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 October 5, 2016

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
10/04/2016 - 10/05/2016

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 52263
Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: BRYCE CORPORATION Region: 4 City: SEARCY State: AR County: License #: ARK-0819-0312 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: STEVE MACK HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO	Notification Date: 09/26/2016 Notification Time: 16:14 [ET] Event Date: 09/22/2016 Event Time: [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/26/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): JEREMY GROOM (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHUTTER ON DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the State of Arkansas via email:

"On September 23, 2016 at 1300 CDT, the licensee contacted the Department [Arkansas Department of Health] reporting that during operations on September 22, 2016, the licensee discovered that the shutter on a Vega Americas Model BAL density gauge would not open. The gauge contains 300 milliCuries of Krypton-85.

"The gauge was replaced with a spare gauge and has been placed in a secure storage area and radiation exposure is maintained at less than 2 mR/hr.

"The licensee is contacting the manufacturer to request repair or disposal of the gauge.

"In accordance with RH-1502.f.2 (10 CFR 30.50(b)(2)) the malfunctioning shutter is reportable within 24 hours.

"The State of Arkansas is awaiting a written report from the licensee. The State's event number is AR-2016-011."

Agreement State	Event Number: 52265
Rep Org: KENTUCKY DEPT OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: GEM ENGINEERING, INC. Region: 1 City: LOUISVILLE State: KY County: License #: 201-642-51 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHRISTOPHER KEFFER HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH	Notification Date: 09/27/2016 Notification Time: 12:52 [ET] Event Date: 09/26/2016 Event Time: [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/27/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): WILLIAM COOK (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

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

Event Text

KENTUCKY AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN THEN RECOVERED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Kentucky via facsimile:

"KY RHB [Kentucky Department for Public Health & Safety, Radiation Health Branch] was notified on September 27th, 2016 by the Radiation Safety Officer of Gem Engineering, Inc. that a theft of material had occurred sometime during the night of September 26th unto the morning of the 27th. A Troxler 3411 series moisture density gauge that was stored in the back of a vehicle was stolen along with the vehicle. The licensee reported the theft to the police on the morning of the 27th when it was noticed by the authorized user that the vehicle was missing. The device has been recovered by police and returned to the licensee. The individuals responsible have been apprehended as well. The State will continue to keep NRC informed of the status of our investigation."

The Troxler contains a nominal 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of AmBe.

KY Event Report ID No.: KY160008

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: 52279
Facility: COOPER Region: 4 State: NE Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-4 NRC Notified By: ARIC HARRIS HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA	Notification Date: 10/04/2016 Notification Time: 18:16 [ET] Event Date: 10/04/2016 Event Time: 15:30 [CDT] Last Update Date: 10/04/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE	Person (Organization): GREG WERNER (R4DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	N	0	Refueling	0	Refueling

Event Text

COOPER NUCLEAR STATION LOSS OF TONE ALERT RADIOS

"At 1530 CDT on I0/4/20l6, Cooper Nuclear Station was notified by the National Weather Service that the Shubert radio transmission tower was not functioning. This affects the tone alert radios used to notify the public in the event of an emergency condition. This is considered to be a major loss of the Public Prompt Notification System capability, and is reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii).

"Nemaha County, NE, Richardson County, NE, and Atchison County, MO authorities within the 10 mile EPZ [Emergency Planning Zone] were notified by Cooper Nuclear Station of the condition and the effect on the tone alert radios. The first county was notified at 1540 CDT and the last was notified at 1550 CDT. A backup notification method will be utilized. Notification of other government agencies makes this condition reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi).

"Estimated return to service time is unknown. The cause of failure is unknown.

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been informed."

Power Reactor	Event Number: 52280
Facility: SAINT LUCIE Region: 2 State: FL Unit: [1] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE NRC Notified By: JACK BREEN HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 10/04/2016 Notification Time: 23:18 [ET] Event Date: 10/04/2016 Event Time: 22:53 [EDT] Last Update Date: 10/04/2016
Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT 10 CFR Section: 50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): BRIAN BONSER (R2DO) JEFFERY GRANT (IRD) CATHY HANEY (R2RA) BRIAN McDERMOTT (NRR)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	N	0	Refueling	0	Refueling
2	N	Y	100	Power Operation	100	Power Operation

Event Text

UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO A HURRICANE WARNING

"A Hurricane Warning is in effect for St. Lucie County including the Plant Site. A Hurricane Warning was issued by the National Weather Service at 2250 [EDT}. St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant entered an Unusual Event Classification for the Hurricane Warning. State and local officials have been notified by the licensee.

"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this by the licensee.

"This report is submitted in accordance with 10CFR50.72(a)(1)(i) due to the Notice of Unusual Event and 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) due to the Offsite Notification."

Notified DHS SWO, FEMA OPS Center, FEMA National Watch (email only), DHS NICC, Nuclear SSA (email only).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021