| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
04/28/2016 - 04/29/2016 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 51873 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: THERMO FISHER (THERMO FINNIGAN LLC)
Region: 4
City: AUSTIN State: TX
County:
License #: 01186
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 04/20/2016
Notification Time: 15:44 [ET]
Event Date: 04/20/2016
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/20/2016 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
CNSNS (MEXICO) (FAX)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POLONIUM 210 SOURCE MISPLACED
The following report was received via email:
"On April 20, 2016 an employee Thermo Fisher (Thermo Finnigan LLC-Round Rock, Texas) reported that an anti-static nozzle containing polonium 210 had been misplaced at his facility. The activity of the source was 10 mCi (serial number A2JY896). The source was inside the spray nozzle control which screws onto the spray gun used for electronic cleaning. During the process of collecting the nozzles to return to manufacture it was found that one was missing. A company wide search is in progress to find the missing source. More information will be sent as obtained from the licensee."
Texas Incident #: I 9390
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: 51876 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 04/21/2016
Notification Time: 21:19 [ET]
Event Date: 04/21/2016
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/25/2016 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
DANIEL COLLINS (NMSS)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIATION LEVEL ON PACKAGE GREATER THAN LIMITS
The following information was obtained from the State of Texas via email:
"On April 21, 2016, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was contacted by the Environmental Protection Agency in response to a notice it had received regarding excessive dose rates coming from a package in shipment. The package was being carried by [a common carrier] and was located at one of its facility in Houston, Texas. The Agency contacted the radiation safety officer (RSO) for [the common carrier]. He stated they had been informed by Customs and Border Patrol that one of their packages was reading higher than expected and they had responded. The RSO stated their surveys indicated dose rates at three feet were 41 mrem per hour and 7 rem per hour on contact with the package. The RSO stated their surveys were not consistent with the dose rates reported by Customs. The RSO stated the package contained a 2.79 (11.84 original activity) curie iridium 192 source being returned to the manufacturer. The source was from a high dose rate after loader being returning from outside the United States. The shipping container was opened and the source was found sitting on top of the shield. The source was placed in a different shield and returned to a safe storage location.
"While the shipper was investigating the event, a person inside the facility called 911. When the hazmat team arrived they performed a radiation survey and decided the dose rates warranted evacuating all the workers from the building. The building was evacuated for more than an hour, but less than two hours.
"[The common carrier] is investigating the event and any possible exposures to their workers. The RSO stated he did not believe any individual of the general public would have exceeded any limits. The RSO and this Agency has scheduled a call on April 22, 2016, to exchange additional information. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident No.: I-9391
* * * UPDATE AT 0907 EDT ON 04/25/16 FROM ART TUCKER TO S. SANDIN VIA EMAIL * * *
"The Agency contacted the Houston Texas Hazmat Team leader (HTL). They stated their surveys at 200 feet indicated the radiation readings were background. The HTL stated when they arrived the bucket containing the source was on a pallet held in place with plastic wrap and a cinch strap. The HML stated the bucket containing the source was the only item on the pallet. The Hazmat Team (HMT) removed the plastic wrap from the bucket and removed the bucket from the pallet. The bucket (containing the source) was then placed in a 30 gallon container. The container was filled with a dry material containing clay. That container was sealed and placed in a 55 gallon drum. The 55 gallon drum was filled with water and the top placed on the drum. The manufacturer's representative who retrieved the source was contacted. They stated dose rate on the side of the 55 gallon drum was 7 rem/hr (this dose rate was reported as on the side of the package in the initial report.) The dose rate on the top of the source container (package) was 15 rem/hr. He stated he noted the end of the drive cable near and past the source had been damaged. He found that the source was not inside the shield and both security seals were missing from the shipping container."
Notified R4DO (Groom) and NMSS Events Notification via email. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 51889 | Facility: MILLSTONE
Region: 1 State: CT
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-3,[2] CE,[3] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL GAGNON
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 04/28/2016
Notification Time: 00:15 [ET]
Event Date: 04/27/2016
Event Time: 20:07 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/28/2016 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(B) - POT RHR INOP
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DWYER (R1DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text HIGH ENERGY LINE BREAK DOOR DISCOVERED OPEN
"On April 27, 2016 at 20:07 [EDT], a high energy line break (HELB) door between the turbine driven auxiliary feedwater pump and the motor driven auxiliary feedwater pump rooms was discovered open and unattended. In the event of a HELB, this condition could have rendered both trains of auxiliary feedwater inoperable. The boundary was not operable for approximately 1 hour. Upon discovery, the door was closed restoring the boundary.
"This event is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) as any event or condition that alone could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of structures or systems that are needed to: (B) Remove residual heat; and (D) Mitigate the consequences of an accident.
"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified."
The Licensee notified the Connecticut DEEP and Waterford Dispatch. | |