Alert

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Event Notification Report for July 20, 2016

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
07/19/2016 - 07/20/2016

** EVENT NUMBERS **

52081

52106

Agreement State	Event Number: 52081
Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: METRIC ENGINEERING Region: 1 City: MIAMI State: FL County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KELLIE ANDERSON HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 07/12/2016 Notification Time: 16:41 [ET] Event Date: 07/12/2016 Event Time: [EDT] Last Update Date: 07/12/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): MARC FERDAS (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

A Troxler moisture density gauge was stolen overnight from a locked overpack in a truck. The gauge contained both Am-241 and Cs-137 sources. The licensee contacted local law enforcement. Gauge serial number: 34700

Florida Incident: FL16-079

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

Power Reactor	Event Number: 52106
Facility: SOUTH TEXAS Region: 4 State: TX Unit: [1] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: DANIEL TURKASZ HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 07/19/2016 Notification Time: 17:58 [ET] Event Date: 07/13/2016 Event Time: 11:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 07/19/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)

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

EXERCISE PRESS RELEASES AIRED ON RADIO AS AN ACTUAL EVENT

"During the planned NRC/FEMA evaluated drill exercise on 7/13/16, two press releases written in the Joint Information Center (JIC) were published in the Public Information and Emergency Response (PIER) system without 'THIS IS A DRILL' denoted at the top of the page. The original press release was stamped with 'THIS IS A DRILL' at the top of page 1 and at the bottom of page 2. When it was added into the PIER system for publication/faxing, it was not noticed the top of the document denoting 'THIS IS A DRILL' was cut off.

"The local radio station affiliate was not aware of STP's [South Texas Project's] exercise on 7/13/16. As a result, the affiliate station thought it was a real event and read the press releases over the airwaves at 1014 [CDT] and again at 1046 [CDT].

"At approximately 1400 [CDT] on the same day, the radio station told their listening audience of the mistake and stated STP was having a training exercise not a real event. The correction was broadcast over the airwaves three times every hour until midnight.

"This unplanned media event is being reported in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi). This event is not significant with respect to the health and safety of the public."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021