| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
12/30/2011 - 01/03/2012 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 47554 | Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: MIDAMERICAN ENERGY
Region: 3
City: MUSCATINE State: IA
County:
License #: 0040-1-70-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MELANIE RASMUSSON
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 12/27/2011
Notification Time: 12:57 [ET]
Event Date: 12/27/2011
Event Time: 08:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/27/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MARK RING (R3DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGE SHUTTER MISSING
The following information was received via email from the State of Iowa:
"The RSO of Louisa Generating Station/MidAmerican located at 8602 172nd Street, Muscatine, Iowa 52761 reported to IDPH [Iowa Department of Public Health] at 0930 CST that at approximately 0800 [CST], the courtyard operator was performing rounds and noticed that the shutter on a Texas Nuclear device (model # 5192, serial # B-2724, 50 mCi, Cesium 137) in crusher feeder / hopper 1B was detached from the device and laying on the grating directly underneath the device. [The RSO] suspects that the shutter vibrated off. The shutter is usually in the open position as the hopper is operational 24/7 measuring coal as it moves through the hopper. There were no employees in the hopper and the device sits 10-12 feet above the ground. After [IDPH spoke] with [the RSO] and considering their license conditions, [the RSO] is calling the service provider to come to their location and assess the repositioning of the shutter." |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47555 | Rep Org: MARYLAND DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY
Region: 1
City: LAUREL State: MD
County:
License #: GL
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ALAN JACOBSON
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 12/28/2011
Notification Time: 12:05 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2011
Event Time: 14:15 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/28/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JUDY JOUSTRA (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
DARYL JOHNSON (ILTA)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TRITIUM EXIT SIGN
"Per the general license requirements stipulated in 10 CFR 31.5 (5), this letter is being sent to report a damaged Forever Lite model SLXTU1GB20 self-illuminating exit sign and the loss of one of its elements. The exit sign is owned by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) and is possessed under a general license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The general license requires the NRC to be notified of any damaged devices. A verbal notification was made to MDE [Maryland Department of the Environment] in a phone call on December 6, 2001 at 1:45 PM.
"It has been determined that the damaged sign was removed from its mounted location during the demolition phase of a renovation project in Building 13 that started in May 2011. However, it along with three other signs from that project were not brought to JHU/APL's Hazardous Waste Accumulation Site (Building 10A) until Friday, December 2, 2011. The damaged sign was identified Monday, December 5, 2011 at 2:15 PM. It appears that the sign was damaged during removal from its mounted location and the missing element, along with the outer frame, was disposed of in the construction debris earlier this summer.
"The total estimated tritium activity contained within the missing element is approximately 640 mCi of which about 90% (576 mCi) may be in the form of tritium gas and about 10% (64 mCi) may be in the form of tritiated water vapor. Contamination monitoring did not reveal any tritium contamination. This could be an indication that the tube did not break during the removal of the sign nor when it was caught up in the construction debris. Bioassay sampling of the potentially exposed personnel is unfortunately not possible due to the amount of time that has transpired since the removal of the sign (the most likely time when an exposure could have occurred). However, the possibility of an exposure is extremely unlikely since there is no indication of a broken element. In addition, the nature of a construction work environment and the use of personal protective equipment (work gloves, eyewear, ...) also minimizes the possibility of inhalation, ingestion and puncture wounds which are potential tritium exposure pathways from a broken element.
"The damaged sign has been doubly sealed in plastic bags and is stored in JHU/APL's Hazardous Waste Accumulation Site awaiting proper disposal.
"JHU/APL improved its control and oversight of the self-illuminating exit sign after the last damaged sign that was found in June 2007. Based on the current investigation, the following improvements will be made to improve JHU/APL control and accountability of the generally licensed exit signs:
--Annual refresher training with revised self-illuminating exit sign handling and control procedures will be provided to all JHU/APL Technical Service Department (TSD) personnel. This will help ensure a greater awareness, particularly among managers and supervisors, of the handling and control requirements. Training up to this point has been provided to maintenance personnel, electricians and others on an as needed basis.
--The training will place particular emphasis on the care required to remove these signs and the need to bring them to JHU/APL's Hazardous Waste Accumulation Site in a timely manner.
