Event Notification Report for December 10, 2013

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
12/09/2013 - 12/10/2013

** EVENT NUMBERS **


49594 49597 49598 49617 49618 49619

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Agreement State Event Number: 49594
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: STERIS-ISOMEDIX
Region: 4
City: EL PASO State: TX
County:
License #: L04268
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 12:25 [ET]
Event Date: 11/29/2013
Event Time: 19:40 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF AN IRRADIATOR SOURCE RACK TO FULLY LOWER

The following information was received from the State of Texas via email:

"On December 2, 2013, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received information from the licensee that on November 29, 2013, at 1940 hrs. CST, the drive mechanism on a Nordion JS-8900 (continuous) pool-type irradiator had failed to completely lower one of the source racks into the fully safe position at the bottom of the pool. Source rack one was completely lowered into the pool by venting the source hoist air cylinder. The licensee reported that the preliminary root cause seems to be debris in the air system which caused the solenoid to get stuck and prevented the source hoist piston from completely lowering the source rack. The solenoid valve spools were replaced, the source cycled several times, and normal operation continued. There were no exposures as a result of this incident. An investigation into this event is ongoing. Further information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident #: I-9140

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Agreement State Event Number: 49597
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
Region: 1
City: KNOXVILLE State: TN
County:
License #: R-47005-I18
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LAURA TURNER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EQUIPMENT FAILURE INVOLVING A RADQUAL FLEXIBLE RULER

The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:

"Tennessee's Division of Radiological Health was notified on Monday October 28, 2013 by the RSO from the University of Tennessee [UT] Knoxville, regarding the failure of a RadQual BM83-20 flexible ruler Co-57 source. In late October, a UT nuclear medicine technician put down the ruler source, and one of the rubber caps came off. This resulted in three of the metal sources inside coming out. The sources were not leaking and no radiation contamination occurred. It appeared as though the glue from the end caps had failed. The source contained 460 micro-Ci of Co-57. Manufacturer is International Isotopes Idaho, Inc., serial # BM8305710071101. The Radiation Safety Department collected the source to be disposed of in the future."

Tennessee Report ID No.: TN-13-185

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Agreement State Event Number: 49598
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: RbM SERVICES, LLC
Region: 1
City: OAKRIDGE State: TN
County:
License #: R-01104-E17
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LAURA TURNER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 12/02/2013
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED PACKAGE RECEIVED DURING SHIPMENT

The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:

"Tennessee's Division of Radiological Health was notified on Monday, December 2, 2013, by the RSO of RbM Services, regarding a contaminated package containing a Bracco CardioGen-82 generator. At 8:30 a.m. EST, a wipe test revealed 2937 dpm on the package exterior. The contamination was removed and the package was opened. The generator itself was not leaking; no contamination was found. The package was shipped via [a common carrier] and the shipper was G.E. Healthcare. Both were notified. The truck and the driver were surveyed, no contamination was found. The isotope involved is not known at this time. The state will follow-up and keep NRC informed of the status of our investigation."

Tennessee Report ID No.: TN-13-186

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Power Reactor Event Number: 49617
Facility: CLINTON
Region: 3 State: IL
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-6
NRC Notified By: DAN HUNT
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Notification Date: 12/09/2013
Notification Time: 01:15 [ET]
Event Date: 12/08/2013
Event Time: 20:27 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/09/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
Person (Organization):
CHRISTINE LIPA (R3DO)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 M/R Y 97 Power Operation 0 Hot Shutdown

Event Text

MANUAL SCRAM DUE TO LOSS OF DIVISION 1 480 VAC POWER CAUSING LOSS OF INSTRUMENT AIR TO CONTAINMENT AND SCRAM AIR HEADER

While operating at rated electrical power, the station experienced a transformer fault which resulted in a loss of Division 1 480 VAC power. This resulted in the operators inserting a Manual Scram due to loss of Instrument Air to Containment and the scram air header. On the scram, all control rods fully inserted and no safety relief valves lifted. Reactor vessel level is being maintained by normal feedwater and decay heat is being removed via steam to the main condenser through the steam bypass valves. The plant is currently in Mode 3 and proceeding to Mode 4 to comply with Technical Specification requirements. The plant is in a normal shutdown electrical lineup with the exception of the loss of Division 1 480 VAC power.

Reporting in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) due to loss of normal ventilation to secondary containment which resulted in a positive secondary containment pressure for approximately 15 minutes. Secondary Containment required pressure was restored at 2043 CST.

