Event Notification Report for February 20, 2020

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - GAUGE FAILURE

The following report was received via email from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

"During an inspection on February 20, 2020, an above normal reading on a Cesium-137 level gauge source head was discovered. Radiation measurements ranged from approximately 15 to 45 millirem per hour at one foot from the back of the source holder cap. It should be noted this gauge is located 11.5 feet off the ground, in an area with no stationed personnel or foot traffic. The device is a Kayray Model 7062B level gauge (Serial No. 21462) containing 25 milliCuries of Cs-137. The licensee immediately removed the device from service, the area was secured to ensure background radiation levels, and the manufacturer was contacted to initiate either a repair or replacement of the gauge. The area will remain secured until the device is able to be put into service again."

PA incident number: PA200005

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - ABANDONED PORTABLE MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following was received from the state of New Jersey via email:

"A local Police Department informed [NJ Department Radioactive Materials Program] that a suspicious package was discovered behind a deli/apartment building. Hazmat officials responded. The package was identified as the transport container for a portable moisture density gauge. Labeling on the container identified the gauge as a CPN International, Inc., MC Series Portaprobe, serial number M380404223. The labeling further stated that the gauge contained a Cs-137/Am-241/Be source. The listed activities were 10 mCi of Cs-137 as of 11/19/97 and 50 mCi of Am-241/Be as of 6/6/97. The shipping container appeared intact, with appropriate cautionary labeling. The highest exposure rate reported was 0.9 mR/hr at two feet from the container. The licensee reportedly told officials on the scene that they were out of business and could not explain how the device got to the location where it was found. Due to the lack of security that allowed the device to be moved to the location where it was found, we were not confident that the licensee would be able to secure the item if it was returned to them. The hazmat team secured the device overnight at their office location. The device will be secured pending completion of the investigation and subsequent proper disposition of the device.

"The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Environmental Radiation was notified."

UNANALYZED CONDITION - UNPROTECTED DC CONTROL CIRCUITS

[On February 20, 2020, at 1240 EST, the Licensee determined the following information:]

"This notification is in reference to reports EN 54130 and LER 2019-002, which were retracted. James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant received additional information on the technical basis for the retraction. Further review, including testing of the terminal blocks, demonstrated that the short circuit current would result in heat levels in excess of cable insulation ratings.

"Unprotected DC control circuits for non-safety related DC motors are routed between separate fire areas. A postulated fire in one area can cause a short circuit and potentially result in secondary fires or cable fires in other fire areas where the cables are routed. The secondary fires or cable failures degrade the degree of separation for redundant safe shutdown trains and are outside the assumptions of the 10 CFR 50 Appendix R Safe Shutdown Analysis. This condition is reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B).

"Compensatory actions per the Technical Requirements Manual (TRM) for affected fire areas have been implemented. A modification to install fuses in the control circuits for 94P-2(M), 31P-7A(M), 31P-7B(M), and 94P-13(M) has been scheduled and shall correct this condition."

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.