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Event Notification Report for January 04, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
1/3/2019 - 1/4/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Non-Agreement State	Event Number: 53806
Rep Org: MOBRIDGE REGIONAL HOSPITAL Licensee: MOBRIDGE REGIONAL HOSPITAL Region: 4 City: MOBRIDGE State: SD County: License #: 40-17711-01 Agreement: N Docket: NRC Notified By: CASEY HUFFMAN HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 12/26/2018 Notification Time: 11:38 [ET] Event Date: 12/24/2018 Event Time: 09:30 [MST] Last Update Date: 12/26/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 30.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION	Person (Organization): NICK TAYLOR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

SPILL OF TC-99M VIAL IN HOT LAB

"[At 0930 MST on 12/24/18, a] Technologist went to screw the bottom of the pig on and had difficulty getting the bottom screwed on. The vial [containing approximately 272 mCi of Tc-99m] then slipped from the pig and the technologist's hands and dropped to the floor and broke. The technologist was wearing [Personal Protective Equipment] PPE in the form of gloves. Her shoes, clothing were removed and placed in a sealed bag to decay in the hot waste area. Initial reading from the sealed bag was 0.8 mR/hr. PPE was worn and the spill was covered with absorbent material. To prevent the spread of contamination movement of staff was limited. A witness was not contaminated during the incident as she was more than 10 feet from the hot lab and her personal survey results were 0.05 mR/hr which is equivalent to the background of the room. The contaminated personnel's skin readings post decon were 0.1 mR/hr at skin level on her leg.

"The spill was sprayed with Radiacwash and the contaminated absorbent material was placed in a sealed bag, labeled with date and radioactivity and placed in the hot waste storage area to decay. The spill was contained within the nuclear medicine hot lab, a sign was posted to close the room and secure the area to prevent entry. Final survey and wipe tests were completed on 12/26/2018 at 1100 [MST].

"The [Radiation Safety Officer] RSO was notified on 12/24/2018 at 0952 [MST]. The RSO talked to the Avera St. Luke's Director of Nuclear Medicine to ensure we are following the correct protocol. The RSO was notified on 12/26/2018 of the final survey and final wipe tests performed, and permission was given to return to work in the area."

Agreement State	Event Number: 53807
Rep Org: VIRGINIA RAD MATERIALS PROGRAM Licensee: DRAPER ADEN ASSOCIATES Region: 1 City: LORTON State: VA County: License #: 087-309-1 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHARLES COLEMAN HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA	Notification Date: 12/26/2018 Notification Time: 14:32 [ET] Event Date: 12/26/2018 Event Time: 00:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 12/27/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): FRANK ARNER (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 - PORTABLE MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE STOLEN

The following report was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health via email:

"On December 26, 2018, the licensee reported a stolen Troxler portable moisture/density gauge. The gauge had been stored at a temporary jobsite (the Lorton Construction Landfill in Lorton, Virginia). It was stolen between December 21, and the start of work on December 26 when it was discovered missing. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) contacted the Virginia State Police and the Fairfax County Police Department, the local law enforcement agency. Initial searches near the landfill by the licensee were unsuccessful. The gauge contained a cesium-137 source and an americium-241 source. This report will be updated when the RSO provides additional information, including serial numbers of the gauge and sources and the source activities."

* * * UPDATE ON 12/27/2018 AT 1052 EST FROM CHARLES COLEMAN TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

The following update was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health via email:

"The licensee identified the stolen gauge as a Troxler Model 3430, serial number 33748. It contained a cesium-137 source, serial number 750-9405, with a nominal activity of 8 milliCuries (4/19/2002) and an americium-241:beryllium source, serial number 47-29401, with a nominal activity of 40 milliCuries (8/12/1999).

"There has been no media attention. The licensee may issue a press release regarding the theft."

Notified R1DO (Arner), NMSS Events Notification, and ILTAB via email.

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: 53808
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY Licensee: COMBINED METALS OF CHICAGO Region: 3 City: CHICAGO State: IL County: License #: 86-02397-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: GIBB VINSON HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE	Notification Date: 12/26/2018 Notification Time: 17:01 [ET] Event Date: 12/26/2018 Event Time: 00:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 12/26/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): KENNETH RIEMER (R3DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIXED GAUGE SHUTTER MECHANISM FAILED CLOSED

The following was received from the State of Illinois by email:

"The radiation safety officer for Combined Metals of Chicago reported that the shutter on their Data Measurement Corporation Sr-90/100 mCi gauge had failed in the closed position due to a screw that had dislodged from the shutter mechanism. The manufacturer has been called for repair services."

IL Item Number: IL180044

Power Reactor	Event Number: 53813
Facility: PALISADES Region: 3 State: MI Unit: [1] [] [] RX Type: [1] CE NRC Notified By: JACOB MILLIKEN HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED	Notification Date: 01/03/2019 Notification Time: 23:57 [ET] Event Date: 01/03/2019 Event Time: 20:28 [EST] Last Update Date: 01/04/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION	Person (Organization): ERIC DUNCAN (R3DO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

M/R

Power Operation

Hot Standby

Event Text

REACTOR TRIP DUE TO CYCLING OF TURBINE GOVERNOR VALVE

"At 2028 [EST] on January 3, 2019, with the reactor at 85% power, the reactor was manually tripped due to cycling of Turbine Governor Valve #4. The trip was uncomplicated with all systems responding normally following the trip. Investigation of the cause of the valve cycling is ongoing.

"All full-length control rods inserted fully. Auxiliary Feedwater System actuated as designed in response to low steam generator water levels. Operations stabilized the plant in Mode 3 (hot standby). Decay heat is being removed by atmospheric dump valves.

"This condition has no impact to the health and safety of the public.

"The licensee notified the NRC Senior Resident Inspector.

"This event is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A)."

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