Event Notification Report for October 18, 2018

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
10/17/2018 - 10/18/2018

** EVENT NUMBERS **


53647 53654 53655 53658

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!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED.THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor Event Number: 53647
Facility: WOLF CREEK
Region: 4     State: KS
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: MARCY BLOW
HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH
Notification Date: 10/05/2018
Notification Time: 09:59 [ET]
Event Date: 10/05/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/18/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
THOMAS FARNHOLTZ (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

UNPLANNED LOSS OF THE ASSESSMENT CAPABILITY DUE TO TECHNICAL SUPPORT DIESEL

"At 05:52 CDT on 10/5/2018, the [Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation] (WCNOC) Technical Support Center (TSC) Diesel fuel oil transfer pump would not run. There was ongoing modification to the facility Halon system at the time. The modification process had included a jumper to the fuel oil transfer pump to allow it to continue to be available. This issue was discovered during testing as the modification was progressing. The pump was verified to function on 10/4/2018 by normal operations rounds.

"If an emergency is declared requiring the TSC activation during the time the TSC diesel is non-functional, the TSC will be staffed and activated using existing emergency planning procedure. If offsite power is lost, the TSC will relocate to the Alternate TSC using existing emergency planning procedures.

"There was no impact to the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * RETRACTION ON 10/18/2018 AT 1306 EDT FROM MARCY BLOW TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

"Event Notification (EN) 53647, made on October 8, 2018, is being retracted because during the time that the TSC Diesel fuel oil transfer pump was not available, normal power was continuously available. The Alternative TSC was also available.

"Consequently, the condition did not meet the criteria for a 8-hour notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) for any event that results in a major loss of emergency assessment capability, offsite response capability, or offsite communications capability (e.g., significant portion of control room indication, Emergency Notification System, or offsite notification system).

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified of the Event Notification retraction."

Notified R4DO (Pick).

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Agreement State Event Number: 53654
Rep Org: VIRGINIA RAD MATERIALS PROGRAM
Licensee: BEST MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL
Region: 1
City: SPRINGFIELD   State: VA
County:
License #: 059-018-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ASFAW FENTA
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Notification Date: 10/09/2018
Notification Time: 12:20 [ET]
Event Date: 10/08/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/09/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
GLENN DENTEL (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - I-125 SEEDS LOST IN TRANSIT

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

"On Monday, October 9, 2018, the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (RMP) received a phone call from the licensee (Best Medical International) that a radioactive material package, Type A Package, containing 4.9 GBq (132.4 mCi) of I-125 seeds was lost in transit. The package was intended to be shipped to Centre d oncologies Dr. Leon-Richard, Moncton, Canada. [The Common Carrier] picked up the package on September 28, 2018 at the licensee's facility in Springfield, Virginia. The licensee tracked the shipment until it passed the [Common Carrier's] facility located in Alexandria, Virginia. After that, the licensee was unable to track the package.

"On October 8, 2018, the licensee called the recipient to check if the package was delivered and found that the package was not delivered. The licensee contacted [the Common Carrier] immediately to get the whereabouts of the package. [The Common Carrier] searched for the package and was unable to locate the package after it left the Alexandria [Common Carrier] facility until this report was prepared (10/09/2018).

"The licensee determined the package is lost but they stated that the search will continue with [the Common Carrier] to locate the package. This report will be updated when RMP receives the 30 day written report."

Incident Report No: VA-18-005

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: 53655
Rep Org: WA OFFICE OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: WOOD ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS, INC
Region: 4
City: KIRKLAND   State: WA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MORGAN BULLOCK
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Notification Date: 10/09/2018
Notification Time: 14:51 [ET]
Event Date: 10/07/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/09/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
GRETCHEN RIVERA-CAPELLA (NMSS DAY)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
- CNSC (CANADA) (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN PORTABLE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE DEVICE

The following was received via email from Washington State:

"Over the weekend of October 6-7 2018, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, INC at 420 Lake Washington Blvd. NE, STE 200, in Kirkland, Washington 98033, was broken into and a portable XRF [x-ray fluorescence] device was stolen. Police report with case number 18-37870 was filed with the Kirkland police department.

"'The lock to the main door of the storage unit was cut, and the lock to the large steel nuclear gauge/XRF device storage cabinet, located inside the storage unit, was cut. [The licensee] verified all four (4) nuclear gauges [they] have in [their] inventory are accounted for and in [their] possession. The steel cable running through the nuclear gauge cases and locked to the steel cabinet was not cut. However, the portable XRF device (information below) stored on the upper shelf of the steel cabinet was stolen, and has been recorded as stolen by the Kirkland Police Department.'

"The stolen XRF device:
-Manufacturer: Niton - Thermo Fisher Scientific
-Model: XLp-306A
-Serial Number: 24923
-Source: Cd109 - 40 mCi (resourced 02/2018 - current approx. 27 mCi)
-Transport/carrying case was locked."

Incident Report No: WA 18-025

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: 53658
Rep Org: TEAM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES
Licensee: TEAM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES
Region: 4
City: ALVIN   State: TX
County:
License #: 42-32219-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID TEBO
HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE
Notification Date: 10/10/2018
Notification Time: 17:40 [ET]
Event Date: 10/10/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/10/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Person (Organization):
AARON McCRAW (R3DO)
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE FAILED TO RETRACT

"During retraction of the source following an exposure inside a storage tank [at the BP Refinery, Whiting, IN], the radiographer noted the source did not retract with the drive cable as survey readings indicated the source was still exposed. An immediate call was made to the local RSO [Radiation Safety Officer], who is source retrieval trained, to report the issue. Barricades were continuously monitored while waiting for his arrival. Upon arrival and evaluation of the situation, the local RSO determined a source disconnect had occurred due to a possible broken drive cable. Source retrieval procedures were then enacted with the source safely returned to the shielded position in the exposure device at approximately 1400 CDT. The exact cause of the event is not clear at this time and the drive cable and connector are being sent to the manufacturer for evaluation.

"Equipment involved: QSA Ir192 model A424-9 source assembly with approximate activity 84 Curies; QSA model 880 Delta exposure device and associated equipment (drive assembly and guide tube).

"Approximately 4-5 individuals were involved in the retrieval process with the RSO (Authorized Source Retriever) indicating he received the highest exposure, as recorded on pocket dosimeters, of 25 mrem."

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021