/2009
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/05/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
MARK RING (R3)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER ON FIXED GAUGE DEVICE

The following report was received from the State via E-mail:

"Licensee reported a stuck shutter on a fixed gauge, which was discovered during the leak test and shutter check maintenance activity. Licensee stated that shutter had been difficult to move on past checks, but had neglected to have unit serviced. Licensee has contacted service provider to repair shutter mechanism. Device normally operates in continuous mode, so no additional actions are required at this time.

"Ohio will leave this report open pending receipt of final written report from licensee, due in 30 days.

"Note: Licensee stated that they were making this report as a result of awareness of requirements found in Ohio Information Notice 2008-02 regarding fixed gauge stuck shutters and reporting requirements."

This was an Ohmart Corporation model number SH-1 fixed gauge device. There is 0.005 Ci Cs-137 in this device.

The Ohio State reference number for this report is OH 2009-003.

To top of page
General Information or Other Event Number: 44835
Rep Org: MISSISSIPPI DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: DUNN ROADBUILDERS
Region: 4
City: PETAL State: MS
County:
License #: MS-870-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: B. J. SMITH
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 02/06/2009
Notification Time: 15:33 [ET]
Event Date: 02/03/2009
Event Time: 14:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/06/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JEFF CLARK (R4)
MARK SHAFFER (FSME)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A DAMAGED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was received from the State of Mississippi Division of Radiological Health (DRH) via email:

"Location of Incident: Petal, Mississippi (temporary jobsite off Hwy. 42)

"Description of Incident: Approximately 2:30 pm on 2-3-09, an employee who uses the nuclear gauge with Dunn Roadbuilders notified the Radiation Safety Officer that a Troxler 3440 moisture/density gauge, SN# 23209, had been run over by a company pick-up and dragged about 5 feet. The operator told the RSO that the plastic case of the gauge was broken and a battery was outside the device. The area was blocked off with a 15 foot radius around the damaged gauge until the RSO arrived. When the RSO arrived, he surveyed the gauge with a TroxlerAlert survey meter, SN# 2163, and observed readings of 16 mR/hr at gauge surface. He observed that the sources were still shielded and the source rod was not bent or broken. The gauge was put in the transport box and taken back to the company facility. A leak test was performed on the sources and sent to Troxler for analysis. DRH was notified of the incident at 4:30 pm on 2-3-09.

"Pictures of the gauge were taken by the RSO and emailed to the Division of Radiological Health.

"Upon further review of the incident, the authorized user for the moisture/density gauge was trained and certificates are on file with the Division of Radiological Health. The gauge was also last leak tested on 10/08.

"Isotope(s) and Activity: Cesium-137 (8 mCi) and Americium-241:Be (40 mCi)

"Describe clean-up actions taken by DRH: DRH did not respond to incident after RSO confirmed normal survey readings observed and pictures showed only gauge plastic cover damaged."

Incident No.: MS 09002

To top of page
Power Reactor Event Number: 44837
Facility: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR
Region: 4 State: AR
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: PETER JACKSON
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 02/07/2009
Notification Time: 12:18 [ET]
Event Date: 02/07/2009
Event Time: 10:59 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/10/2009
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
Person (Organization):
JEFF CLARK (R4)
ELMO COLLINS (R4 R)
BRIAN McDERMOTT (IRD)
PATRICK HILAND (NRR)
JAMES WIGGINS (NRR)
BANNER (DHS)
GENE CANUPP (FEMA)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 M/R Y 90 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO A FIRE ONSITE

Arkansas Nuclear One Unit 1 declared an Unusual Event per EAL 7.5 at 1059 CST based on a fire onsite. The fire occurred on the 354 foot elevation iso-phase bus deck of the turbine building. The fire was attributed to a failed bonnet on a manual valve which had unthreaded during operation releasing hydrogen in the vicinity of the hydrogen add station. The licensee extinguished the fire using water and posted a reflash watch. There were no reported personnel injuries. Offsite assistance was requested from the London Fire Department which arrived onsite after the fire had been extinguished.

The reactor was manually tripped with all control rods fully inserting. The plant is currently stable with decay heat removal via the steam dumps to the main condenser.

The licensee informed state/local agencies and the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATE AT 1338 EST ON 2/7/09 FROM JACKSON TO SANDIN * * *

The Unusual Event was terminated at 1338 CST after confirmation that the fire was extinguished and a review of the exit criteria as defined in plant procedures. The licensee is performing a damage assessment at this time.

The licensee was in the process of informing state/local agencies and will inform the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R4DO (Clark), NRR(Hiland), IRD (Grant), DHS (Banner) and FEMA (Canupp).

* * * UPDATE AT 1508 EST ON 2/10/09 FROM SCHEIDE TO HUFFMAN * * *

"The subject event notification erroneously reported that all control rods fully inserted following the manual reactor trip initiated in response to a fire on site. In actuality, the rod bottom light for Rod 6 in Rod Group 7 on the CRD Position Indication Panel did not illuminate following the reactor trip and it was verified by plant computer to have inserted to 2.3 percent withdrawn.

"The control board operator identified this condition quickly and reported it to the Control Room Supervisor in his immediate action response. This condition did not necessitate any additional operator actions and shutdown margin requirements were maintained."

