| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
05/23/2011 - 05/24/2011 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 46858 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: EXXON MOBIL OIL CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: BEAUMONT State: TX
County:
License #: L00603
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 05/19/2011
Notification Time: 12:00 [ET]
Event Date: 05/18/2011
Event Time: 14:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/19/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL SHANNON (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK OPEN GAUGE SHUTTER
"On May 19, 2011, the Agency [State of Texas] was notified by the licensee that the shutter on an Ohmart/Vega model SH- F2 containing 1.6 curies of Cesium (Cs) - 137 would not close. The licensee stated that they were making preparations to enter a steel vessel that is 12 inches thick to perform maintenance. The gauge shutter was to be closed before maintenance was started. Open is the normal position for the shutter therefore the gauge does not pose any additional exposure hazard. Access to the tank has been secured and will not be granted until the gauge is repaired. The licensee has contacted a service provider to make the repairs. The gauge was installed in October 2009. The cause for the failure is under investigation. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident number: I - 8852 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 46862 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Region: 4
City: COLLEGE STATION State: TX
County:
License #: GENERAL LICEN
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 05/19/2011
Notification Time: 16:40 [ET]
Event Date: 05/19/2011
Event Time: 15:15 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/19/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL SHANNON (R4DO)
CHRISTIAN EINBERG (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TRITIUM EXIT SIGN
On May 19, 2011, the Agency [State of Texas] received notification from Texas A & M University's Radiation Safety Officer [RSO] that while removing all tritium exit signs (TES) from a dormitory prior to its demolition, they noted that a TES was missing. The RSO could not provide any additional information at this time. Additional information will be provided as it is received.
Texas Event Number: I-8853
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
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. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 46864 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: FEDERAL EXPRESS
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 05/19/2011
Notification Time: 20:22 [ET]
Event Date: 05/18/2011
Event Time: 09:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/19/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL SHANNON (R4DO)
CHRISTIAN EINBERG (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Category 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVE SHIPMENT LOST IN TRANSIT
"On May 19, 2011, the Agency [State of Texas] was notified by a shipper that on May 18, 2011, a package carrying a 297 Giga Becquerel Iridium (Ir) 192 source manufactured by Alpha-Omega Laboratory and shipped from Vinton, Louisiana was lost near the intersection of Rankin and Albine Westfield Roads in Houston, Texas. The source is used in a high dose afterloader. The source was being transported to DHL in Houston, Texas for shipment to the country of Brazil. The shipper stated that the door on the back of the truck popped opened and the driver could not see it open or any of the contents from the truck fall onto the road. The truck is a large truck with doors that swing open in the back. A member of the general public (MGP) saw several letters setting on the road and stopped to pick them up. He stated that he saw the small drum the source was packaged in across the road in a church parking lot and did not indicate that he saw any damage to the drum. He could not retrieve the drum because of the traffic and he was taking his wife to a doctor's appointment. On his way back from the doctor office about an hour later the MGP went back by the location where the drum had been and it was gone. He took the letters by a FedEx office and told them what had happened. FedEx responded by driving to the location and searching for the source. They also traced the path traveled by the truck three times, but they did not locate the source. The package the source is contained in is a Type A package, 34 cm in length, 34 cm wide, and 37 cm high and is similar to a 5 gallon paint bucket. The shipper stated that there was a locking device on the container. The container is labeled with a Yellow III label with a transport index of 1.3. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Later, the state reported that the source has been located at a Houston Area Fire Department. The state will provide additional information as it is received.
Texas Incident #: I - 8854
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example: level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Category 3 event.
Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 2" is different than the calculated value "Category 3" |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46873 | Facility: BRUNSWICK
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: DAVID ANDERSON
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 05/23/2011
Notification Time: 16:00 [ET]
Event Date: 05/23/2011
Event Time: 15:35 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/23/2011 | Emergency Class: ALERT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
| Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
FREDERICK BROWN (NRR)
BRUCE BOGER (NRR)
VICTOR MCCREE (R2RA)
JEFFERY GRANT (IRD)
MIKE INZER (DHS)
DENNIS VIA (FEMA)
RONNIE FOOTE (DOE)
LT RICHARDSON (HHS)
DOUG USSERY (USDA)
|
| 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 | Event Text ALERT DECLARED DUE TO HALON DISCHARGE IN EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR BUILDING
"At 1535 EDT, Brunswick Units 1 & 2 declared an Alert condition due to a discharge of Halon gas into the basement of the emergency diesel generator building (EAL H.A.3.1 for toxic gas discharge into a vital area). Initial inspection indicates that there is no fire. No offsite assistance was required and no personnel injuries as a result of the discharge. Both reactors continue to operate at 100% power. The licensee is investigating the cause of the discharge and will terminate the Alert when the area is ventilated and can be reoccupied.
"The licensee has notified State and local authorities and the NRC Resident Inspector."
* * * UPDATE FROM CHRIS CINDRIC TO DONG PARK AT 1659 EDT ON 5/23/11 * * *
A later report confirmed that one individual was inside the diesel generator building at the time of the Halon discharge. The individual evacuated the building but complained of chest pains about an hour after the incident. An ambulance was dispatched to transport the individual to the hospital.
* * * UPDATE FROM CHRIS CINDRIC TO DONG PARK AT 1945 EDT ON 5/23/11 * * *
The licensee terminated the Alert at 1943 EDT based on restoring normal atmosphere conditions in the emergency diesel generator building. The initiating cause of this event is still being investigated.
The NRC Operations Center has notified the federal agencies initially notified of this event. Notified R2DO (Shaeffer), NRR EO (Brown) and IRD (Grant). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46874 | Facility: FERMI
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JIM KONRAD
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 05/23/2011
Notification Time: 17:03 [ET]
Event Date: 05/22/2011
Event Time: 14:44 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/23/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) - POT UNABLE TO SAFE SD
| Person (Organization):
JAMNES CAMERON (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text SAFE SHUTDOWN OPERABILITY CONCERN ASSOCIATED WITH OFFSITE POWER CIRCUITS
"On May 22, 2011, at 1444 hours, the Fermi 2 Control Room was notified by the Central System Supervisor that the switchyard voltage for both the 345kV (Division II) and 120kV (Division I) offsite power circuits following a generator trip would not be sufficient to sustain operability of the safety-related loads. Technical Specification (TS) 3.8.1 'AC-Sources Operating,' Condition E was entered at 1444 hours. At 1535, both offsite power circuit voltages were at acceptable levels and the offsite circuits were declared operable. Technical Specification (TS) 3.8.1, Condition E was exited at 1535 hours. Abnormal Operating Procedure (AOP) 20.300 GRlD was entered. The Emergency Diesel Generators (EDG) remained operable during the degraded voltage condition. The ability of the EDGs to fulfill their design function was not affected by this condition.
"The event is being reported per 50.72(b)(3)(V)(A), as any event or condition that at the time of discovery could have prevented fulfillment of the safety function of structures or systems that are needed to shutdown the reactor and maintain it in a safe shutdown condition."
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 46875 | Facility: FORT CALHOUN
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: (1) CE
NRC Notified By: SCOTT MOECK
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 05/23/2011
Notification Time: 23:41 [ET]
Event Date: 05/23/2011
Event Time: 22:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/24/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
DOMINIC PALAZZOLO (EPA)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Cold Shutdown | 0 | Cold Shutdown | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO AN OIL SPILL
"On May 23, 2011, at 2200 CDT, the station needed to notify the State of Nebraska, Department of Environmental Quality and the National Response Center due to an oil leak from the stations lube oil system. A quantity of oil spilled into the turbine building basement, and an undetermined amount drained to the turbine building sump which discharges to the Missouri River. Some amount of oil was discharged to the river which resulted in discoloration and a visible sheen noted on river sampling. Per Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit the notifications will be made and samples will be taken for off site analysis to determine the quantity discharged involved. Also the oil quantity in the turbine building sump (out fall L02) is expected to have exceeded 20 ppm oil and grease which does violate the state NPDES permit NE00000418.
"This notification is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), 4 hour non-emergency notification due to a notifications being made to Government [Agencies] (State of Nebraska, Department of Environmental Quality and the National Response Center)."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |