Event Notification Report for November 09, 2018

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
11/8/2018 - 11/9/2018

** EVENT NUMBERS **


53685 53706 53707 53709 53710 53725

To top of page
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED.THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor Event Number: 53685
Facility: DAVIS BESSE
Region: 3     State: OH
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] B&W-R-LP
NRC Notified By: NICK DOWNING
HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH
Notification Date: 10/22/2018
Notification Time: 14:42 [ET]
Event Date: 10/22/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 11/09/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
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

CONTROL ROOM ENVELOPE DECLARED INOPERABLE DUE TO DOOR LATCH FAILURE

"At 0856 EDT on October 22, 2018, it was discovered that the Control Room Envelope, a single-train system, was inoperable due to failure of a boundary door to latch; therefore, this condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) as a loss of safety function. The door latch was repaired, and the Control Room Envelope declared operable at 0910 EDT.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel, as the door was capable of being closed at all times and the door was manned the entire time it could not latch.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

* * * RETRACTION AT 1510 EST ON 11/09/18 FROM NICK DOWNING TO OSSY FONT * * *

"Retraction of Event #53685, Control Room Envelope Declared Inoperable due to Door Latch Failure

"Based on subsequent field measurements taken for the boundary door, the force needed to open the unlatched door is sufficient to maintain the Control Room Envelope positive pressure. Therefore, the Control Room Envelope remained Operable with the boundary door unlatched, and this issue did not prevent the system from fulfilling its safety function to mitigate the consequences of an accident.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Notified the R3DO (Hanna).

To top of page
Non-Agreement State Event Number: 53706
Rep Org: PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES
Licensee: PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES
Region: 3
City: MINNEAPOLIS   State: MN
County:
License #: GL
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ADAM NETZER
HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE
Notification Date: 10/31/2018
Notification Time: 10:18 [ET]
Event Date: 10/01/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/31/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
DAN SCHROEDER (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

MISSING ELECTRON CAPTURE DEVICES

The following was received via email:

"Specific Location Information Where Incident Occurred:
Pace Analytical Services, Beaver-WV Environmental Laboratory

"Incident, Amount:
In [Pace's] inventory, [Pace] had six spare Agilent ECDs [Electron Capture Devices]. [Pace] believes they were accidentally placed in the trash for disposal and were subsequently placed in the local landfill. The ECDs have a sealed source with approximately 15 milliCuries of Nickel 63 each. These were the ECDs only and not the entire instrument, Gas Chromatograph (GC).

"ECDs / Models:
F6470 / 19233
F6526 / 19233
L2643 / 19233
L7189 / 19233
F4602 / 19233
F6242 / 19233

"Date of Lost/Misplaced ECDs, Last Time Seen:
Identified as missing October 1, 2018.
Confirmed to be missing October 3, 2018
Last seen September 26, 2018.
Believed to be placed in the laboratory trash September 26th-29th, 2018.

"Root Cause:
During a clean-up/lean event employees were going through the lab and reorganizing/disposing of unneeded materials. The six ECDs were used as reserves for GC instrumentation and placed in a bag in efforts to not dispose of them. At some point later in the week, it is believed that either an employee or cleaning person mistook the bag as garbage and threw them away.

"Measures to Recover:
Upon discovering the lost ECDs, Pace contacted the trash hauler - Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority. They stated that, due to the length of time that has passed since disposal, the likelihood of recovery is essentially zero. Due to the process of filling hollow-like areas, anything disposed has approximately 20 feet of additional material over it, and they have no way of knowing where the truck would have dumped the materials."

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

To top of page
Agreement State Event Number: 53707
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: LUDLUM MEASUREMENTS
Region: 1
City: KNOXVILLE   State: TN
County:
License #: R-47214-K21
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW HOLCOMB
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 10/31/2018
Notification Time: 15:57 [ET]
Event Date: 08/13/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/31/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
DAN SCHROEDER (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AMERICIUM-241 SOURCE

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

"On 10/31/18, the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health was contacted via phone by Ludlum Measurements RSO regarding the loss of a licensed source. It appears the source was last seen on 8/10/18. The licensee realized the source was missing on 8/13/18. The licensee has been searching for the source from 8/13/18 to date. The whereabouts of the source are still unknown at this time.

