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

Event Notification Report for December 02, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
11/29/2019 - 12/2/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54402
Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: PROFESSIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES Region: 4 City: Cave City State: AR County: License #: ARK-0943-03121 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHRIS TALLEY HQ OPS Officer: BRIAN P. SMITH	Notification Date: 11/21/2019 Notification Time: 14:53 [ET] Event Date: 11/19/2019 Event Time: 16:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 11/21/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): NEIL O'KEEFE (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DENSITY GAUGE DAMAGED

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

"The [Arkansas] Department [of Health] received notification on November 20, 2019, from licensee Professional Services Industries, Inc., that a Troxler gauge model 3430 had been struck by a skid-steer while performing routine measurements at a road construction site. The gauge was not being used at the time it was struck and the sources were in the shielded position.

"Upon review of the event, it was noted that the technician quickly created a thirty foot containment barrier and notified his company's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The RSO for Professional Services Industries mobilized to the event location.

"Once onsite, the RSO surveyed the immediate area around the damaged gauge and the gauge itself. The RSO determined that no radiation measurements were found to be above normal levels for that model of portable gauge. A leak test of the sealed sources was immediately conducted and the remnants of the gauge were collected and returned to the permanent storage location on November 19, 2019. The RSO and the Authorized User operating the portable gauge were wearing dosimetry.

"The Arkansas Department of Health considers this investigation open pending receipt and review of the licensee's 30 day report."

Arkansas Event No.: AR-2019-005

Agreement State	Event Number: 54404
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: QSA GLOBAL, INC Region: 1 City: BURLINGTON State: MA County: License #: 12-8361 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: JOSHUA DAEHLER HQ OPS Officer: BETHANY CECERE	Notification Date: 11/22/2019 Notification Time: 10:50 [ET] Event Date: 11/21/2019 Event Time: 15:14 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/22/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) DESIREE DAVIS (ILTAB)

This material event contains a "Category 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE

The following information was received via E-mail from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

"The licensee (QSA Global, Inc.) made telephone notification at 0948 EST, on November 22, 2019, preceded by E-mail to the Agency (Massachusetts Radiation Control Program) day prior, that licensee was notified by carrier on November 21, 2019, that an incoming shipment from Edmonton, Canada and destined for QSA Global, Inc., Burlington, Massachusetts is missing.

"The licensee provided that the shipment missing is a Model 650L source changer, serial number 2239, Type B(U) package, Yellow II, UN2916, containing a single 11.9 curie (440 GBq) iridium-192 radiography source.

"The licensee provided that the shipper is Acuren Group Inc. and that the date of exportation was supposed to be October 22, 2019. The activity of the shipment was 584 GBq (15.8) curies of iridium on October 22, 2019.

"The licensee reported that an active search by the carrier is underway to find the missing materials and that so far the carrier performed search of expected travel location in Boston, Massachusetts without finding the package and is tracing the expected route back through Canada, the shipment origin.

"The reporting requirement is immediate and is of 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1), missing licensed radioactive materials in aggregate quantity equal to or greater than 1,000 times quantity specified in 105 CMR 120.297, Appendix C.

"The Agency considers this event to be open."

* * * UPDATE FROM JOSHUA DAEHLER TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1310 EST ON 11/22/2019 * * *

The following information was received via E-mail from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

"At 1231 EST today (November 22, 2019), the licensee provided update to the Agency (Massachusetts Radiation Control Program) that the source was found; that this was a clerical error, and at no time was the shipment lost or missing. The source had been delivered on November 14, 2019, but put into the QSA Global, Inc.'s system under the wrong tracking number.

"The licensee also submitted that as a notification was made, it will write the 30-day report and forward it to the Agency. In addition a QSA Condition Report will be generated to address the receipt issue."

Notified R1DO (Cahill), ILTAB (Davis), and the NMSS Events Notifications E-mail group.

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example: level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9)

Agreement State	Event Number: 54405
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV Licensee: BASF CORPORATION CHEMICALS DIVISION Region: 4 City: GEISMAR State: LA County: License #: LA-2304-L01, Amendment 71, AI# 2049 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: JAMES PATE HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT	Notification Date: 11/22/2019 Notification Time: 11:10 [ET] Event Date: 11/19/2019 Event Time: 00:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 11/22/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): NEIL O'KEEFE (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

The following was received via email from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (the department):

"On 11/21/2019, at 1245 [CST], [the licensee] called [the department] to report that a stuck shutter [model - OHMART SH-F1 with 50 mCi of Cs-137] was found during the annual shutter check test. An equipment malfunction, which was a stuck shutter, was found on 11/19/2019, at approximately 1030 [CST] at BASF Corporation Chemicals Division. The shutter is stuck in the open condition and does not affect operation.

"BASF has contacted BBP Sales, Inc. to come in to replace the handle and any other parts needing replacing."