Reporting in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) due to loss of Division 1 480 VAC power resulting in loss of a single train of Low Pressure Core Spray.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 49618
Facility: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR
Region: 4 State: AR
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: DAN BREEDLOVE
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Notification Date: 12/09/2013
Notification Time: 09:20 [ET]
Event Date: 12/09/2013
Event Time: 08:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/09/2013
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
MARK DAPAS (R4RA)
DAN DORMAN (NRR)
SCOTT MORRIS (IRD)
MARK KING (NRR)

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO UNIT 2 AUXILIARY TRANSFORMER EXPLOSION

"At approximately 0748 [CST] on 12/9/2013, an electrical fault occurred resulting in a fire and explosion on the ANO [Arkansas Nuclear One] Unit 2 Unit Auxiliary Transformer. This caused a unit trip and a loss of power to Startup 3 Transformer, which is one of the two offsite power feeds to ANO Unit 2. ANO Unit 2 is currently in a stable shutdown condition. With Startup 3 and Unit Aux Transformer unavailable, power was lost to the Reactor Coolant Pumps and Circulating Water Pumps. RCS [Reactor Coolant System] natural circulation is in progress removing core decay heat. Emergency Feedwater actuated due to low steam generator levels and is supplying both steam generators. The unit is steaming to the atmosphere. 2A-1 and 2A-3 are powered from SU [Startup] 2 Transformer. 2A-4 is powered from 2K-4B Emergency Diesel Generator.

"ANO Unit 1 is currently operating at 98% power. The auto transformer tripped off line with the fault in ANO Unit 2 Unit Auxiliary Transformer. This has caused Startup Transformer 1 to be inoperable. This places ANO Unit 1 in a 72 hour Technical Specification action statement (T.S 3.6.1 for Loss of the SU-1 Transformer).

"No significant injuries were reported as a result of this condition and offsite agencies have been notified.

"At 0800 on 12/9/2013 Unit 2 declared a Notification of Unusual Event based on EAL HU4 Fire or Explosion inside Protected Area not extinguished in 15 minutes.

"At 0917 on 12/9/2013, the fire on Unit 2 Unit Auxiliary Transformer is OUT."

The Licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified DHS SWO, DOE Ops Center, FEMA Ops Center, HHS Ops Center, NICC Watch Officer, USDA Ops Center, EPA EOC, and Nuclear SSA vial email.

* * * UPDATE FROM DAN BREEDLOVE TO VINCE KLCO AT 1336 EST ON 12/9/2013 * * *

At 1215 CST, ANO terminated from the Unusual Event as per HU4 stable plant conditions.

ANO Unit 2 is stable and will be cooled down to Mode 5 via natural circulation and decay heat is being removed via emergency feedwater and downstream dump valves to atmosphere. There is no radiological release and no personnel injuries.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Arkansas Department of Health, and other local authorities.

Notified R4DO (Vasquez), NRR EO (King) and IRC MOC (Morris).

Notified DHS SWO, DOE Ops Center, FEMA Ops Center, HHS Ops Center, NICC Watch Officer, USDA Ops Center, EPA EOC, and Nuclear SSA vial email.

* * * UPDATE FROM ALBERT MARTIN TO VINCE KLCO AT 1812 EST ON 12/9/2013 * * *

"Outside agencies (National Response Center, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Coast Guard) were contacted due to a minor unknown amount of oil that entered the plant discharge to Lake Dardanelle. The oil was from the faulted Unit 2 Unit Auxiliary Transformer. The majority of oil was contained within the containment around the transformer or the oily water separator it drains to. Local inspection revealed only a small amount of what was released actually passed the containment booms that are continuously in place on the discharge canal. The oil boom was verified to be in good condition. The oil was verified to be mineral oil. The release was verified to be terminated. An additional oil boom was deployed. Reference [ANO] Condition Report CR-ANO-C-2013-03071."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified the R4DO (Werner)

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Power Reactor Event Number: 49619
Facility: FARLEY
Region: 2 State: AL
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: JOHN ANDREWS
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 12/09/2013
Notification Time: 10:19 [ET]
Event Date: 12/09/2013
Event Time: 09:06 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/09/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
ANTHONY MASTERS (R2DO)

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

SMOKE DETECTION PANEL REMOVED FROM SERVICE FOR PLANNED MAINTENANCE

"At 0906 CST on December 9, 2013, the Unit 1 pyro panel (smoke detection panel) was removed from service for planned repairs. The pyro panel is expected to be out of service for approximately 8 hours. Viable compensatory measures have been established for all affected areas except the Unit 1 Containment Building. Since a fire in Containment is an entry condition for the site's Emergency Plan, this is considered a loss of emergency assessment capability and is being reported per 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii). Containment temperatures are being monitored while the pyro panel is out of service, however this is not considered a satisfactory compensatory measure for maintaining an effective assessment capability.

"A follow-up notification will be provided upon restoration of Containment Building smoke detection capability.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * UPDATE FROM JOHN ANDREWS TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1345 EST ON 12/9/13 * * *

"The Unit 1 pyro panel (smoke detection panel) has been returned to service after planned repairs. The loss of emergency assessment capability reported per 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii) has been restored. The NRC Resident [Inspector] will be notified of the update."

Notified R2DO (Masters).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021