| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
11/16/2017 - 11/17/2017 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 52235 | Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: EVERGREEN PACKAGING, INC.
Region: 4
City: PINE BLUFF State: AR
County: JEFFERSON
License #: ARK-0042-0312
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEVE MACK
HQ OPS Officer: STEVEN VITTO | Notification Date: 09/12/2016
Notification Time: 15:03 [ET]
Event Date: 09/09/2016
Event Time: 14:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/16/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
RAY AZUA (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MALFUNCTIONING SHUTTER ON DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was provided by the State of Arkansas via email:
"During routine shutter checks performed by the licensee on September 9, 2016, the licensee noted higher than normal readings when closing the shutter on a Ohmart Model SH-100 BS, weight gauge. The gauge contains 50 milliCuries of Cesium-137.
"The gauge is in a secure storage area and radiation exposure is maintained at less than 2 mR/hr.
"The licensee has contacted the supplier and requested disposal as the gauge in question was in storage and not being used.
"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 and final disposition information for the gauge. The State's event number is AR-2016-010. "
The Licensee notified the State of Arkansas of the event on September 9, 2016, at 1430 CDT.
* * * UPDATE FROM STEVE MACK TO DONALD NORWOOD VIA E-MAIL AT 1606 EST ON 11/16/2017 * * *
The following information was received via E-mail:
"Upon examination by the licensee's RSO it was determined that the shielding material for the gauge had been slid past the detent or retaining pins until it was removed for the source holder. This is part of the design of these gauges. The RSO returned the shielding material to the normal operating position, engaging the retaining pins and the gauge is now shielded. The shutter is working as designed.
"The Department considers this event to be closed."
Notified R4DO (KOZAL) and NMSS EVENTS NOTIFICATION. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 53062 | Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: NOT SPECIFIED
Region: 3
City: AKRON State: OH
County:
License #: GENERAL LICEN
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEPHEN JAMES
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 11/08/2017
Notification Time: 15:06 [ET]
Event Date: 09/02/2017
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 11/08/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
CNSC (CANADA) (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MATERIAL STOLEN AND NOT RECOVERED
The following information was received from the State of Ohio via email:
"A local Health District employee had a Niton Xlp 300 XRF with a 50 mCi Cadmium-109 source stolen overnight on Saturday, September 2, 2017. It was in the car in their garage and someone came in and took it. The employee had worked late at a job site that day and brought the gauge home instead of returning to the office. Employee's garage door did not close for some reason that night and they were unaware that it was open when they went to bed. There were several other cars broken into that night in employee's neighborhood. A report was filed with local police department. Device has not yet been recovered."
Source/Radioactive Material: Sealed Source; Radionuclide: Cd-109; Activity: 50mCi; Device Name: X-RAY Fluorescence (XRF); Model Number: Niton XLp 300; Manufacturer: Thermo Scientific Analytical; Serial Number: 98149.
Ohio Item Number: OH170007
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 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 53063 | Rep Org: NV DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
Region: 4
City: LAS VEGAS State: NV
County:
License #: 03-13-0305-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL SCHMIDT
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 11/08/2017
Notification Time: 19:10 [ET]
Event Date: 11/07/2017
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 11/08/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JEREMY GROOM (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
DENNIS ALLSTON (emai (ILTA)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST URANIUM SOURCE
"The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, phoned to report a missing/lost source of 3 microcuries of U-235, 90% enriched, 1.4 grams, form metallic (non-dispersible). The source package was received and surveyed on 10/30/2017, surface 90microrad/hr and 11microrad/hr at 1 meter. The source was then delivered to the Office of the Professor who ordered the source where it sat to be taken to a research area. The package was placed under a desk next to a trash can and a recycle can in the Professor's office. The Professor forgot about the package and never delivered it to the research area, but saw the source on November 3rd under the desk, then failed to deliver the source once again and the source was left over the weekend. On Monday, November 6th, when the Professor remembered the source, the source was gone. On November 7th the Professor reported the lost/missing source to the RSO. The RSO immediately started an investigation. The garbage in the Professor's office was collected on Monday evening, November 6th. The dumpster the trash went to was emptied Tuesday morning, November 7th, into the normal waste stream. The RSO looked through all the dumpsters and was unable to find the package.