--For better documentation of which signs are being turned in for disposal, a log will be maintained that documents such things as make, model serial number, former mount location (Bldg, Floor ...), person disposing the sign, date disposed, and the general condition of the sign.
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: 47559 | Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: COMMERCE CITY State: CO
County:
License #: NONE
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PHILLIP PETERSON
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 12/29/2011
Notification Time: 16:40 [ET]
Event Date: 12/28/2011
Event Time: [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/29/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
JACK FOSTER (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TWO NUCLEAR GAUGES FOUND AT METAL RECYCLING FACILITY
The following report was received from the State of Colorado Radioactive Material Unit via facsimile:
"This memo is to serve as a preliminary report for an incident concerning fixed nuclear gauges which were discovered at a Colorado scrap yard which is not licensed for that type of material. The Department [State of Colorado] was notified on December 28, 2011 that two gauges were identified at Rocky Mountain Recycling in Commerce City, Colorado. The initial notification indicated that they were both TN 5100 gauges [subsequently determined to be TN 5200 gauges] with an original activity of 20 mCi in 1986.
"Rocky Mountain Recycling currently has a Colorado provisional radioactive materials license (Colo. 9016-01) and is licensed for six sections of scrap pipe which are contaminated with NORM in the form of pipe scale. For normal operations, Rocky Mountain Recycling does not possess a radioactive materials license.
"The Department responded to Rocky Mountain Recycling on December 29, 2011. Two fixed gauges were at that location, both TN Technologies model 5200 gauges with serial numbers B1130 and B1131. Both gauges contain Cs-137 (verified using an ldentiFinder). Gauge B1130 contains 20 mCi as of December, 1986 and gauge B1131 contains 20 mCi as of October, 1986. The gauges were being stored in a steel drum away from public access. A wipe test was taken in the field on the drum prior to opening and no contamination appeared to be present. Wipe tests were also taken on the shutters of both gauges and no contamination appeared to be present. Both gauges appeared to be in good shape, there was some rust and weathering on the outside of the source housing but otherwise the source housing and shielding appeared to be in working condition.
"The gauges were found without a lock to keep the shutter in the closed position. One gauge (B1131) was found with the shutter partially opened. Gauge B1130 could not have the shutter completely opened due to the steel mounting frame being bent. Both shutters could be manipulated by hand. Rocky Mountain Recycling provided padlocks to lock the shutter in the closed position for both gauges.
"Dose rate measurements were taken around the shielding of the gauges. On contact, both gauges measured approximately 2.5 mRem/hour. With the shutter open, the highest reading in the beam of gauge B1130 was approximately 60 mRem/hour on contact, 15-20 mRem/hour at approximately 1 foot, and 3-3.5 mRem/hour at approximately 1 meter. With the shutter open, the highest reading in the beam of gauge B1131 was approximately 70 mRem/hour on contact, 10 mRem/hour at approximately 1 foot, and 1.5 mRem/hour at approximately 1 meter.
"Around the drum the gauges were stored in, the highest reading on contact was 1.5 mRem/hour, the highest reading at one foot was 0.3 mRem/hour, and the highest reading at 1 meter was 0.08 mRem/hour."
Colorado Report Number: I11-23 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47560 | Rep Org: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: CARDINAL HEALTH
Region: 4
City: Las Vegas State: NV
County:
License #: 03-11-0332-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ADRIAN HOWE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 12/29/2011
Notification Time: 17:41 [ET]
Event Date: 12/21/2011
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/29/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
JACK FOSTER (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IODINE-125 BRACHYTHERAPY SEED MISSING FROM TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE
The following report was received by telephone from the State of Nevada.
A representative of the State of Nevada Radiation Control Program was notified by a call from Cardinal Health and Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas NV concerning a missing I-125 brachytherapy seed. Summerlin Hospital on or about 12/21/11 transferred 33 Iodine-125 brachytherapy seeds to Cardinal Health for shipment back to Bard Brachytherapy in Illinois. The 33 Iodine-125 seed shipment was packaged and sent by Cardinal Health to Bard via commercial carrier on or about 12/21/11. Upon receipt of the seeds by Bard, the top of the shipping pig was discovered to not be completely sealed. Some of the seeds were outside the pig but within the shipping package. After all the seeds were inventoried, a total of 32 seeds were received by Bard. At this time, one of the seeds appears to be unaccounted for. The missing I-125 seed had an activity of 0.23 milliCuries at the time of shipment. The half-life of Iodine-125 is approximately 60 days.
