| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
05/13/2013 - 05/14/2013 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | !!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!! | | Power Reactor | Event Number: 48870 | Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND
Region: 3 State: MN
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP
NRC Notified By: WAYNE EPPEN
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 03/31/2013
Notification Time: 15:07 [ET]
Event Date: 03/30/2013
Event Time: 23:44 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/13/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL
| Person (Organization):
JULIO LARA (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 BOTH TRAINS OF AUXILIARY BUILDING SPECIAL VENTILATION SYSTEM DECLARED INOPERABLE
"During testing of the Auxiliary Building Ventilation System it was discovered that the outlet damper of one of the normal make-up fans did not close. This created a non-closable opening in the Auxiliary Bldg Special Vent System (ABSVS) boundary of greater than 10 square feet and required entry into TS [Technical Specification] 3.7.12, Condition B, for two ABSVS trains inoperable due to inoperable ABSVS boundary. This is considered a potential loss of safety function to control the release of material."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * RETRACTION FROM MARK LOOSBROCK TO PETE SNYDER ON 5/13/13 AT 1639 EDT * * *
"This notification is being made to retract Event Notification (EN) #48870, which reported a non-closeable opening in the Auxiliary Building Special Vent System (ABSVS) boundary of greater than 10 square feet. This required entry into TS 3.7.12 Condition B for two ABSVS trains inoperable due to an inoperable ABSVS boundary. This was considered a potential loss of safety function to control the release of radioactive material.
"Engineering evaluation and analysis identified that there was not a loss of safety function because the ABSVS started on demand during the performance of SP 1172 and that the ABSVS Boundary never exceeded the Tech Spec value of 10 square feet per TS 3.7.12. Review of the work order for CD-34042 validated that the system would have performed its safety function during the failure of CD-34042. In the event of a Design Basis Accident the ABSVS would have received a signal to actuate, the system would have performed as designed and drawn a negative differential pressure in the Aux Bldg within 6 minutes with the identified opening of 9.62 square feet that was observed during the failure of CD-34042."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R3DO (Riemer). |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 48999 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: RADIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES OF SACRAMENTO
Region: 4
City: SACRAMENTO State: CA
County:
License #: 1065-34
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENT PRENDERGAST
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 05/03/2013
Notification Time: 13:54 [ET]
Event Date: 02/20/2013
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 05/03/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MARK HAIRE (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FETAL EXPOSURE TO IODINE-131
The following information was obtained from the State of California via email:
"A female patient was treated with 176.9 mCi of Iodine 131 on 2/20/13. A serum pregnancy test conducted on 2/18/13 came back negative. On 4/22/13, Radiological Associates received a phone call from the patient's endocrinologist informing them that the patient was pregnant. An ultrasound evaluation of the patient performed on 3/18/13 determined that the fetus would have been approximately two weeks old at the time of the Iodine 131 dose administration. The dose to the fetus was determined to be 47 rad, which may meet the requirement for an abnormal occurrence."
"The [California Radiologic Health Branch] will be reviewing this event."
California Event: 5010-050313 |
| Non-Agreement State | Event Number: 49000 | Rep Org: VALLEY QUARRIES, INC.
Licensee: VALLEY QUARRIES, INC.
Region: 1
City: CHAMBERSBURG State: PA
County:
License #: PA-1222
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOHN ENGLERTH
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 05/03/2013
Notification Time: 17:03 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2013
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/03/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
| Person (Organization):
GORDON HUNEGS (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text LOST TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The licensee from Chambersburg, PA, was doing work in West Virginia under a reciprocity agreement. The authorized user was conducting a reading when he was asked by his supervisor to pick-up a fellow employee at the construction yard approximately 1.5 miles from the reading site. After the reading was done, the user placed the gauge in the back of his pickup truck and proceeded to the construction yard. Once he arrived at the yard, he saw that his truck tailgate was down and the gauge was missing. The gauge was not in its shipping container. The user and his co-worker doubled back in search of the gauge but did not find it. When the RSO arrived, another employee told him that he saw someone stopping along the highway to pick up what appeared to be the gauge and then driving off. At that time, the employee was unaware a gauge was missing so he didn't pay much attention to the vehicle.
The gauge is identified as a Troxler Electronics Laboratories Model # 3430, Serial # 32506. It contains 8 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am-241.
The RSO notified the West Virginia State Police, the local newspaper and the regional television station. The licensee is considering offering a reward for the return of the gauge.
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: 49005 | Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee:
Region: 3
City: GALENA State: OH
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID LIPP
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 05/06/2013
Notification Time: 14:37 [ET]
Event Date: 04/19/2013
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/06/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FOUND ORPHAN RADIUM SOURCES
The following information was received via E-mail:
"On 4/19/13 the [Ohio] Bureau of Radiation Protection (BRP) received a call from the RSO of broad-scope licensee Ohio State University (OSU). The RSO stated that he had received a call from a woman who had been helping an elderly neighbor clean out a garage after her husband's death. The husband had been a college professor. The woman and widow had discovered a large, five-gallon can filled with what appeared to be lead. The widow indicated that she believed it contained radium needles.
