Event Notification Report for February 18, 2016

PART 21 - CONTACTOR MAKING NOISE

The following was received via fax:

"Initial notification of a potential 10 CFR Part 21 condition.

"Pursuant to the rules of 10 CFR 21.21 this initial notification is being submitted to the NRC to identify a potential reportable condition that is currently under evaluation.

"FPL [Florida Power & Light] Turkey Point has identified a contactor that was making a considerable amount of noise that was not expected. The unit was continuing to functionally operate, however the source of the noise is cause for investigation.

"The contactors are a non-standard Size 3 and Size 4 Freedom Series Starter/Contactor. These units are currently under evaluation and review by NLI [Nuclear Logistics Inc.] to determine the root cause of the identified condition to determine if the contactor contains a defect.

"To date there have been no reported failures of this item to perform the intended safety function. These components were first supplied in September 2002 to Duke Oconee with no reported issues identified. The units reported by FPL Turkey point were supplied in May and December 2011. They have been installed into other facilities including the Duke Shearon Harris plant in December 2013. Although the increased noise is undesirable, it is not presenting a significant condition adverse to quality that could create a substantial safety hazard. Preliminary testing has confirmed that the safety related performance characteristics have not been degraded. However, due to the number of utilities which may have these components in service, this notification is being submitted to identify the condition to the industry.

"NLI plans to have the completed report submitted by 3/15/2016."

* * * RETRACTION FROM TRACY BOLT TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1847 EST ON 2/26/16 * * *

This retraction is a brief summary from a report received from Nuclear Logistics Inc. via email:

"This retraction is being submitted to the NRC to provide additional information for the initial notification provided on 2/18/2016. After evaluating the identified condition, it has determined that there is no defect within the contactor that if left uncorrected would create a substantial safety hazard. This issue is not considered reportable per the rules of 10 CFR Part 21."

Notified R1DO (Ferdas), R2DO (Shaeffer), R3DO (Stone), R4DO (Whitten), and Part 21/50.55 Reactors via email.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TWO UNUSED PROCESS GAUGES SENT TO SCRAP YARD

International Paper performed an inventory of their sources and realized that while performing demolition work at their facility, two unused process gauges were removed from the site. The removal of the gauges was outside the scope of the demolition work. The two process gauges were located on long poles, were removed from the site using a crane, and were sent to a nearby scrap yard. The South Carolina Division of Health and Environmental Control sent an inspector to the scrap yard and he was able to find and recover both gauges. The shutter on one gauge had remained closed and the second gauge shutter was partially open and reading 50 mR/hour on contact. The first gauge was recovered at 1220 EST and the second gauge was recovered at 1315 EST and the shutter was shut. Wipe tests on both gauges were negative. The gauges were returned to International Paper and are locked in a secure location. No personnel exposures were expected from this incident.

Gauges:
Cs-137
50 mCi each (in 1988)
TN Tech Model 5219
Serial Numbers: TNB61 and TNB64

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST DENSITY GAUGE

The following was received from Texas via email:

"On February 22, 2016, the Agency [Texas] received notice that while under reciprocity in Louisiana, the licensee had lost a Thermo Fisher model 5192 (sn B8191) with 200 milicuries of Cesium-137 (sn 5854CP). Exposure to the public is unlikely due to the design of the device. It is not known whether the device was lost or stolen. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is conducting the investigation. Addition information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

The device was lost in Louisiana but reported to Texas by a Texas licensee. The state of Texas notified the state of Louisiana and the NRC. Louisiana will conduct an investigation of the issue.

Texas Incident # I-9380

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