Bard has surveyed the local carrier that transported the shipment to its facility. It has also surveyed the regional facility of the shipping carrier. Cardinal Health and Summerlin are still attempting to confirm the original inventory of seeds was 33.
The State of Nevada is continuing its investigation of the missing seed.
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: 47561 | Facility: DUANE ARNOLD
Region: 3 State: IA
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JEFF MIELL
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 12/30/2011
Notification Time: 02:34 [ET]
Event Date: 12/29/2011
Event Time: 20:09 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/30/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
ERIC DUNCAN (R3DO)
|
| 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 LPCI INSTRUMENTATION REQUIRED REPAIR AND RECALIBRATION
"Surveillance testing on Low Pressure Coolant Injection (LPCI) Loop Select logic yielded results requiring repairs to 3 of the 4 Recirculation Riser Differential Pressure instruments and calibration of all four. The instrument conditions were such that there was not reasonable assurance that the safety function of LPCI could be fulfilled during a design basis Loss Of Coolant Accident (LOCA). As such, this condition is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D).
"The four instruments support the LPCI Loop Select logic by providing input that successfully identifies and directs LPCI flow to the unbroken recirculation loop so that core reflooding is accomplished in time to ensure that the fuel peak cladding temperature remains below the limits of 10CFR50.46. The instruments are arranged in a one-out-of-two-twice logic.
"The instruments were last calibrated September 26-29, 2011. At that time, pre-planned maintenance was performed to improve instrument reliability. Current testing indicates a repetitive issue with instrument drift. Repair and recalibration of each degraded instrument has been completed as the surveillance test has progressed such that the current status supports fulfillment of the safety function.
"The instrument type (Barton) is used in several safety systems, but there has been no notable degradation in other applications."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47562 | Facility: FITZPATRICK
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: JOE PECHACEK
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 12/30/2011
Notification Time: 21:15 [ET]
Event Date: 12/30/2011
Event Time: 21:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/30/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
INFORMATION ONLY
| Person (Organization):
JUDY JOUSTRA (R1DO)
|
| 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 PRESS RELEASE BY COUNTY CONCERNING ERRORS IN THE 2012 EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONE CALENDAR
The licensee has received information from Oswego County Emergency Management Office concerning errors in the 2012 edition of the Oswego County Public Emergency Response Information Calendar. The 2012 calendar mailed to residents within the 10-mile emergency planning zone near the Fitzpatrick and Nine Mile Point nuclear power plants contains errors in the maps depicting the individual Emergency Response Planning Areas (ERPAS).
Oswego County notes that while partners in emergency planning for the nuclear power plants work on a permanent solution, residents should retain their 2011 calendars and refer to them for the correct ERPA information if an emergency at one of the plants occurs.
The calendar is a joint effort between Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, Entergy Nuclear, the Oswego County Emergency Management Office, the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning, and the New York State Office of Emergency Management. It contains guidelines for public response to radiological and other types of emergencies for people that live within ten miles of the nuclear facilities at Fitzpatrick.
Oswego County plans to repost the 2011 calendars (which contain accurate emergency response planning area maps) on its website, www.oswegocounty.com/emo. The 2011 calendars should be available on the website no later than Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Anyone with questions may call the Oswego County Emergency Management Office at 315-591-9150 or 1-800-962-2792.
