Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2020

Event Notification Report for January 30, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
1/29/2020 - 1/30/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54486
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: CQC TESTING & ENGINEERING, LLC Region: 4 City: EL PASO State: TX County: License #: L05802 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH	Notification Date: 01/21/2020 Notification Time: 19:03 [ET] Event Date: 01/21/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 01/21/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): PATRICIA SILVA (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)

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

Event Text

TEXAS AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was obtained from the state of Texas via email:

"On January 21, 2020, the licensee notified the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services], that one of its company trucks with one of its moisture/density gauges had been stolen from its facility. The technician had pulled the truck into the licensee's yard (fenced area but gate open) and pulled up to the building. He turned off the truck, but left the keys in it, while he took a test sample inside the building. The licensee's video surveillance shows an individual walked into the yard and stole the truck which had a Troxler model 3440 moisture/density gauge in the bed. The gauge has a lock on the insertion rod. The gauge is inside its transport case which has a lock. The transport case is inside a metal box that is bolted in the bed of the pickup that also has a lock. However, the keys to these locks are on the same key ring as the truck ignition key. The licensee immediately notified the local police department who responded to the facility and is investigating. An investigation into this event is ongoing.

"More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300.

"Gauge info: Troxler 3440 SN: 27798
Sources: Am-241/Be: 40 mCi, SN: 479223; Cs-137: 8 mCi, SN: 750-9353"

Texas Incident No. I-9734

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

Non-Agreement State	Event Number: 54489
Rep Org: TILDEN MINING COMPANY Licensee: TILDEN MINING COMPANY Region: 3 City: ISHPEMING State: MI County: License #: 21-26748-01 Agreement: N Docket: NRC Notified By: LAWRENCE GRAY HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA	Notification Date: 01/22/2020 Notification Time: 12:19 [ET] Event Date: 01/22/2020 Event Time: 12:19 [EST] Last Update Date: 01/22/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE	Person (Organization): HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK OPEN

During biannual inventory/shutter check maintenance the licensee identified a gauge shutter stuck open on the 6A pebble mill cyclone underflow. The gauge is a Kay Ray Model #7050, Serial #1397 containing 1000 milllicurie of Cs 137. The issue is not a risk to personnel. The licensee will replace the gauge.

!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Agreement State	Event Number: 54490
Rep Org: NE DIV OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS Licensee: GATEWAY MALL Region: 4 City: LINCOLN State: NE County: License #: GL0457 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: DEB WILSON HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA	Notification Date: 01/22/2020 Notification Time: 17:46 [ET] Event Date: 01/22/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CST] Last Update Date: 01/23/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): PATRICIA SILVA (R4DO) ILTAB (EMAIL) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING SELF LUMINOUS SIGNS CONTAINING TRITIUM

The following was received via phone notification from the State of Nebraska Department of Radiological Health (NDRH):

On January 22, 2020, the NDRH received notification in the mail that during the annual survey, the Gateway Mall identified that 2 self luminous signs were missing and 7 signs that were removed during construction were unaccounted for. These signs contained tritium (H3), originally in the amount of 11.5 Curies each.

NDRH is going to follow-up on this event.

* * * UPDATE ON 1/23/2020 AT 1032 EST FROM DEB WILSON TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

It was identified that eight of the tritium signs contained 11.5 Curies each and one of the signs contained 20 Curies. The Gateway Mall will follow up with the construction company to verify whether the signs have been properly disposed of as well as double checking with the maintenance shop to see if the report of the missing signs had been made in error.

Notified R4DO (Silvia), ILTAB (email), and NMSS Events (email).

* * * RETRACTION ON 1/23/2020 AT 1434 EST FROM DEB WILSON TO THOMAS KENDZIA * * *

"Gateway Mall General Manager was able to contact the construction company. It was determined that the signs had been removed from service by the construction company and stored at Gateway Mall. Signs reported missing in the maintenance shop were located as well. All nine signs have been located and accounted for."

Notified R4DO (Silvia), ILTAB (email), and NMSS Events (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

!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED.THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor	Event Number: 54495
Facility: SUMMER Region: 2 State: SC Unit: [1] [] [] RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-AP1000,[3] W-AP1000 NRC Notified By: JEFF MANROSS HQ OPS Officer: KERBY SCALES	Notification Date: 01/27/2020 Notification Time: 09:29 [ET] Event Date: 01/26/2020 Event Time: 23:54 [EST] Last Update Date: 01/29/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): NICOLE COOVERT (R2DO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

100

Power Operation

100

Power Operation

Event Text

INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF AN EARLY WARNING SIREN

"At 2354 EST, on January 26, 2020, officials with the State Emergency Operations Center and Newberry County, SC were notified of an apparent inadvertent actuation of a single siren in the VC Summer Early Warning Siren System (EWSS).

"[VC Summer Nuclear Station] VCSNS received a report of siren actuation from a local resident at approximately 2340 EST. The EWSS indication at the Emergency Operations Facility showed siren #35 had actuated. A reset of the EWSS was performed. VCSNS is working to confirm actual siren activation and troubleshoot the issue. This event is still under investigation.

"This is a non-emergency notification of other government agency. This event is reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi).

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

The Licensee notified state and local agencies.

* * * RETRACTION ON 1/29/2020 AT 1502 EST FROM HANK KIRKLAND TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

"The investigation of this event has concluded that EWSS siren #35 did not actuate. This conclusion was reached after interviewing residents who reside directly across the street from EWSS Siren #35, who confirmed that this siren did not actuate. Also, maintenance personnel investigations concluded that the local activation indication was erroneous, due to observed battery readings being normal. Had the siren actuated, its batteries would have been depleted or nearly depleted."

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified. Notified R2DO (Baptist).

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