Event Notification Report for August 09, 2016

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNPLANNED FIRE WITHIN LICENSE AREA

The following is an excerpt from a report received from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality via email:

"A fire occurred within the Mestena Uranium LLC License Area in the vicinity of PAA-3 on August 9, 2016. The fire was discovered at approximately 1545 CDT by US Border Patrol agents who were conducting activities in the vicinity. Mestena personnel discovered the fire at about the same and upon investigation determined the fire required additional support at which time the local fire department was notified and arrived on site at approximately 1620 CDT to battle the fire.

"Fire crews declared the fire out/controlled by 2000 [CDT]. No injuries occurred during the firefighting activities.

"[The licensee] contacted [The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] by telephone at approximately 2110 [CDT] to inform [them] that the fire was declared out and that an investigation into the fire will be initiated which will include follow-up actions required to remediate any impacts caused by the fire.

"The fire burned approximately 60 acres, most of which was within the PAA-3 Mine Area. The fire damaged or destroyed surface infrastructure associated with the in-situ mining activities permitted under UIC permit UR03060PA3.

"As a precaution, high volume air samples were collected while the firefighting was occurring. Samples were collected from downwind locations along the perimeter of the fire zone. Additional samples were collected on August 10th . Bioassay samples were also collected from individuals who participated in the firefighting activities.

"A written report that conforms to 30 TAC 336.335(c)(2) will be submitted to TCEQ [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] within 30 days."

Texas State Event Report ID No.: Not assigned yet

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO OIL SHEEN IN COOLING TOWER BASIN

"On 8/09/2016 at 1415 EDT, TVA [Tennessee Valley Authority] notified the National Response Center that Watts Bar Nuclear [WBN] Plant has noted an oil sheen in the Unit 2 Cooling Tower Basin. An oil sheen was observed within the Unit 2 Cooling Tower Basin at WBN. The sheen did not cover the entire cooling tower basin. The sheen covered approximately 4 square feet. No oil sheen was visible in the yard holding ponds or Tennessee river from the bank above the diffuser pipes. Notifications were also made to TEMA [Tennessee Emergency Management Agency]. Oil levels from the suspected source did not indicate any change in oil reservoir levels.

"Unit 1 remains in Mode 1 at 85 [percent] power - reduced power due to main condenser back pressure limits. Unit 2 remains in Mode 1 at 25 [percent] power - initial startup testing.

"This event is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) as a condition that was reported to an outside Government Agency.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIXED NUCLEAR GAUGE STUCK SHUTTER

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

"On August 10, 2016, The Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee that during a daily inspection, the shutter on an Ohmart Vega SH-F1 nuclear gauge could not be operated. The gauge contains a 10 millicurie (original activity) source. The shutter is operated by an pneumatic operator. The operating mechanism is located inside a steel box to help prevent foreign material from interfering with the shutter operation. It appears that over time, moisture was being trapped in the box causing the operating rod connecting pin to rust and break. The shutter cannot be moved. It is in the open position which is the normal operating position for the shutter. A service company has been contacted and will be on-site on August 11, 2016, to repair the gauge. The gauge does not present an exposure hazard to the licensee's workers or members of the general public. Addition information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident #: I9424

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST I-125 SOURCE

The following was received from the State of Georgia via e-mail:

"The Georgia Radiation Materials Program received a call from the [Radiation Safety Officer] RSO from Grady Memorial Hospital on August 12, 2016, stating the [200 microCurie] I-125 seed used for localization of non-palpable lesions was lost. The doctor performing the procedure stated the seed went into the tube of the suction tank. A survey of the suction tank, hallways and operating room did not uncover the lost source. The tissue, removed from the patient, which was transferred to pathology, also did not contain the source. The surveys of the hallway and operating room were performed after the hospital was notified. The RSO recommends bringing the patient back in the hospital to be surveyed to verify if the source was ever removed from the patient. At the time of the call, the RSO has been unable to speak to the doctor. The doctor is a surgeon and not an authorized user. The RSO stated the tube to the suction tank cannot be found and it may have made its way into the biohazard container. The RSO will follow-up with the biohazard department to see if the tube can be traced down so the tube can be surveyed to determine if the source became lodged within it. The RSO is also trying to follow-up with the doctor for more information."

NMED Report ID: 160362

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