The licensee has informed the NRC Resident Inspector. R4DO (Miller) notified.

To top of page
General Information or Other Event Number: 44838
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: STEVENS, FERRONE & BAILEY ENG.
Region: 4
City: CONCORD State: CA
County:
License #: 6808-07
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENT PRENDERGAST
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 02/07/2009
Notification Time: 17:14 [ET]
Event Date: 02/06/2009
Event Time: 06:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/09/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JEFF CLARK (R4)
MARK SHAFFER (FSME)
ILTAB via email (ILTA)
MEXICO by fax ()

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE

On 2/6/09, between the hours of 0200 and 0600 PST, a 3400 series Troxler gauge was stolen from a residence. The gauge was in a camper on the premises of the residence located in Martinez, California. The licensee (Stevens, Ferrone & Bailey Engineering Co.) reported the stolen gauge to the State of California on 2/7/09 at 1300. The density gauge contains approximately 8 mCi of Cesium 137 and 40 mCi of Americium 241. The Sheriff was notified and the licensee plans to offer a reward. This notification is preliminary and will be updated by the state of California as more information is available.

* * * UPDATE AT 1629 EST ON 2/9/09 FROM PRENDERGAST TO HUFFMAN VIA E-MAIL * * *

"[The licensee RSO reported] on 2/7/09 that [a] portable gauge had been stolen early in the morning on 2/7/09. Apparently, one of [the licensee's] employees had transported a Troxler model 3440 portable gauge to his residence [deleted] in Martinez, CA. 94553, after work on 2/6/09. According to [the RSO], the Troxler model 3440 series moisture density gauge (serial number T344-33708 containing 9 mCi of cesium 137 and 44 mCi of Am-241) gauge was stolen from the back of a locked camper shell between 12:00 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. on 2/7/09. [The RSO] stated that the gauge was stored inside a locked camper shell that was backed up to the garage at the employee's residence. The camper shell was broken into, the chains were cut and the gauge was removed from the vehicle. According to [the RSO], the gauge had been covered inside the camper shell to prevent detection. The Martinez Police were also notified and filled out Martinez Police report # 09-513.

"The [California Radiologic Health Branch] was notified by [the RSO] that a trucker had called [the RSO] at 10:00 a.m. on 2/9/08 to inquire on the reward. The trucker, who did not give his name, indicated that he had found the gauge and case on the side of the road. The anonymous trucker was concerned and stated that he had to notify his management before he turned over the gauge."

CA Report #020909

R4DO(Miller), FSME EO (Shaffer), and ILTAB (via e-mail) were notified.


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.

To top of page
Power Reactor Event Number: 44843
Facility: PERRY
Region: 3 State: OH
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: DAN STANLEY
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 02/10/2009
Notification Time: 09:45 [ET]
Event Date: 02/10/2009
Event Time: 08:10 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/10/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
SONIA BURGESS (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

PLANT COMPUTER OOS FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TAKING ERDS OOS

"The Perry Nuclear Power Plant took the Plant Computer out of service for scheduled maintenance which took ERDS out of service. From 0810 hours EST on February 10, 2009 for approximately 6 hours, personnel will be performing maintenance activities on the Plant Computer. During this planned maintenance, the Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS) and the automatic mode calculation of the Computer Aided Dose Assessment Program (CADAP) will be unavailable.

"In the event of an emergency, plant parameter data will be orally transmitted to the facilities through the Status Board Ring Down circuit with back-up by the Private Branch Exchange, Off Premise Exchange, and various redundant intra-facility circuits throughout the emergency facilities. The dose assessment function will be maintained during the out of service time period by manual input of data into CADAP and, if required, by manual calculation. The ability to open and maintain an 'open line' using the Emergency Notification System will not be affected and will be the primary means of transferring plant data to the NRC as a contingency until the ERDS can be returned to service during the period of unavailability.

"This event is being reported in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii), as a condition that results in a major loss of offsite communication capability. A follow-up notification will be made when the maintenance activities are completed and the equipment is restored. The [NRC] Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * UPDATE AT 1250 EST ON 2/10/09 FROM STANLEY TO HUFFMAN * * *

At 1240 EST the licensee returned the plant computer to service. ERDS, CADAP, and SPDS have been restored to operable status. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

R3DO (Burgess) has been informed.

To top of page
Hospital Event Number: 44844
Rep Org: PARKVIEW HEALTH
Licensee: PARKVIEW HEALTH
Region: 3
City:  State: IN
County: FORT WAYNE
License #: 13-01284-02
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SUBHASH SHARMA
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 02/10/2009
Notification Time: 14:45 [ET]
Event Date: 02/02/2009
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/10/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
SONIA BURGESS (R3)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
ILTAB VIA E-MAIL ()

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

Event Text

LOST IODINE-125 SEED

The RSO for the licensee reported that a 0.337 milliCurie Iodine -125 seed has been lost from the Parkview Health facility. The seed that is missing was used as a calibration seed for a prostrate procedure on 1/28/09. The seed was not to be part of the seeds implanted and was to be returned to a storage vial. During an inventory on 2/2/09, it was discovered that the seed was not in the vial. It was confirmed that the seed was not implanted in the patient. All areas where the seed might have been dropped or placed within the facility were checked including vacuum cleaners and trash. The licensee has exhausted its search and considers the seed lost.

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.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021