The licensee is providing this information as a courtesy notification to the NRC since the press release is being issued by Oswego County and not by the licensee.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
See related notification from Nine Mile Point - EN #47563. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47563 | Facility: NINE MILE POINT
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-2,[2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: DON SHEEHAN
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 12/30/2011
Notification Time: 22:00 [ET]
Event Date: 12/30/2011
Event Time: 21:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/30/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
INFORMATION ONLY
| Person (Organization):
JUDY JOUSTRA (R1DO)
|
| 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 PRESS RELEASE BY COUNTY CONCERNING ERRORS IN THE 2012 EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONE CALENDAR
The licensee has received information from Oswego County Emergency Management Office concerning errors in the 2012 edition of the Oswego County Public Emergency Response Information Calendar. The 2012 calendar mailed to residents within the 10-mile emergency planning zone near the Fitzpatrick and Nine Mile Point nuclear power plants contains errors in the maps depicting the individual Emergency Response Planning Areas (ERPAS).
Oswego County notes that while its partners in emergency planning for the nuclear power plants work on a permanent solution, residents should retain their 2011 calendars and refer to them for the correct ERPA information if an emergency at one of the plants occurs.
The calendar is a joint effort between Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, Entergy Nuclear, the Oswego County Emergency Management Office, the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning, and the New York State Office of Emergency Management. It contains guidelines for public response to radiological and other types of emergencies for people that live within ten miles of the nuclear facilities at Nine Mile Point.
Oswego County plans to repost the 2011 calendars (which contain accurate emergency response planning area maps) on its website, www.oswegocounty.com/emo. The 2011 calendars should be available on the website no later than Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Anyone with questions may call the Oswego County Emergency Management Office at 315-591-9150 or 1-800-962-2792.
The licensee is providing this information as a courtesy notification to the NRC since the press release is being issued by Oswego County and not by the licensee.
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
See related notification from Fitzpatrick - EN #47562. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47564 | Facility: DIABLO CANYON
Region: 4 State: CA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL KENNEDY
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 12/31/2011
Notification Time: 11:53 [ET]
Event Date: 12/31/2011
Event Time: 02:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/31/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
| Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (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 | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text FIRE BARRIER RATING OF VITAL SWTICHGEAR WALLS MAY NOT MEET STANDARDS
"On December 31, 2011 at 0200 PST, a plant employee indentified the fire barrier material in each unit was potentially not qualified as a 3 hour rated fire barrier as specified by the Diablo Canyon power plant fire protection program. The fire barrier material in question is installed between the block wall portion of the barrier and the door frames in the walls separating three of the 480 Volt switchgear buses and separating the three vital instrument AC inverters. The condition was discovered by a plant employee who questioned the configuration while performing a routine tour of that area. Operators confirmed existing fire watches were in place and established additional fire watches as compensatory measures as required by the Diablo Canyon fire protection program.
"A review of the Appendix R fire protection analysis is in progress to confirm the rating of the installed configuration.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47565 | Facility: MCGUIRE
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: AL YODER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 01/01/2012
Notification Time: 05:00 [ET]
Event Date: 01/01/2012
Event Time: 04:06 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/01/2012 | Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
| Person (Organization):
ALAN BLAMEY (R2DO)
JOHN LUBINSKI (NRR)
JIM WHITNEY (ILTA)
JEFFERY GRANT (IRD)
DAN GATES (DHS)
STEVE HOWELL (FEMA)
|
| 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 NOTICE OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO A SECURITY INCIDENT
At approximately 0335 EST security observed an unauthorized individual climb over the owner controlled area fence. Site security responded and contacted local law enforcement. At 0406 EST, the site declared a Notice of Unusual Event.
After turning the individual over to law enforcement and conducting a complete check of the area, the Unusual Event was terminated at 0502 EST.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47566 | Facility: COOK
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: MARK ESSIG
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 01/03/2012
Notification Time: 03:33 [ET]
Event Date: 01/03/2012
Event Time: 04:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/03/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
MARK RING (R3DO)
|
| 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 UNAVAILABILITY OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER VENTILATION DUE TO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
"At 0400 EST on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, the Cook Nuclear Plant (CNP) Technical Support Center (TSC) air conditioning and charcoal filtration systems will be removed from service for scheduled maintenance.
"Under certain accident conditions the TSC may become unavailable due to the inability of the air conditioning and charcoal filtration systems to maintain a habitable atmosphere. Compensatory measures exist to relocate TSC personnel to the unaffected unit's control room if necessary.
"TSC ventilation system maintenance is scheduled to be completed by 1500 EST on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector." | |