| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
05/31/2012 - 06/01/2012 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! | | Power Reactor | Event Number: 47885 | Facility: CALLAWAY
Region: 4 State: MO
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: KEITH DUNCAN
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 05/01/2012
Notification Time: 22:01 [ET]
Event Date: 05/01/2012
Event Time: 13:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/31/2012 | 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 | Event Text FLOOR DRAIN BLOCKAGE ADVERSELY AFFECTS ASUMPTIONS OF PIPE BREAK ANALYSIS FOR ELECTRICAL SWITGHEAR ROOMS
"At 1300 on May 1, 2012, as a result of fire water flushing operations, it was observed that the floor drains in the 'A' and 'B' ESF (Engineered Safety Features) 4160 VAC switchgear rooms were draining extremely slow. Engineering was consulted and it was identified that the floor drains in these rooms are credited with preventing any water accumulation in these rooms as a result of internal flooding due to a pipe break. It is expected that the floor drains in the 'A' ESF switchgear room can drain approximately 134 gallons per minute (gpm) and the floor drains in the 'B' ESF switchgear room can drain approximately 208 gpm. With the floor drains partially blocked, a break in the 'A' Essential Service Water pipe in the 'B' ESF Switchgear Room would result in flood levels in the 'B' ESF Switchgear Room to exceed the maximum levels calculated in the current flooding analysis. The higher flood level may result in the inoperability of 'B' train Electrical Switchgear. The 'A' train Essential Service Water supplied equipment would be adversely affected due to the reduced flow. Consequently the pipe break would result in both ESF trains being adversely affected.
"Compensatory measures have been taken to restore system operability.
"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
* * * RETRACTION FROM KEITH DUNCAN TO JOHN KNOKE AT 1534 ON 05/31/12 * * *
"On May 1, 2012, Callaway Plant made an ENS notification in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) to report the discovery of partially blocked floor drains in the safety-related 4160 V switchgear rooms. At the time of the initial notification, preliminary information indicated that the partially blocked floor drains could have caused a postulated flooding event to adversely affect independent trains of safety-related equipment inside these rooms.
"Upon further analysis, Callaway Plant staff determined that the pipe break assumed in the flooding calculation of these rooms was overly conservative. Specifically, based on seismic qualifications, the guillotine break of Essential Service Water piping that was originally assumed is not required to be postulated. Instead, a much smaller, through-wall crack of fire protection system piping is the most severe break that must be postulated in the safety-related 4160 V switchgear rooms.
"An analysis of a postulated flood hazard in these rooms was performed based on the correct water source. Even if considering a complete blockage of the floor drains in these rooms, this analysis demonstrates that a postulated fire protection system piping crack would not have adversely affected safety-related equipment.
"Based on the results of this analysis, the partially-blocked floor drain condition described in EN 47885 did not meet the criteria for reportability as an unanalyzed condition that significantly degrades plant safety. Event Notification 47885 is hereby retracted."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified the R4DO (Greg Pick) |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47952 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: THE METHODIST HOSPITAL
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: 00457
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 05/23/2012
Notification Time: 16:38 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2012
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/23/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
DEBORAH JACKSON (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SOURCE IN CATHETER
The following the received via e-mail:
"On May 23, 2012, the Agency [State of Texas] was notified by the licensee that on April 10, 2012, while the licensee was performing a routine quality assurance test using a beta catheter system device, the 50.2 milliCurie Strontium-90 source train jammed as it began to move from the transfer device to the test catheter. The source train was lodged near the transfer device exit port and could not be returned to the home position. After a few failed attempts to retract the source train, the applicator and phantom were covered with a lead apron, and the manufacturer's Radiation Safety Officer was notified. A manufacturer's technician arrived at the licensee's Hot Lab the morning of April 11, 2012. The technician was not able to return the source to the shielded position. The device was returned to the manufacturer's facility for analysis. Since this fault occurred during routine quality assurance testing, no patient was involved in the procedure. The manufacturer inspected the catheter and found a deformation in the catheter that would have interfered with the source movement. The source was leak tested, and the results indicated that the source was not leaking. The source train has been removed from service.
"Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA - 300."
TX Incident # I-8956 |
| Non-Agreement State | Event Number: 47958 | Rep Org: DOW CORNING
Licensee: DOW CORNING, MIDLAND PLANT
Region: 3
City: MIDLAND State: MI
County:
License #: 21-08362-12
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE WHELTON
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 05/24/2012
Notification Time: 15:29 [ET]
Event Date: 05/24/2012
Event Time: 14:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/24/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
| Person (Organization):
DAVID HILLS (R3DO)
DEBORAH JACKSON (FSME)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text DENSITY GAUGE SHUTTER FAILURE
During a routine bi-annual periodic inspection, a density gauge with a 4 milliCurie Cs-137 source was identified to have a stuck shutter. The gauge was an Ohmart Vega Model SHF1-A, S/N 0964C0. The instrument is permanently installed in an isolated tower area, and this event did not result in exposure to any personnel. The licensee plans on having the gauge repaired by the manufacturer.
The licensee notified R3 (Bramnik).
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 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47961 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: BRUKER AXS HANDHELD INC
Region: 4
City: KENNEWICK State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I0282-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CRAIG LAWRENCE
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 05/24/2012
Notification Time: 19:04 [ET]
Event Date: 05/23/2012
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 05/25/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4DO)
DEBORAH JACKSON (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MANUFACTURER RECEIVED AN ANALYZER WITH AN OPEN SHUTTER
The following was reported from the state via e-mail:
"A Kennewick licensee who manufactures and distributes hand-held devices used to analyze metal alloys notified the Materials Section of an incident that occurred with one of their General License customers in California. The shutter in the device which shields the radioactive material remained in the open position even after disengaging the trigger mechanism to close the shutter. This allowed radiation to stream from the device unabated. The California customer packaged the device for shipping knowing the shutter was open with nothing shielding the radiation and sent it back to the manufacturer in Kennewick for repairs. When the manufacturer received the device, a radiation reading in excess of the package limitations was noted and promptly reported to us. The licensee informed us this is the first shutter malfunction ever for this device model, which has been in service without any similar problems for many years. The Materials staff is working with the licensee to identify compliance issues and to prevent recurrence."
The Bruker AXS hand held XRF analyzer contains 5.9 milliCuries of Co-57.
Incident Number WA-12-037
* * * UPDATE FROM CRAIG LAWRENCE (VIA EMAIL) TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 1125 EDT ON 5/25/12 * * *
The XRF device is owned by Benchmark Environmental. Benchmark Environmental shipped the device to Bruker on May 22, 2012.
"Based on the dose rate measurement taken by Bruker prior to opening the package and removing the instrument, the Washington State Department of Health doesn't believe there were exposures to any member of the public in excess of regulatory limits. A dose rate measurement at 3 feet was 0.3 mR/hr as measured by their Bicron Surveyor 50 (cal date 1/19/12). Reading at approximately six inches from the surface pegged the dose rate meter on the 0 to 0.5 mR/hour scale. Bruker did not take measurements on higher scales.
"At that point, Bruker's shipping and receiving took the MAP FA4C1 analyzer out of the case and carried it at arm's length to the shielded source exchange pit. The instrument was evaluated inside the pit and the shutter was found partially open. The Co-57 source was removed from the analyzer and put into a shielded pig. Bruker examined the analyzer and found the source block was defective and [the analyzer was] sent to production for a replacement source block.
The licensee provided corrective actions in the NMED data entry form. Notified R4DO (Spitzberg) and FSME (via email). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 47977 | Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: DARRELL LAPCINSKI
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 05/31/2012
Notification Time: 04:47 [ET]
Event Date: 05/31/2012
Event Time: 03:04 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/31/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
| Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 98 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION CONCERNING LOSS OF AMERTAP BALLS
"At 0304 CDT, Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant notified the Minnesota State Duty Officer that 1000 Amertap balls were lost from the Unit 1 condenser tube cleaning system. Since the Minnesota State Duty Officer was contacted, this constitutes an 4 hour non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi).
