Event Notification Report for October 17, 2016

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
10/14/2016 - 10/17/2016

** EVENT NUMBERS **

 
52281 52282 52284 52286 52287 52297

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Agreement State Event Number: 52281
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: CHEMTURA CORPORATION
Region: 3
City: MAPLETON State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01314-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAREN PERRERO
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 10/06/2016
Notification Time: 13:24 [ET]
Event Date: 10/04/2016
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/06/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
ANN MARIE STONE (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK CLOSED SHUTTER ON FIXED RADIOACTIVE GAUGE

The following information was obtained from the State of Illinois via email:

"On October 4, [2016], the licensee's radiation safety officer contacted the Agency [Illinois Emergency Management Agency] to report a defective fixed gauge. While performing routine operational checks of fixed gauges at the site, the shutter on a device appears to have become disconnected from its handle and will not operate properly. It was determined from radiation measurements that the shutter is currently in the 'closed' position. Radiation levels are less than 2 mR/h surrounding the device and it is in an area that is routinely inaccessible. The gauge is mounted on a reaction process vessel and is subject to the ambient weather conditions with no prior operational issues for 27 years until now. Arrangements are pending with a manufacturer's representative to investigate the matter and repair/replace the device.

"Source/Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE GAUGE
Radionuclide: Cs-137, 0.064 Ci, 2.368 GBq
Manufacturer: VEGA AMERICAS, INC.
Model Number: A-2102
Serial Number: M3107
IAEA Category: 4"

Illinois Report No.: IL16009

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Agreement State Event Number: 52282
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: C. Y. GEOTECH, INC.
Region: 4
City: CHATSWORTH State: CA
County:
License #: 6617-19
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DONALD OESTERLE
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 10/06/2016
Notification Time: 13:21 [ET]
Event Date: 10/05/2016
Event Time: 16:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/06/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)
 
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT: STOLEN NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE

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

"At 1600 [PDT] on October 5, 2016, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for C. Y. Geotech Inc. reported to RHB [Radiation Health Branch] that one of their nuclear density gauges (CPN model MC-1DR-P; #MD90404953 containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 and 50 mCi of Am-241/Be) had been stolen from a temporary job site. RHB informed the RSO to file a police report and place a notice into the local newspaper offering a reward for information leading to the safe return of the gauge. The RSO will require the gauge operator to make a report of exactly what happened and specifically if the Cs-137 handle was locked in the safe mode.

"The gauge was not discovered missing until the morning of October 5, 2016 and the operator returned to look for the gauge. The RSO posted a lost gauge sign at the job site notifying personnel of the loss of the gauge and C. Y. Geotech's contact information for its safe return.

"On Oct. 4, 2016, around 1300 [PDT], the gauge operator had finished his work with the CPN gauge and was completing paperwork at his vehicle. He forgot about the gauge and failed to secure it into the transport case before departing the job site. He believes he left the gauge on the curbside. The gauge had been recently leak tested in May 2016."

5010 Number: 100416

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

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Non-Agreement State Event Number: 52284
Rep Org: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Licensee: VA PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Region: 4
City: PALO ALTO State: CA
County:
License #: 03-23853-01VA
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CRAIG ADAMS
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 10/06/2016
Notification Time: 16:06 [ET]
Event Date: 09/26/2014
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/06/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
35.3045(a)(1) - DOSE <> PRESCRIBED DOSAGE
Person (Organization):
ANN MARIE STONE (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

PRESCRIBED DOSAGE INCORRECTLY WRITTEN

"This is a notification, pursuant to 10 CFR 35.3045(a)(1), of a medical event that occurred on September 26, 2014, at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California.

"On September 26, 2014, a dosage of about 110 microCuries (æCi) of radium-223 dichloride was administered to a patient. The prescribed dosage on the written directive was incorrectly written by the authorized user physician as 113.8 milliCuries (mCi). The basis for identifying this as a medical event is that the administered dosage differed from the prescribed dosage, as written on the written directive, by more than 20 percent. The authorized user physician was interviewed and stated that the intended prescription for injection was 113.8 æCi of radium-223 dichloride. Another authorized user physician, the Chief, Nuclear Medicine Service, who administered the dosage, confirmed that this was an appropriate dosage for this patient. No harm to the patient is expected since the treatment was successfully performed with the administration of a dosage nearly identical to the intended dosage. The medical event was discovered October 5, 2016, during an unannounced inspection of this facility conducted by the National Health Physics Program (NHPP). The permittee is required to submit a written report to NHPP within 15 days of discovery. NHPP will, in turn submit the report to NRC per regulatory requirements. The NHPP inspection is ongoing to determine overall compliance with 10 CFR 35.40, 10 CFR 35.41, and 10 CFR 35.3045."

