Event Notification Report for December 06, 2013

UNLABELED PACKAGE CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

The Missouri Baptist Medical Center, in Saint Louis, MO, received an unlabeled package from a supplier in Valencia, CA, which contained 2 spot markers, each containing 50 microCi of Co-57. The package was an expected shipment; however, there was no labeling on the outside of the package indicating the presence of radioactive material. The radiation reading on the outside of the package was 1 mR/hr.

The package was opened to verify contents and the material is being maintained in a secure location. No personnel over exposures occurred. The supplier was notified by the licensee of the mislabeling.

HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT INJECTION SYSTEM INOPERABLE

"At 1248 EST, Unit 2 High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system was being tested for routine quarterly flow verification using surveillance test procedure SO-252-002. When HPCI turbine speed was lowered to approximately 2400 RPM, oscillations on turbine speed, flow and discharge pressure were observed. HPCI turbine speed was raised to approximately 2700 RPM and the oscillations stopped.

"Unit 2 HPCI system had been declared inoperable and LCO 3.5.1 entered at 1200 EST for the surveillance test. [This is a 14 day LCO.]

"Review by Engineering determined that cause of the oscillations warrant further evaluation and HPCI remains inoperable.

"HPCI is a single train Emergency Core Cooling Safety system. This event results in the loss of an entire safety function which requires an 8 hour ENS notification in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v).

"There are no other ECCS systems presently out of service."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION FROM DARVIN DUTTRY TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1201 EST ON 1/17/14 * * *

"NUREG-1022, Revision 3, states, 'if the retraction or cancellation of a report under this criterion is due to a revised operability determination, the retraction or cancellation should discuss the basis for why the operability determination was revised, and why it is believed that system operability was never lost (i.e., in lieu of the initial determination).'

"As indicated in the initial report, Engineering determined that the cause of the oscillations required further evaluation and HPCI remained inoperable. Additional evaluation by Engineering resulted in a conclusion that HPCI was OPERABLE with the observed oscillations at the low flow conditions. Details are as follows:

"HPCI speed/flow oscillations at low flow conditions can occur due to inherent instability at these conditions. This phenomenon is understood and documented in industry OE [Operating Experience], EPRI [Electric Power Research Institute] maintenance guidelines, and station procedures. HPCI system operation and control during the surveillance were as expected and demonstrated proper response and stable operation, with the only exception being the described oscillations at the low flow condition. This was confirmed by a review of the system response on the start-up traces. A system walkdown confirmed no abnormality with the control system equipment or governor setting. No tuning adjustments were considered to be necessary based on the low magnitude of the oscillations and their negligible impact on system operation. Unit 2 HPCI was declared OPERABLE and LCO 3.5.1 was cleared at 2308 [EST] on December 6, 2013.

"Based on the above additional information, PPL [Pennsylvania Power and Light] is retracting this report."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified the R1DO (Rogge).

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LICENSED MATERIAL RECOVERED AT A LANDFILL

NOTIFICATIONS:

"On December 6, 2013 the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) was notified of a radiation alarm at Modern Landfill in York, PA. A health physics consultant for the landfill had responded and determined that two bare molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) generator cores were the cause of the alarm. The Mo-99 generators had their labels intact and noted an activity of 18 curies (Ci) on 10/29/2013 and 11/06/2013. Expiration dates were 11/12/2013 and 11/19/2013 respectively. Per 10 CFR 20.2201, decay correcting the activity would prompt a 30-day report per 10 CFR 22.2201(a)(ii); however, after further investigation and discussion with the licensee, a conservative (immediate) report per 10CFR 20.2201(a)(i) may be required.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

"The December 6th initial notification to the PA DEP/BRP was due to a load of solid waste possibly containing Mo-99, versus Tc-99m which is often found to set off landfill radiation alarms. Upon off-loading the waste and discovery of two bare Mo-99 generator cores and investigation the following week, the serial number on each of the Mo-99 generator labels revealed they were from a Pennsylvania nuclear pharmacy licensee, Cardinal Health (C. H.), PA-0385. A reactive inspection was initiated. The RSO for C.H. concluded that the generators may have been stolen after their expiration date, and thus would involve a decayed activity of 510 mCi. This is greater than 1,000 times the quantity specified in 10 CFR 20 Appendix C for Mo-99 (that is, greater than 100 mCi). PA DEP/BRP is expecting the licensee to assess the range of whole body and extremity doses to the individual(s) that disassembled these Mo-99 generators using conservative bounding assumptions. No one has admitted to the removal of the Mo-99 from the C.H. facility.

CAUSE OF THE EVENT:

"Possible theft as a crime of opportunity for scrap lead shielding.

ACTIONS:

"A reactive inspection by the PA DEP Regional Office has already occurred and further evaluation of the potential individual radiation exposure and needed corrective actions are ongoing."

PA Event Report ID No: PA130029

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