Because of the low activity of the source it would probably not be detected at the landfill. The RSO is emailing a preliminary report, ASAP. This is an ongoing investigation."
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 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 53064 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: FUGRO CONSULTANTS INC.
Region: 4
City: BATON ROUGE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-4282-LO1A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 11/09/2017
Notification Time: 17:52 [ET]
Event Date: 11/09/2017
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/09/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JEREMY GROOM (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following report was received via e-mail:
"The Corporate Radiation Safety Officer [RSO] notified LDEQ [Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality] that a Troxler Moisture/Density gauge (TMDG) Model # 3411B was run over by a compactor/heavy equipment at one of their temporary job sites. The gauge was left unattended by the operator of the gauge on the construction site while discussing materials results with the jobsite foremen. FCI's [Fugro Consultants Inc.] investigation determined that the cause of the incident was human error and that TMDG sources were not damaged or leaking. The outer housing on the device was damaged. The TMDG was not in use at the time of the incident, the push rod was not extended, and the sources were in the shielded position. The incident happened November 8, 2017, at approximately 8:30 AM. The incident was reported to LDEQ at approximately 3:00 PM.
"The TMDG Model # 3411B, S/N 14273 was loaded with a Cs-137 9 mCi source model # TA-102112, and an Am-241(AmBe) 40 mCi source model # TA-102451.
"The incident happened at a temporary jobsite in West Baton Rouge Parish. The facility: Shintech Ethane Cracker Plant, 26270 Highway 405, Addis, LA. A site RSO is in charge of the investigation, radiation issues, and recommendations for corrective actions. Results are reported to and under the direction of the RSO.
"The damaged gauge was a Troxler, Model 3411B, S/N 14273, loaded with 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am/Be. The gauge housing was damaged, but there was no indication the radioactive sources were compromised or leaking. The survey readings were minimal at the surface of the gauge and background in the area of use. The TMDG was loaded into the storage/shipping container and transported to Troxler Electronics Lab., Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge, LA, where the gauge integrity is being evaluated and the sources leak tested. If there is a change in the testing results, the information will be updated.
"LDEQ Radiation Staff Personnel visited the Troxler Electronics Lab facility on Greenwell Spring Road to assess the TMDG situation. The LDEQ Staff found the radiation survey reading were in the normal range for a gauge with the sources in the shielded position.
"This event is being reported under 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) and LAC 33:XV.341.B.2.
"All equipment involved in this incident were isolated and were not a threat to the general public. There was no threat to FCI of Shintech personnel and it appears to be safe."
LA Event Number: LA 170017 |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 53074 | Facility: COOPER
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: ROY GILES
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 11/16/2017
Notification Time: 08:17 [ET]
Event Date: 11/15/2017
Event Time: 20:07 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/16/2017 | 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):
JASON KOZAL (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 | Event Text LOSS OF PUBLIC PROMPT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM CAPABILITY
"At 0008 CST on 11/16/2017, Cooper Nuclear Station [CNS] was notified by Omaha Weather that the NOAA broadcast and the Shubert radio tower for this area is off. This affects the tone alert radios used to notify the public in 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).
"The transmission outage actually began at 2007 [CST], 11/15/2017, but CNS was not notified until 0008 [CST], 11/16/2017. Backup notification methods remained available throughout the period.
"At time 0447 CST on 11/16/2017, Cooper Nuclear Station was notified that the NOAA broadcast and Shubert radio transmission tower was returned to service.
"Nemaha County, NE, Richardson County, NE, and Atchison County, MO authorities within the 10 mile EPZ were notified by Cooper Nuclear Station of the condition and the effect on the tone alert radios at 0642 [CST], 11/16/2017. This is reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) as a 4 hour report.
"The NRC Senior Resident has been informed." | |