A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

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Agreement State Event Number: 52286
Rep Org: VIRGINIA RAD MATERIALS PROGRAM
Licensee: GLOBAL GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANTS
Region: 1
City: FAIRFAX State: VA
County:
License #: 153-619-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CHARLES COLEMAN
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 10/07/2016
Notification Time: 13:09 [ET]
Event Date: 10/06/2016
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/07/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JON LILLIENDAHL (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was received via facsimile:

"On October 6, 2016, at approximately 0200 EDT, a loader backed over the licensee's portable gauge during work in Fairfax County, Virginia. The gauge was a Troxler Model 3400, s/n 31366, with an 8 millicurie cesium-137 source, s/n 750-6052, and a 40 millicurie americium-241:Be source, s/n 47-28023. The operator secured the gauge and cordoned the accident area. Radiation surveys by the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer confirmed the sources were in their shielded positions and that no contamination resulted from the accident. The damaged gauge has been shipped to a licensed service provider for repair."

Virginia Event Report ID No.: VA-16-014

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!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Agreement State Event Number: 52287
Rep Org: MISSISSIPPI DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: WEYERHAEUSER NR COMPANY, COLUMBUS CELLULAR FIBERS
Region: 4
City: COLUMBUS State: MS
County:
License #: MS-468-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JAYSON MOAK
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 10/07/2016
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 10/07/2016
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/13/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER ON FIXED RADIOACTIVE GAUGE

The following information was obtained from the state of Mississippi via email:

"Licensee's RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] notified DRH [Mississippi Division of Radiation Health] on 10/7/2016 that a Berthold Model LB7440D level/density gauge had a stuck shutter. The shutter malfunction was discovered while performing a calibration for the gauge. The gauge is located twelve (12) foot off the ground and away from any personnel. The licensee contacted Berthold for repair of the shutter mechanism on 10/7/2016."

The gauge serial number is 69-0545, containing 30 mCi of Cs-137; source model P2623-100; source serial number 2762; last swipe tested on 9/30/16. The source was manufactured in September of 1992.

Mississippi Report number: MS-16005

* * * RETRACTION FROM JAYSON MOAK TO STEVEN VITTO ON 10/13/2016 AT 1204 EDT * * *

The following information was obtained from the state of Mississippi via email:

"On 10/10/2016, the licensee reported that the gauge shutter was not stuck. Licensee stated the shutter was hard to open and close. The gauge service company was called in to replace the shutter mechanism on the gauge to prevent a possible stuck shutter."

Notified R4DO (Gepford) and NMSS Events Resource via email.

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Power Reactor Event Number: 52297
Facility: HARRIS
Region: 2 State: NC
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: TASHA STEPHENS
HQ OPS Officer: STEVEN VITTO
Notification Date: 10/15/2016
Notification Time: 15:46 [ET]
Event Date: 10/15/2016
Event Time: 08:57 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/16/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) - DEGRADED CONDITION
Person (Organization):
FRANK EHRHARDT (R2DO)
 
Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N N 0 Refueling 0 Refueling

Event Text

REACTOR VESSEL HEAD PENETRATION NOZZLE FLAW

"On October 15, 2016, while the Harris Nuclear Plant was shut down for a scheduled refueling outage, the reactor vessel head penetrations were being examined in accordance with the lnservice Inspection Program. Ultrasonic examinations identified a flaw in a head penetration nozzle. The unit is in a safe and stable condition. The flaw will be repaired prior to startup from the refueling outage.

"The flaw and repair have no impact on the health and safety of the public or station employees.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

The flaw is located on the J groove weld of Nozzle 40. No boric acid deposits were located near the nozzle.


* * * UPDATE FROM JOHN CAVES TO STEVEN VITTO ON 10/16/2016 AT 1549 EDT * * *

"Subsequent inspections identified an additional nozzle that will require repairs (Nozzle 51) prior to startup. Inspections continue and are expected to be completed by October 18. The additional inspection indication and repair have no impact on the health and safety of the public or station employees.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

The flaw is located on the J groove weld. No boric acid deposits were located near the nozzle.

Notified R2DO(Ehrhardt).


* * * UPDATE FROM JOHN CAVES TO STEVEN VITTO ON 10/16/2016 AT 1844 EDT * * *

"Subsequent inspections identified an additional nozzle that will require repairs (Nozzle 30) prior to startup. Inspections continue and are expected to be completed by October 18. The additional inspection indication and repair have no impact on the health and safety of the public or station employees.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Notified R2DO(Ehrhardt).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021