"Isotope and activity: Am-241, 1.057911 microCi
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler
Model and Source Serial #: 1637-72-2

"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."

Tennessee State Event Report ID No.: TN-18-195

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

To top of page
Agreement State Event Number: 53709
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: WORLD TESTING
Region: 1
City: NASHVILLE   State: TN
County:
License #: R-95009
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW HOLCOMB
HQ OPS Officer: PHIL NATIVIDAD
Notification Date: 11/01/2018
Notification Time: 10:26 [ET]
Event Date: 10/31/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
DAN SCHROEDER (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE FAILED TO RETRACT

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

"On 10/31/18, while performing radiography work in Nashville, TN, a radiographer working for World Testing noticed that his survey meter still had elevated readings and that the source had not successfully returned back to the camera. He attempted again to return the source but was unsuccessful. The [Radiation Safety Officer] RSO was notified. After responding and investigating, the RSO was able to retract the source back into the camera. The device information includes the following:

"Manufacturer: USA Global
Model #: A424-9
Serial #: 9269
Source Serial #: 65744G
Isotope: Ir-192 (20.1 Ci)

"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."

Tennessee State Event Report ID No.: TN-18-197

To top of page
Agreement State Event Number: 53710
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: EAGLE US 2, LLC
Region: 4
City: LAKE CHARLES   State: LA
County:
License #: LA-2257-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Notification Date: 11/01/2018
Notification Time: 15:33 [ET]
Event Date: 10/31/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
CALE YOUNG (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEVEL GAUGE SHUTTER MALFUNCTION

The following was reported by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality via email:

"On 10/31/2018, Eagle US 2 was performing their semiannual inventory and operational checks of their RAM [radioactive material] licensed devices. During their routine semiannual maintenance checks, the shutter malfunction was discovered. The gauge shutter would not close due to a shutter pin sheer.

"Eagle US 2 called a service contractor, BBP Sales, [to] perform the semiannual checks. BBP Sales is evaluating the situation to determine the best course of action to correct the problem. [The contractor] was unable to close the shutter and will determine the course of corrective action. It appears the corrective action will be to replace the device. The cause appears to be the conditions of a corrosive environment where the gauge is installed and used.

"The sources and device with a broken shutter pin and shutter stuck open will remain installed and utilized on the process until the repairs are made. This is not a radiation exposure hazard and does not pose a health and safety situation for the Eagle US 2 employees or the general public.

"The Gauge is a RONAN SA1-C-10 device/source holder, S/N 5977-GK, loaded with a 5 mCi Cs-137 source."

Event Report ID No.: LA-180018

To top of page
Non-Power Reactor Event Number: 53725
Facility: REED COLLEGE
RX Type: 250 KW TRIGA MARK I
Comments:
Region: 0
City: PORTLAND   State: OR
County: MULTNOMAH
License #: R-112
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000288
NRC Notified By: MELINDA KRAHENBUHL
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Notification Date: 11/08/2018
Notification Time: 16:51 [ET]
Event Date: 11/08/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 11/08/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
NON-POWER REACTOR EVENT
Person (Organization):
GEOFF WERTZ (PM)
ELIZABETH REED (NPR)

Event Text

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION VIOLATION - UNSECURED REACTOR LEFT UNATTENDED

The following is a synopsis of a notification received from Reed College:

The licensee made an official notification of a violation of technical specification (TS) 6.1.3 a 1 as well as TS 1, which defines the reactor as operating when it is not shutdown or secured. The Reactor Operator (RO) left the control room for approximately 30 seconds while the reactor was subcritical but not secured. Per the TS definition, the reactor is not secured if the reactor console key is in the console. The RO immediately returned to the control room and removed the key and ensured the reactor scrammed.

The Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) was in the next room and was informed. Another SRO was in the control room but was not requalified.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021