| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
01/17/2012 - 01/18/2012 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 47586 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TERRACON CONSULTANTS INC
Region: 4
City: DALLAS State: TX
County:
License #: 05268
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER | Notification Date: 01/12/2012
Notification Time: 11:10 [ET]
Event Date: 01/12/2012
Event Time: 09:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/12/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
MATTHEW HAHN (ILTA)
MEXICO VIA EMAIL ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE
"On January 12, 2012, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee that a Troxler Model 3430 moisture/density gauge (SN 39547) containing 40 millicuries of americium-241 and 8 millicuries of cesium-137 had been stolen that morning at approximately 0900 hrs. CST from one of its vehicles while it was parked at a convenience store in McKinney, Texas. The gauge was secured in the bed of the pickup truck with two chains. While the licensee's technician was inside the store, both chains were cut and the gauge removed. Local law enforcement was notified. The Agency notified the Texas Association of Pawnbrokers. More information will be provided as it is obtained."
Texas Incident # I-8918
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: 47589 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TEXAS GAMMA RAY LLC
Region: 4
City: KATY State: TX
County:
License #: 05561
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 01/13/2012
Notification Time: 08:48 [ET]
Event Date: 01/10/2012
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/13/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FAILURE OF RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE TO RETRACT
The following information was received via E-mail:
"On January 13, 2012, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Branch] was notified by the licensee that a source disconnect had occurred on January 10, 2012 at one of their job sites. The radiographer was using a Spec model 300 radiography camera containing a 116 curies cobalt-60 source. They had completed 20 exposures. After their last exposure, they approached the radiography camera and noted that their dose rate instrument was indicating that the source was not shielded. The radiographer returned to the end of the crank out device to make sure that he had retracted the source. The radiographer found that while the drive cable was completely retracted, the lock was not operating, and the source was still exposed. The radiographer contacted the company's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The radiographers set new boundaries at two millirem per hour and waited for the RSO. The RSO arrived at the location and determined that the source was located in the collimator. The RSO retrieved the source without incident.
"An inspection of the connector on the source pig tail indicated that it had spread allowing it to disconnect. The licensee is sending the source to the manufacturer for inspection. No exposure limits were exceeded during this event. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #: I-8919. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47591 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: MISTRAS GROUP
Region: 4
City: BATON ROUGE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-10986-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BLACKWELL
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 01/13/2012
Notification Time: 15:34 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 09:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/13/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA NOT PROPERLY SECURED
The following information was received by facsimile:
"This is a report of a transportation incident where an Industrial Radiography Camera was not properly secured. The RSO stated that two radiographers, one an instructor, conducted a radiography job in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. On January 4, 2012, while returning to the Baton Rouge, LA office, they decided to meet with another radiographer who is an instructor on the radioactive materials license for Mistras and one of the other radiographer's father. The father offered to take the radiography camera to the office in Baton Rouge, LA. The instructor from the radiography job in Bay St. Louis agreed, but did not realize that the father did not have his radiography truck. The father put the camera in the trunk of his personal vehicle unsecured and unbraced. After noticing that the father and son did not have some of the required paperwork, the instructor pursued them. Approximately 2 miles down the road, the father and son in the same vehicle were pulled over for speeding. After they were pulled over, the son, who was driving, was suspected of intoxication and tested. The RSO received a call from the father regarding the impending arrest of the son for DUI at [2130 CST]. The son was arrested for DUI and the instructor from the radiography job secured the radiography camera. The father was arrested for outstanding warrants. Both the father and son were suspected of being under the influence, but the father refused to be tested by law enforcement. The RSO arrived to the site at [2200 CST]. The camera was placed in the Mistras storage vault around [0030 CST on January 5, 2012].
"Mistras is conducting an internal investigation. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is investigating. So far, the son's employment has been terminated. The father's Trustworthy and Reliability status has been suspended. All radiographers will be drug tested. Additional information will be forthcoming."
Louisiana Incident Number: LA120001 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47592 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: LOUISIANA SCRAP METAL RECYCLING
Region: 4
City: Lafayette State: LA
County:
License #: LA-10073-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BLACKWELL
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 01/13/2012
Notification Time: 15:35 [ET]
Event Date: 01/06/2012
Event Time: 10:48 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/13/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
MATTHEW HAHN - email ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST ANALYZER
The following information was received via facsimile:
"[The] Environmental Safety Manager of Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling notified the [Louisiana] Department of Environmental Quality of a lost Niton XLI 818 Q/serial number 6066 analyzer with 30 mCi of Am-241 on January 6, 2012.
"FINDINGS: The investigation was conducted at Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling in Lafayette. Contact was made with the Environmental Safety Manager and the [Non-Ferrous Manager], who provided the following information of their internal investigation.
"The facility's investigation revealed that on January 5, 2012, [Employee #1] was scanning a customer's trailer to identify the type metal in the load, with a Niton XLI 818Q/serial number 6066 analyzer with 30 mCi of Am-241. The analyzer was discovered missing the next morning, January 6, 2012 by [Employee #2] at approximately [0900 CST and notified the department at 1048 CST on January 6, 2012 of the missing source. [Employee #2] called [Employee #1] to try to reconstruct his actions of the previous day since he had signed out the analyzer on the utilization log. [Employee #1] stated that he believed that he must have left the analyzer on the trailer of a customer. [Employee #2] called the customer to ask if he had found the analyzer and also the route he took to go home. The customer stated that he had not found the analyzer. [Employee #2] then retraced the route to search for the missing analyzer for approximately eight hours but was not successful. The analyzer is still missing to date, however does not pose a health hazard to the general public.
"In conclusion the licensee did not secure licensed radioactive material from unauthorized removal or access. The above area is contrary to LAC 33:XV.445.A. The licensee failed to maintain constant surveillance to prevent unauthorized use of licensed radioactive material that is in a controlled or unrestrictive area. The above area is contrary to LAC 33:XV.445.B. The licensee also failed to have the minimum of two independent physical controls that form a tangible barrier to secure portable gauges from unauthorized removal, whenever portable gauges are not under the control and constant surveillance of the licensee. The above area is contrary to LAC 33:XV.326.B."
Louisiana Incident Number: LA120002
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 |
| !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! | | Power Reactor | Event Number: 47595 | Facility: SALEM
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: JOHN KONOVALCHICK
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 01/14/2012
Notification Time: 21:37 [ET]
Event Date: 01/14/2012
Event Time: 17:55 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/17/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
JAMES TRAPP (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 OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO A CHLORINATED WATER DISCHARGE
"Salem Generating Station made a 15 minute notification of a chemical discharge to the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1806 [EST]. The Salem Non-Rad Waste Chemical Treatment Building sump overflowed out of the building to a catch basin that discharges to the Delaware River. Approximately 100 gallons of chlorinated water was reported to the State of New Jersey as being discharged, which was terminated at 1806 [EST]. There were no personnel injuries associated with this event. There was no impact to any Salem Station Safety-Related systems and all Safety-Related systems are available. Investigation into the cause of the event is in progress."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and Lower Alloways Township.
* * * RETRACTION FROM DAN MCHUGH TO JOE O'HARA AT 1031 ON 1/17/12 * * *
"On 1/14/2012 Salem Generating Station made a 15 minute notification of a chemical discharge to the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1806. The Salem Non-Rad Waste Chemical Treatment Building sump overflowed out of the building to a catch basin that discharges to the Delaware River through DSN 488. Subsequent investigation has indicated that the spill was entirely contained within the onsite storm drainage system and that there was no discharge to the Delaware River. The storm drain system was plugged, flushed and pumped out for appropriate disposal of the waste water. Additionally, the spill to the ground was cleaned up within 24 hours."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector and has notified the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47600 | Facility: ROBINSON
Region: 2 State: SC
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH TODD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 01/17/2012
Notification Time: 22:35 [ET]
Event Date: 01/17/2012
Event Time: 18:14 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/17/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(i) - PLANT S/D REQD BY TS
| Person (Organization):
DEBORAH SEYMOUR (R2DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 85 | Power Operation | 85 | Power Operation | Event Text UNIT 2 COMMENCED A TECH SPEC REQUIRED SHUTDOWN AFTER DECLARING STATION BATTERY "B" INOPERABLE
"At approximately 1814 hours (EST) on January 17, 2012, H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant (HBRSEP), Unit No. 2, personnel confirmed that the Station Battery Performance Capacity Test (Five Year Interval), for station battery 'B' was not completed within its required periodicity plus grace period. Based upon this information, plant Operations personnel declared the 'B' battery inoperable and entered the required action for Improved Technical Specifications (ITS) 3.8.4, Condition 'A', which requires that the DC electrical power subsystem be restored to operable status in 2 hours. At 2014 hours (EST), Operations personnel entered the required action for ITS 3.8.4, Condition 'B' due to required actions and associated completion time for Condition 'A' not met. Condition 'B' requires the unit to be in Mode 3 within 6 hours AND be in Mode 5 within 36 hours.
This report is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(i) based on the initiation of a plant shutdown required by the Technical Specifications. Following the shutdown, the unit will commence a refueling outage that was originally scheduled to begin at 0000 hours (EST) on January 21, 2012."
The licensee informed the NRC Resident Inspector. | |