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
The licensee will notify local and other government agencies. |
| Fuel Cycle Facility | Event Number: 47978 | Facility: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RX Type: URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE PRODUCTION
Comments: UF6 CONVERSION (DRY PROCESS)
Region: 2
City: METROPOLIS State: IL
County: MASSAC
License #: SUB-526
Agreement: Y
Docket: 04003392
NRC Notified By: BOB STOKES
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 05/31/2012
Notification Time: 09:58 [ET]
Event Date: 05/30/2012
Event Time: 11:20 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/31/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
40.60(b)(3) - MED TREAT INVOLVING CONTAM
| Person (Organization):
STEVEN VIAS (R2DO)
TIM MCCARTIN (NMSS)
| Event Text UNPLANNED MEDICAL TREATMENT OF WORKERS
"On 05/30/12, approximately at 1120 CDT, five employees working in the Feed Materials Building received first aid precautionary treatment for chemical inhalation in the on-site dispensary. The employees were found to have contamination on their boots and plant coveralls. The highest reading found on the employees was 53,300 dpm/100cm2 on the employee's boots. The employees were not transported to an off-site facility. The employees were released to go back to work and appropriately exit monitored at the end of their shift. There was no detectable contamination on the employees when they left the site."
The licensee has notified NRC Region 2 (Calle).
The chemical was Uranium Ore Concentrates. |
| Research Reactor | Event Number: 47979 | Facility: UNIV OF FLORIDA
RX Type: 100 KW ARGONAUT
Comments:
Region: 2
City: GAINESVILLE State: FL
County: ALACHUA
License #: R-56
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000083
NRC Notified By: BRIAN SHEA
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 05/31/2012
Notification Time: 15:00 [ET]
Event Date: 05/30/2012
Event Time: 17:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/31/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
NON-POWER REACTOR EVENT
| Person (Organization):
STEVEN VIAS (R2DO)
DUANE HARDESTY (PRLB)
JESSIE QUICHOCHO (PRLB)
ELIZABETH REED (RTR)
GREG SCHOENEBECK (RTR)
| Event Text TRAINING REACTOR MODIFICATIONS NOT REPORTED
"On 5/30/2012, during preparation of a supplemental license submittal in support of LAR#27, an apparent violation of 10 CFR 50.54(p)(2) was discovered. This is a reportable event under UFTR [University of Florida Training Reactor] Technical Specification 6.6.2(3)(g).
"Contrary to 10 CFR 50.54(p)(2), over a period of several years, the UFTR made several changes to the facility, as described in the approved Security Plan, without documentation of a security effectiveness evaluation, and without submitting a report containing a description of the change within the required timeframe.
"An initial review indicates that these changes have no negative impact on security effectiveness. Investigation is ongoing." |
| Part 21 | Event Number: 47981 | Rep Org: SHAW NUCLEAR SERVICES
Licensee: JOSEPH OAT CORPORATION
Region: 1
City: CHARLOTTE State: NC
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID BARRY
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE | Notification Date: 05/31/2012
Notification Time: 16:17 [ET]
Event Date: 05/31/2012
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/31/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21(d)(3)(i) - DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE
| Person (Organization):
STEVEN VIAS (R2DO)
PART 21 GROUP ()
| Event Text PART 21 - DUCTILITY OF REINFORCING STEEL FOR EMBEDMENTS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CODE REQUIREMENT
"The reporting organization provided information pertaining to the identification of a noncompliance associated with the steel reinforcing material (rebar) attached to embedments being supplied as basic components for the Vogtle Units 3 and 4, nuclear project, based on reinforcing bar that exceeded the limit for yield strength.
"The results of the evaluation of this condition as documented by Shaw Nuclear and conducted in accordance with the procedure for performing evaluations required by 10 CFR 21.21, has concluded that the noncompliance could potentially create a substantial safety hazard, if it were to remain uncorrected. Therefore, it has been determined that this noncompliance is reportable under the requirements of 10 CFR Part 21." | |