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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 September 2, 2009

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
09/01/2009 - 09/02/2009

** EVENT NUMBERS **


45298 45303 45309 45315 45317 45320

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General Information or Other Event Number: 45298
Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: PCS PHOSPHATE-WHITE SPRINGS
Region: 1
City: WHITE SPRINGS State: FL
County:
License #: 2702-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CHARLES ADAMS
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH 		Notification Date: 08/25/2009
Notification Time: 15:42 [ET]
Event Date: 08/25/2009
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/01/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
JOHN WHITE (R1DO)
GREG SUBER (FSME)
ILTAB VIA EMAIL ()

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYZER REPORTED STOLEN

The following information was received from the State of Florida via e-mail:

"Licensee reports that a handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer [containing 30 mCi of Am-241] was stolen. The device was last seen when used on 7/5/09. The device was placed in the office of user and was noted missing when it was looked for on 8/11/09 to use for a job. On 8/24/09, after searching through the company office, the licensee determined that it was missing/stolen. The licensee reports that [the device] is password locked. Licensee is considering offering a reward. Licensee will submit a written report. Florida is investigating."

Florida incident number: FL09-063

* * * UPDATE FROM STEVE FURNACE TO ERIC SIMPSON AT 1420 ON 09/01/09 * * *

The following notification was received via phone:

The handheld XRF analyzer was found by the licensee stored in a closet onsite. A member of the technical staff had placed the unit in a closet in order to move it out of the area where a cleaning crew was working.

The analyzer is a generally licensed item. The State of Florida expects no further actions to be taken concerning this event.

Notified R1DO (Dwyer) and FSME (McIntosh).

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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General Information or Other Event Number: 45303
Rep Org: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: MERIDIAN AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Region: 3
City: JACKSON State: OH
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL SNEE
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK 		Notification Date: 08/27/2009
Notification Time: 10:58 [ET]
Event Date: 08/25/2009
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/27/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
STEVE ORTH (R3DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DISCOVERY OF ABANDONED RADIOACTIVE SOURCE

The following information was received from the State of Ohio via e-mail:

"The Ohio Bureau of Radiation Protection was informed on 8/25/09 of the discovery of an abandoned radioactive source at the Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc. plant in Jackson, Ohio. Investigation on 8/26/09 revealed that the source is a 500 mCi Am-241/Be source in a generally licensed RMD Compuglass Analyzer. The EPA was notified and will pick up the source for disposal. The source is secure at the site."

Ohio reference number: Ohio 2009-025

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General Information or Other Event Number: 45309
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: NUCLEAR SOURCE AND SERVICES INC
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: L02991
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL 		Notification Date: 08/28/2009
Notification Time: 18:22 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2009
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/28/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
GEOFFREY MILLER (R4DO)
GREG SUBER (FSME)
JOHN WHITE (R1DO)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION IN AN UNCONTROLLED AREA

"On August 28, 2009, the [State] Agency was notified by the licensee that while performing radiological surveys in response to a shipping event, access to an area of their facility not normally controlled for radiological reasons was isolated due to the presence of radioactive contamination. The licensee believes that the radionuclide involved is Curium (Cm) - 244. The licensee is continuing their investigation and cleanup activities. The [State] Agency will provide updates when available."

Texas report # I-8661

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Power Reactor Event Number: 45315
Facility: FT CALHOUN
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] CE
NRC Notified By: ERICK MATZKE
HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL 		Notification Date: 08/31/2009
Notification Time: 18:03 [ET]
Event Date: 08/31/2009
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/01/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
 Person (Organization):
THOMAS FARNHOLTZ (R4DO)

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

EMERGENCY SIRENS INOPERABLE

"At 1546 CDT the control room at the Fort Calhoun Power Station was notified that a siren test conducted at 1440 CDT had failed. At this time none of the station's emergency sirens are capable of being sounded. Utility personnel are troubleshooting the problem and expect to restore siren capability. Compensatory measures have been implemented. The NRC will be notified when siren capability has been restored."

Harrison and Pattawattamie counties in Iowa, and Washington county in Nebraska have been notified.

The NRC resident inspector has been notified.

* * * UPDATE ON 08/31/09 AT 2055 EDT FROM ALAN PALLAS TO HUFFMAN * * *

The licensee has reset a communications device that activates the sirens and restored operability to 38 out of the 103 total sirens around the site. To re-establish operability of the remaining sirens, the licensee will need to dispatch personnel to each siren to relink with the communications system. The time frame to complete this effort is estimated to be approximately 5 hours. The compensatory notification measures will remain in place until the sirens have been restored.

The licensee will notify the Resident Inspector of this updated information.

* * * UPDATE ON 09/01/09 AT 0236 EDT FROM ALAN PALLAS TO PARK * * *

The licensee has restored 101 of 103 total sirens to service. Two sirens that are not in service are currently not accessible. They will be automatically restored to service at approximately 0330 CDT and verified in the morning.

The licensee has notified the Resident Inspector of this updated information.

Notified R4DO (Farnholtz).

* * * UPDATE ON 09/01/09 AT 0943 EDT FROM ERICK MATZKE TO PARK * * *

The licensee has restored all 103 of 103 total sirens to service. Harrison and Pattawattamie counties in Iowa, and Washington county in Nebraska have been notified.

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector of this updated information.

Notified R4DO (Farnholtz).

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Power Reactor Event Number: 45317
Facility: CRYSTAL RIVER
Region: 2 State: FL
Unit: [3] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [3] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: JOSHUA MORSE
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK 		Notification Date: 09/01/2009
Notification Time: 09:10 [ET]
Event Date: 08/31/2009
Event Time: 14:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/01/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH
 Person (Organization):
MALCOLM WIDMANN (R2DO)
TABATABAI via email (NRO)
JOHN THORP via email (NRR)

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

PART 21 REPORT - FAILURE OF A SPARE LIMITORQUE ACTUATOR MOTOR

"On July 31, 2009, [Crystal River Unit 3] personnel performed a video probe inspection of a spare safety-related Limitorque SB-3/SMB-3 actuator motor magnesium rotor and end rings. Visual indications were observed in the outboard end of the motor which were cause for rejection based on specified acceptance criteria. The specific indication was a cracked weld with dislodged metal in the outboard end of the motor.

"In 2007, the spare safety-related Limitorque SB-3/SMB-3 actuator motor (Motor Serial Number 7497004-001T1AL: Limitorque Part No. R-403-F04-0821) was purchased as safety-related Quality level 1 (QL-1) from AREVA under Purchase Order No. 337566. Limitorque purchased the motor from the Baldor Electric Company, doing business as the Reliance Electric Company, as commercial grade and dedicated the motor to safety related.

"The above evaluation was completed on August 28, 2009. The FPC director/responsible officer was notified of the above determination on August 31, 2009. The vendor (Limitorque) and the NRC Senior Resident Inspector have been notified of FPC's intent to report this issue under 10CFR21.21."

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 45320
Facility: BROWNS FERRY
Region: 2 State: AL
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JOE BENNETT
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN 		Notification Date: 09/01/2009
Notification Time: 21:01 [ET]
Event Date: 09/01/2009
Event Time: 16:09 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/01/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
 Person (Organization):
MALCOLM WIDMANN (R2DO)

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

HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION INOPERABLE

"Unit 1 High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system was declared inoperable after the 250V RMOV BD breaker 11A1 for the ECCS DIV II Inverter tripped. The cause for the breaker trip is currently being investigated.

"This event is reportable within 8 hours in accordance with 10CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) as an event or condition that at the time of discovery could have prevented the fulfillment of a safety function. It also requires a 60 day written report in accordance with 10CFR 50.73(a)(2)(vii).

"Unit 1 remains at 100% power."

NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021