| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
12/6/2018 - 12/7/2018 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 53714 | Rep Org: WA OFFICE OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: GEOENGINEERS, INCORPORATED
Region: 4
City: REDMOND State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I0204-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW HALLORAN
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 11/04/2018
Notification Time: 21:35 [ET]
Event Date: 11/03/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/06/2018 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CALE YOUNG (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED DENSITY GAUGE
The following report was received from the Washington State Department of Health via email:
"On 11/3/2018, a gauge user was working at a jobsite located in Kirkland, Washington. He sat the gauge down and moved approximately 30 feet away to speak to a contractor. While the gauge was out of his direct control, it was hit by a piece of heavy equipment and damaged. The contractor took the gauge back to the Redmond office, secured it in the gauge storage room, and notified the office ARSO [Assistant Radiation Safety Officer] and corporate RSO [Radiation Safety Officer]. The ARSO, notified DOH [Washington State Department of Health] that evening. [The Washington State Department of Health Laboratory Program Manager] spoke with [the ARSO] to get an overview of the incident.
"[The DOH Laboratory Program Manager] met with the ARSO and the corporate RSO, at the Redmond office at 0930 PST on 11/4/2018 to examine the gauge (CPN MC1DRP S/N MD00805859) to determine whether the Cs-137 and Am-241 sources had been compromised. After performing swab tests of the interior and exterior of the gauge and measuring the exposure rates around the gauge, [The DOH Laboratory Program Manager] made the assumption that the sealed sources were not compromised (the licensee couldn't do this because they don't have a survey instrument). [The DOH Laboratory Program Manager] also surveyed the vehicle used to transport the damaged gauge to verify that there was no detectable contamination in the vehicle.
"DOH will conduct an investigation into the incident, and the licensee is submitting an incident report. More information to follow."
Event Report ID: WA-18-027
* * * UPDATE AT 1229 EST ON 12/5/2018 FROM ANDREW HALLORAN TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *
The following update was received via e-mail:
"DOH [Washington State Department of Health] conducted an investigation and a review of the licensee's internal incident report and root cause analysis. The gauge user did not maintain direct control of the gauge, resulting in the gauge being left unattended when it was damaged by an excavator. Additionally, the licensee failed to follow both the emergency procedures and radiation safety program guidance included in their radioactive materials license application renewal, further compounding the health and safety issues. Instead of securing the area and remaining onsite and alerting DOH as required by procedure, the gauge user and project manager decided to remove the damaged gauge and return it to the Redmond storage location. Both the failure to maintain control of the gauge and the failure to follow the emergency procedures were cited as violations in a compliance letter sent to GeoEngineers. In addition to the corrective actions required by the compliance letter, DOH will also perform a follow-up inspection of the Redmond office and field site."
This event was closed on 12/5/2018.
Notified the R4DO (Gaddy) and NMSS (via e-mail). |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 53758 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: INEOS USA LLC
Region: 4
City: FREEPORT State: TX
County:
License #: Licen-RAM-L01422
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: KARL DIEDERICH | Notification Date: 11/28/2018
Notification Time: 17:10 [ET]
Event Date: 11/28/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/28/2018 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JASON KOZAL (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - FIXED GAUGE STUCK SHUTTER
The following information was received from the State of Texas via email:
"On November 28, 2018, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee that while performing a shutter test on an Ohmart-Vega Model SH-F1 gauge containing a 20 milliCurie (original activity) Cs-137 source, the shutter would not close. Open is the normal operating position for the gauge. The gauge is in a location that does not present an exposure risk to any individual. The licensee has contacted a service provider to repair the gauge. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #: I-9640. |
| Non-Agreement State | Event Number: 53761 | Rep Org: US STEEL CORPORATION GARY WORKS
Licensee: US STEEL CORPORATION GARY WORKS
Region: 3
City: GARY State: IN
County:
License #: 13-26104-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: RYAN MCGHAN
HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH | Notification Date: 11/29/2018
Notification Time: 17:18 [ET]
Event Date: 11/29/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/29/2018 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
| Person (Organization):
BILLY DICKSON (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) | Event Text GAUGE STUCK SHUTTER
Maintenance technicians performing a lockout for maintenance manipulated a moisture gauge and the handle broke, rendering the shutter stuck in the open position. The normal position for the shutter is open. The maintenance was canceled and the area around the gauge was roped off. The vendor has been contacted to help the licensee repair the gauge. No exposure to personnel resulted from this event.
The gauge measures the moisture content in a bin containing metallurgical coke. The gauge is a Berthold containing a 300 mCi Am-241/Be source (serial number 048/10). |
| Part 21 | Event Number: 53780 | Rep Org: FRAMATOME INC
Licensee: FRAMATOME INC
Region: 1
City: LYNCHBURG State: VA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GAYLE ELLIOTT
HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED | Notification Date: 12/06/2018
Notification Time: 16:00 [ET]
Event Date: 10/09/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/06/2018 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21(d)(3)(i) - DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE
| Person (Organization):
CHRISTOPHER LALLY (R1DO)
PATRICIA PELKE (R3DO)
- PART 21/50.55 REACTORS (EMAIL) | Event Text PART-21 - RHR SHAFT SEAL O-RING SHEARED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT
The following is a synopsis from the Part 21 report received via e-mail:
During an outage at Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, the licensee replaced the mechanical shaft seal on the 11 Residual Heat Removal (RHR) pump. During subsequent post maintenance testing, it was found that there was significant seal leakage on the pump. An evaluation was completed on December 4, 2018, which determined that it was a substantial safety hazard. The licensee has shipped back six seals to Framatome to be tested. It was determined that the cause of the failure was improper O-ring installation by the manufacturer. Discussions with Framatome indicate that only Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant is effected by this defect, but investigations are still ongoing.
Affected Plant:
Region 3: Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant | |