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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 February 16, 2017

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
02/15/2017 - 02/16/2017

** EVENT NUMBERS **


52538 52540 52541 52552

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Agreement State Event Number: 52538
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: COLORADO DEPT OF CORRECTIONS STERLING CORRECTIONAL
Region: 4
City: STERLING State: CO
County:
License #: GL
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LINDA BARTISH
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK 		Notification Date: 02/08/2017
Notification Time: 12:21 [ET]
Event Date: 02/07/2017
Event Time: 12:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/10/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
GREG WARNICK (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS

The following information was received via e-mail:

"Detail: The general license section of the Radioactive Materials Program sent out the annual notification requesting response regarding tritium exit signs reported in use at the location given by the manufacturer. Upon an audit of the annual mailing for non-responders, Colorado Dept of Corrections - Sterling Correctional was contacted. The contact at Sterling Correctional explained they conducted an inspection of the property and were not able to find any of the exit signs ordered from SRB Technologies still in use. It is unknown what occurred with the Tritium exit signs since 16 years have passed. The contact was not able to confirm if the tritium exit signs were ever installed in the building.

"SRB Technologies was contacted to obtain information from a purchase order number provided on the manufacturer report. No response has been received. The information on the manufactures report shows the ship to address as Holcomb & Hoke MFG CO. Inc. In trying to contact them it was discovered the business had closed several years ago. When the tritium signs were shipped to them the company was manufacturing movable walls/panels for large spaces. Note: companies who make movable walls will install tritium exit signs in the wall prior to shipping to end user.

"The lost tritium exit signs are model # BX-10-WH, Serial Numbers 243257 thru 243261, 5 signs, Isotope H-3, Activity 10 Curies, Shipped 07/06/2001.
No further information is obtainable.

"The Colorado Dept of Corrections is being asked to supply a corrective action with policy and procedure should any additional signs are ordered.

"Event Report ID No.: CO17-0004"


* * * UPDATE FROM LINDA BARTISH TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1553 EST ON 2/10/2017 * * *

The following information was received via E-mail:

"After contacting the Colorado Sterling Correctional Facility and explaining we [Colorado Department of Health] needed a corrective action regarding how they will track additional remaining tritium exit signs and asking for a safety policy and procedure guide, I guess the plant manager decided to go and see if they actually had any of the movable wall in the facility. As it turns out he did find the area with the walls and the 5 Tritium Exit Signs.

"They are now in the process of taking the signs out to return to the manufacturer.

"Case Closed."

Notified R4DO (Warnick) and NMSS Events Notification.

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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Agreement State Event Number: 52540
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: MEDI PHYSICS INC
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: 05517
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GENTRY HEARN
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK 		Notification Date: 02/08/2017
Notification Time: 13:28 [ET]
Event Date: 02/08/2017
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
GREG WARNICK (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED PACKAGES

The following report was received via e-mail:

"On February 8, 2016, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee (a nuclear pharmacy) that three packages received were contaminated with radioactive material. The contamination does not seem to have come from the contents of the packages themselves, the receiving facility, or the origin facility. Additional information will be shared as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

* * * UPDATE ON 2/8/17 AT 1655 EST FROM GENTRY HEARN TO DONG PARK * * *

The following report was received via e-mail:

"On February 8, 2016, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] dispatched an inspector to the licensee's facility to investigate. No additional contamination was found in the licensee's facility. No likely sources of contamination for the packages were identified. The truck and driver that had delivered the packages was intercepted by the shipper and redirected back to the licensee's facility. The truck and driver were surveyed for fixed and removable contamination. No contamination was found on the truck, driver, or associated equipment. Additional information will be shared as is received in accordance with SA-300.

"Texas Incident #: I - 9462"

Notified R4DO (Warnick) and NMSS Events Notifications via email.

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Agreement State Event Number: 52541
Rep Org: KENTUCKY DEPT OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: BIG RIVERS ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Region: 1
City: WEST CENTERTOWN State: KY
County:
License #: 201-208-56
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ERIC PERRY
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK 		Notification Date: 02/08/2017
Notification Time: 14:37 [ET]
Event Date: 02/08/2017
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FAILURE OF FIXED GAUGE MOUNTING SYSTEM

The following report was received from the Kentucky Department of Public Health and Safety, Radiation Health Branch via email:

"Licensee discovered fixed gauge had become dismounted from associated equipment due to failed mounting system. RSO supervised placing gauge in safe condition which included closing the shutter mechanism and placing the gauge in secure storage. The licensee does not suspect any radiation related injuries or exposures; however, they are still investigating."

KY Event Report ID No.: KY170001

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Power Reactor Event Number: 52552
Facility: SUSQUEHANNA
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: LONNIE CRAWFORD
HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE 		Notification Date: 02/15/2017
Notification Time: 18:10 [ET]
Event Date: 02/15/2017
Event Time: 13:37 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/15/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL
 Person (Organization):
RAY MCKINLEY (R1DO)

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 94 Power Operation 94 Power Operation

Event Text

LOSS OF SECONDARY CONTAINMENT DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE

"On February 15, 2017 at 1337 [EST], Secondary Containment Zone 1 (Unit 1 Reactor Building) differential pressure lowered to 0 inches WG [Water Gauge] due to a trip of the running Unit 1 B Filtered Exhaust Fan. Required differential pressure per SR [Surveillance Requirement] 3.6.4.1.1 could not be maintained. Zone 1 differential pressure recovered to greater than 0.25 inches WG less than one minute later after start of the standby Zone 1 Filtered Exhaust Fan. Zone 2 (Unit 2 Reactor Building) and Zone 3 (Common Areas of Unit 1&2 Reactor Buildings) ventilation remained in service and stable.

"This event is being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) and per the guidance of NUREG-1022, Rev 3 section 3.2.7 as a loss of a Safety Function. There is no redundant Susquehanna Secondary Containment System."

Post-maintenance testing was underway when the fan tripped. While the investigation is on-going to determine the cause, the licensee does not believe the maintenance or testing caused the fan to trip

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021