"On 4/21/13 the woman contacted BRP to arrange pickup of the device and deliver it to OSU. OSU has volunteered to store the device pending disposal. On 4/22/13, three BRP inspectors went to the home to perform radiological surveys of the container. Wipes were taken of the outside and a field scan of the wipes identified no removable contamination. The maximum dose rate reading at contact was 1.7 mrem/hr. The inspectors were unable to verify that the material was radium. The device was loaded into the BRP truck and transferred to the OSU Radiation Safety Office and placed in a secure radioactive material storage area.
"On 4/23/13, BRP contacted the US-EPA to request assistance in identification and disposal of the container and material, assuming it to contain one or more radium needle orphan source(s). BRP is also contacting the CRCPD [Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors] for assistance in disposal.
"On 5/2/13 BRP inspectors visited the widow's home, at her request, to ensure there were no other similar containers or materials present. The inspectors discovered a second container that was identified as containing radium. This container was also taken to OSU and placed in a secure radioactive material storage area. US-EPA was contacted about this second device for inclusion in their investigation.
"BRP is currently working to obtain more information on the origin of the radioactive materials. No further information is available as of this date (5/6/13)."
BRP indicated that the 'containers' appear to be homemade lead pigs. The second container has a maximum dose rate reading of 2.5 mrem/hr at contact. Gamma spectroscopy analysis of the second container, along with a partial label found, indicate that the contents may be Radium-226.
Ohio Item Number: OH130013 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 49006 | Rep Org: GEORGIA RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PGM
Licensee: PROFESSIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC
Region: 1
City: KENNESAW State: GA
County:
License #: GA 629-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ERIC JAMESON
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 05/06/2013
Notification Time: 16:12 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2013
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/08/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DWYER (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING TROXLER GAUGE
The following information was received via E-mail:
"After conducting a recent inventory, the licensee called in to report that one of their portable radiation gauges was missing and/or stolen. Specifically, a Troxler gauge, model 3430, serial number 27283 cannot be currently accounted for."
The Georgia Radioactive Materials Program will update this event when more information is available.
Georgia Incident Summary: GA-CTS-07990
* * * UPDATE FROM ERIC JAMESON TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1532 ON 5/7/2013 * * *
The following report was received via e-mail:
"The licensee reports that the gauge's last recorded use was on 4/24/2013. The licensee made the report of the lost or stolen gauge to both the Department [Georgia Radioactive Materials Program] and local law enforcement on 5/2/2013. The licensee also stated the gauge has a sticker on it indicating a reward if found and returned."
Notified R1DO (Dwyer) and FSME Events Resource.
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: 49007 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: QSA GLOBAL
Region: 1
City: BURLINGTON State: MA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BRUCE PACKARD
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 05/06/2013
Notification Time: 18:07 [ET]
Event Date: 05/06/2013
Event Time: 08:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/06/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DWYER (R1DO)
BRIAN MCDERMOTT (FSME)
JIM WHITNEY (ILTA)
PAUL HARRIS (IRD)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Category 2" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SOURCE SHIPMENT DID NOT ARRIVE AS EXPECTED
"QSA Global reported a lost source. The location of the source is not known. The shipment contains Ir-192."
QSA expected this source to arrive at their Baton Rouge, LA location at about 0800 CDT on 5/6/13. QSA contacted the common carrier to locate the item at some time after that. The last known location was Memphis, TN.
* * * UPDATE FROM MIKE FULLER (QSA) TO PETE SNYDER AT 1915 ON 5/6/13 * * *
At about 1915 EDT, QSA personnel learned from the common carrier that the item had been located at the Memphis, TN shipping location.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Category 2 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 a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 49027 | Facility: FORT CALHOUN
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: (1) CE
NRC Notified By: CHUCK TACK
HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL | Notification Date: 05/13/2013
Notification Time: 11:22 [ET]
Event Date: 05/13/2013
Event Time: 10:10 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/13/2013 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL HAY (R4DO)
|
| 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 PLANNED OUTAGE OF SIRENS DUE TO SCHEDULED UPGRADES
"Planned intermittent outages of all FCS sirens will occur the week of 5/13/13-5/17/13 due to scheduled upgrades to the radio system. Based on the planned maintenance, all sirens for the Alert Notification System within the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) will be nonfunctional for various amounts of time. Prior notifications and coordination with Local Law Enforcement will be completed with compensatory measures established prior to work each day to support notification of the public in case of an actual emergency during the scheduled maintenance. Updates will be made to the NRC on 5/13/13 when the work starts, and upon completion of the work not to exceed 5/17/13. Work is currently scheduled to be complete 5/17/13.
"Also, contingencies have been established to back out if required in support of the plant or Law Enforcement activities.
"Work is scheduled to commence today, 5/13/13, at 10:10 AM.
"This is being reported per 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii) for 'Any event that results in a major loss of emergency assessment capability, off site response capability, or communications capability.'"
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |