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Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2019

Event Notification Report for April 02, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
4/1/2019 - 4/2/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **
 
53952 53956 53957 53958 53968

Agreement State Event Number: 53952
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: US STEEL CORPORATION
Region: 1
City: BRADDOCK   State: PA
County:
License #: PA-G0310
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOHN CHIPPO
HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED		 Notification Date: 03/22/2019
Notification Time: 14:22 [ET]
Event Date: 03/21/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/22/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FAILED MOISTURE GAUGE SHUTTER

The following was received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via e-mail:

"The licensee reported that on March 21, 2019, the Berthold Technologies Model LB-7 410 moisture gauge containing 300 milliCuries of americium-241 was not able to operate as designed; the shutter locking mechanism cylinder was able to be pulled out of the gauge. The gauge was being removed from the east side of #3 Blast Furnace to the storage area at the Blast Furnace spares building. A service provider was already scheduled on site to observe removal and transport of the gauge. A contract employee working with the service provider stated that the cylinder was able to be pulled out of the gauge. The cylinder was never fully removed, but if it was, this would allow the shutter to be manually opened or closed. The cylinder locking device was depressed by the service provider employee and it is currently in that condition. The shutter can't be moved with the cylinder depressed. The gauge is currently locked in the storage area at the Blast Furnace spares building.

All work was performed using ALARA principles and at no point were employees exposed to excess levels of radiation. Survey results indicated no abnormal amounts of radiation in the area before, during, or after the removal of the device. Berthold has been contact for repair or replacement."

PA Event Report ID No: PA19001

Agreement State Event Number: 53956
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TEST AMERICA
Region: 4
City: ARVADA   State: CO
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: RAMON LI
HQ OPS Officer: JOANNA BRIDGE		 Notification Date: 03/25/2019
Notification Time: 16:37 [ET]
Event Date: 03/04/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
JASON KOZAL (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - LEAKING ELECTRON CAPTURE DEVICES

The following was received via e-mail:

"The department [Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment] received an e-mail notification on March 7th, 2019 reporting two leaking Electron Capture Devices (ECD's). The [ECD's] are associated with Agilent model G239765505 with serial numbers: U1186 and U6642. The semi-annual leak test results show 35300 picocurie/sample for serial number U1186 and 17100 picocurie/sample for serial number U6642. The wipe test results were received by Test America on March 4, 2019.

"Test America reported that the ECD's were removed from use and the instruments on March 4, 2019 and sent to Detector Service Center, LLC for cleaning and repair.

"Test America performed surveys for the affected machines and cleaned with a radiacwash solution. A wipe test was done on the instruments and counted by Gas Flow Proportional Counter low background instrument which indicated no removable contamination present. A direct survey with a Ludlum Model 3 Giger Muller detector indicated no fixed contamination. The completion date was reported to be March 5, 2019.

"Test American has removed the leaking ECD's and will continue 6-month wipe tests as required."

Colorado Event Report ID No.: CO190004

Agreement State Event Number: 53957
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: HOLLY ENERGY PARTNERS LLC
Region: 4
City: EL PASO   State: TX
County:
License #: GLA02278
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MATTHEW KENNINGTON
HQ OPS Officer: JOANNA BRIDGE		 Notification Date: 03/25/2019
Notification Time: 17:53 [ET]
Event Date: 03/21/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
JASON KOZAL (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK OPEN GAUGE SHUTTER

The following was received via e-mail:

"On March 25, 2019, the agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] reviewed a voicemail left on an investigator's office phone line in which a licensee reported a stuck shutter on a gauge. The gauge is a Thermo Fisher Scientific model 7062BP, with serial number S99G0101, containing a 100 millicurie Cesium-137 source with serial number 6551GQ. The shutter is stuck in the open position. Open is the normal operating position. The gauge is located on a 6" line and no exposures are anticipated as a result of this malfunction. The manufacturer has been contacted and service will be scheduled. Updates will be sent in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident: I-9668

Agreement State Event Number: 53958
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: CARDINAL HEALTH 414, LLC
Region: 4
City: DENVER   State: CO
County:
License #: CO 1219-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MATT GIFT
HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED		 Notification Date: 03/25/2019
Notification Time: 18:05 [ET]
Event Date: 03/22/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 03/25/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE		 Person (Organization):
JASON KOZAL (R4DO)
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 AND FOUND RA-223 PACKAGE

The following was received via e-mail:

"The Department [Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment] received an e-mail notification on March 25, 2019, from Cardinal Health reporting a lost and found package of Ra-223. On March 22, 2019, the package was suspected to have fallen out of a [common carrier] truck and onto a member of the public's lawn located a few blocks away from the Cardinal Health Facility. The member of the public returned the package to the doorstep of Cardinal Health later that day (3/22/19). No signs of damage to the package were identified. Cardinal Health performed wipes for removable contamination and exposure rate surveys and determined there was no outer or inner contamination and all of the safety seals remained intact. More details are forthcoming."

The activity of the shipment is unknown at this time, however, it is assumed to be less than CAT 3. The State of Colorado will update the event when the activity has been determined.

Colorado Event Report No: CO190005

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

Power Reactor Event Number: 53968
Facility: PALO VERDE
Region: 4     State: AZ
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] CE,[2] CE,[3] CE
NRC Notified By: GEORGE LESTER
HQ OPS Officer: CATY NOLAN		 Notification Date: 04/01/2019
Notification Time: 06:40 [ET]
Event Date: 03/31/2019
Event Time: 20:06 [MST]
Last Update Date: 04/01/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL		 Person (Organization):
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (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

UNANALYZED CONDITION DUE TO ECCS LEAKAGE

"At 2006 [MST], on 3/31/2019, the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Unit 1 Shift Manager was informed that leakage was measured from the Train A Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) piping at approximately 100 ml/minute through a High Pressure Safety Injection (HPSI) A drain valve. This value exceeds the assumed 3000 ml/hour ECCS leakage for a large break loss of coolant accident analysis. At 0230 [MST] on April 1, 2019, the valve was flushed and the leakage reduced to 10 ml/minute (600 ml/hour) and was no longer above the limit of the safety analysis. This condition is being reported as an unanalyzed condition per 10 CFR 50.72(b)3)(ii)(B) and a condition that could have prevented the fulfillment of a safety function to the control the release of radioactive material per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C). This event did not result in an abnormal release of radioactive material.

"Notification received by Caty Nolan and emailed to HOO.HOC@NRC.GOV
The NRC asked a followup question:
Why was the criterion for Control of Radioactive Material selected?
per the PVNGS Unit 1 Shift Manager, this criterion was selected due to the potential of exceeding offsite dose projections, post recirculation, following a Design Basis Accident."

The resident inspector has been notified.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021