Event Report ID No.: LA190013

Agreement State	Event Number: 54406
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: DEVINS RECYCLING Region: 1 City: DEVENS State: MA County: License #: N/A Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KENATH TRAEGDE HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD	Notification Date: 11/22/2019 Notification Time: 14:46 [ET] Event Date: 11/18/2019 Event Time: 11:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/22/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) DESIREE DAVIS (ILTAB)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENT WITH RADIUM-226 PAINTED DIAL FOUND

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On 11/18/2019, Massachusetts Radiation Control Program (MARCP) was informed by Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., that a scrap metal shipment from Devens Recycling in Danvers, MA set off the radiation monitor alarm. The vehicle was redirected back to Devens Recycling for follow-up survey and mitigation in accordance with MA RCP DOT Special Permit MA-MA-19-10. On 11/19/2019, the material was identified and segregated from the scrap metal load by an independent radiation consultant. The radioactive material discovered was radium-226 painted on the dial of an abandoned (lost), old Aircraft Turn/Slip Coordinator instrument. The dose rate at 6 inches from the instrument was 200 microR/hr. The background dose rate was 20 microR/hour. The radiation survey instrument used to locate the source was a Ludlum Model 193-6. A Ludlum Model 9DP-1 ion chamber was used for direct measurements on the instrument. A Ludlum Model 702 Multi Channel Analyzer was used to identify the radioisotope. The radium-226 activity was estimated to be approximately 6.31 microCuries based on the dose rate measured. This material is being stored in a sealed polyethylene bag placed in a sealed 55 gallon drum and labeled as radioactive material held for disposal.

"This activity meets the 30-day event report requirement for lost or abandoned radioactive material greater than 10 times the quantities specified in 10 CFR 20 Appendix C, or the Massachusetts equivalent, 105 CMR 120.297 Appendix C, which is ten times reportable quantity for Radium-226 (1 microCurie).

"The Agency [MARCP] considers this event to be open until proper disposal of this instrument is confirmed."

Massachusetts Docket No.: 23-3968

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: 54407
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: DEVENS RECYCLING Region: 1 City: DEVENS State: MA County: License #: N/A Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KENATH TRAEGDE HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD	Notification Date: 11/22/2019 Notification Time: 14:46 [ET] Event Date: 11/20/2019 Event Time: 00:00 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/22/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) DESIREE DAVIS (ILTAB)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENT WITH RADIUM-226 PAINTED DIAL FOUND

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On 11/20/2019, Massachusetts Radiation Control Program (MARCP) was informed by Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., that a scrap metal shipment from Devens Recycling in Danvers, MA set off the radiation monitor alarm. The vehicle was redirected back to Devens Recycling for follow-up survey and mitigation in accordance with MA RCP DOT Special Permit MA-MA-19-11. On 11/21/2019, the material was identified and segregated from the scrap metal load by an independent radiation consultant. The radioactive material discovered was radium-226 painted on the dial of an abandoned (lost), old Aircraft Altimeter instrument. The dose rate at 6 inches from the instrument was 150 microR/hr. The background dose rate was 20 microR/hour. The radiation survey instrument used to locate the source was a Ludlum Model 193-6. A Ludlum Model 9DP-1 ion chamber was used for direct measurements on the instrument. A Ludlum Model 702 Multi Channel Analyzer was used to identify the radioisotope. The radium-226 activity was estimated to be approximately 4.73 microCuries based on the dose rate measured. This material is being stored in a sealed polyethylene bag placed in a sealed 55 gallon drum and labeled as radioactive material held for disposal.

"This activity meets the 30-day event report requirement for lost or abandoned radioactive material greater than 10 times the quantities specified in 10 CFR 20 Appendix C, or the Massachusetts equivalent, 105 CMR 120.297 Appendix C, which is ten times reportable quantity for Radium-226 (1 microCurie).

"The Agency [MARCP] considers this event to be open until proper disposal of this instrument is confirmed."

Massachusetts Docket No.: TBD

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: 54417
Facility: DIABLO CANYON Region: 4 State: CA Unit: [] [2] [] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: ERIC THOMAS HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH	Notification Date: 11/30/2019 Notification Time: 19:48 [ET] Event Date: 11/30/2019 Event Time: 11:00 [PST] Last Update Date: 11/30/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D) - ACCIDENT MITIGATION	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (R4DO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

Hot Shutdown

Event Text

BOTH TRAINS OF CONTAINMENT SPRAY REMOVED FROM SERVICE

"On November 30, 2019, at 1100 PST, with Unit 2 in Mode 4, Operations identified that both trains of containment spray had been removed from service earlier at approximately 0217 hours as part of preparations for a planned Mode 5 entry. The containment spray pumps are required to be operable (along with the containment fan cooler units) in Modes 1 through 4 in accordance with Technical Specification 3.6.6. With both containment spray pumps inoperable, TS 3.6.6 Action F requires the Unit to be shut down in accordance with TS 3.0.3. At 1125 hours, both trains of containment spray were returned to operable and the required actions of TS 3.6.6 and TS 3.0.3 were exited.

"The five containment fan cooler units remained operable for the duration of the occurrence.

"This notification is being made in accordance with the requirement of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v) as an event or condition that could have prevented fulfillment of a safety function, and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii) as an event or condition that may have resulted in the plant being in an unanalyzed condition.

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified."

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