Alert

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 January 8, 2010

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
01/07/2010 - 01/08/2010

** EVENT NUMBERS **

General Information or Other	Event Number: 45606
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: LANTHEUS Region: 4 City: State: TX County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD	Notification Date: 01/05/2010 Notification Time: 12:57 [ET] Event Date: 12/27/2009 Event Time: [CST] Last Update Date: 01/05/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): MICHAEL SHANNON (R4DO) ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME) MEXICO (VIA)

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST Mo-99 ISOTOPE GENERATOR

"On January 5, 2010, at 0740 hours, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received a phone call from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) informing them that on December 27, 2009, 38 molly generators containing various activities of molybdenum (Mo) 99 were shipped to the Dallas/Forth Worth Airport. Some of the generators were to be delivered to various surrounding states and 24 were intended for delivery to licensees in the State of Texas.

"The shipper was Lantheus and they are located in N. Billerica, Massachusetts. The shipper stated that the number of units shipped was verified at the airport prior to shipping. The number of generators arriving in Texas was not verified by the shipping company according to USDOT. A device containing four curies of Mo-99 for the National Central Pharmacy in Abilene, Texas was not found.

"USDOT has contacted all companies who received generators from this shipment, and none of them indicated that they had received the generator that is missing. The consultant for the shipping company stated that during transit the devices were flown from Massachusetts to Cincinnati, Ohio, and then to Dallas/Fort Worth, where they were removed from the plane. A search of all transportation vehicles used to transport the devices was conducted, but the device was not located.

"The consultant stated that the shipping company also contacted each company who received a device and confirmed that they had not received any additional material. The consultant stated that there may be some discrepancies in the shipping documents and that it could be a clerical error and not a missing source. The shipping company is currently conducting a document review. Additional information will be provided as it is obtained."

Texas Incident #: I-8696

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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

Power Reactor	Event Number: 45612
Facility: NINE MILE POINT Region: 1 State: NY Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-2,[2] GE-5 NRC Notified By: JASON SAWYER HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 01/07/2010 Notification Time: 04:38 [ET] Event Date: 01/07/2010 Event Time: 01:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 01/07/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL	Person (Organization): MARC FERDAS (R1DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
2	A/R	Y	100	Power Operation	0	Hot Shutdown

Event Text

AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM DURING TRANSMITTER VENTING

"At 0100, Nine Mile Point Unit 2 reactor scrammed [on low reactor water level]. The cause is currently under investigation. Maintenance activities were in progress on Residual Heat Removal (RHR) B & C systems. It is suspected that transmitter venting is the most probable cause of the trip. Reactor core isolation system (RCIC) injected on invalid level 2 signal. No safety relief valves (SRV's) actuated. B and C Residual Heat Removal systems (RHR) remain inoperable. All other ECCS systems and Emergency Diesel Generator are currently operable. Reactor water level is normal. No emergency core cooling system injection was required. The plant is currently in the hot shutdown condition. No emergency plan activation is required. Activation of forced outage plan is in progress.

"Lowest reactor water level reached during the transient was 140 inches. This is less than the reactor water level scram set point of 159.3 inches.

"Reactor pressure before scram was 1020 psig, current reactor pressure is 530 psig and reactor coolant temperature is 470 degrees F. Plant stack monitor is not available. Last grab sample reading at time 0257 is 857 micro-curies/sec.

"All systems functioned as required. All rods fully inserted on trip."

Decay heat is being removed by steaming to the main condenser. The plant is in its normal shutdown electrical lineup.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Power Reactor	Event Number: 45613
Facility: VERMONT YANKEE Region: 1 State: VT Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4 NRC Notified By: JAMES KRITZER HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN	Notification Date: 01/07/2010 Notification Time: 16:55 [ET] Event Date: 01/07/2010 Event Time: 15:30 [EST] Last Update Date: 01/07/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): MARC FERDAS (R1DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	Y	90	Power Operation	90	Power Operation

Event Text

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION TO STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES CONCERNING RESULTS OF QUARTERLY GROUND WATER ANALYSIS

"On January 6, 2010, Vermont Yankee (VY) was notified that the results of fourth quarter 2009 ground water sampling, performed as part of the voluntary ground water monitoring program, identified a very low concentration of tritium in one well that is used to monitor station ground water. VY has notified state, local and other government agencies of this condition. Since no other wells indicated the presence of tritium and the concentration detected is below the reporting threshold identified in the Off-site Dose Calculation Manual, notifications were considered voluntary consistent with NEI 07-07 'Industry Ground Water Initiative - Final Guidance Document.' This report is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) to notify the NRC of these voluntary notifications. There is no impact on public health and safety as a result of this event.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Power Reactor	Event Number: 45614
Facility: FT CALHOUN Region: 4 State: NE Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] CE NRC Notified By: ERIC MATZKE HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH	Notification Date: 01/07/2010 Notification Time: 16:57 [ET] Event Date: 01/07/2010 Event Time: 13:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 01/07/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): MICHAEL SHANNON (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

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO THE DISCOVERY OF CONTAMINATED DOLLAR BILLS

"An individual entered the plant access and alarmed [the] portal radiation monitor. Upon investigation the individual's wallet contained three contaminated one dollar bills. The individual had processed out of similar monitors the previous day without indication of contamination. The three one dollar bills were surveyed and it was determined that they contained only I-131. The individual was interviewed and it was determined that the contaminated money was likely obtained at a local merchant. The individual is not aware of anyone undergoing iodine therapy. I-131 is used for therapy and diagnostic medical practices. The Corporate Health Physicist called the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Radiological Health Division about the incident and location. The bills are contaminated above levels acceptable for the plant. The conclusion is that someone not associated with the power plant had iodine treatment, contaminated the bills, used them at the store and the individual received those bills as change.

"There is no reason to believe that contamination has any connection to the operation of power plant."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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