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Event Notification Report for July 20, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
7/17/2020 - 7/20/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **
 
54766 54767 54774 54775 54789

Agreement State Event Number: 54766
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: Blue Ocean Organics, Inc.
Region: 4
City: Fresno   State: CA
County:
License #: 7865-10
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: K. Arunika Hewadikaram
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font		 Notification Date: 07/09/2020
Notification Time: 14:27 [ET]
Event Date: 07/03/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State		 Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
- CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN HYDROPROBE

The following was received from the California Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) via email:

"On 07/08/20, the licensee's ARSO [(Assistant Radiation Safety Officer)] contacted the RHB to report a stolen hydroprobe, CPN Model 503, S/N H330301362 containing 50 mCi of Am-241. The gauge belonged to Blue Ocean Organics, Inc. and was stolen on 07/03/20, out of a technician's truck parked overnight at a location in Visalia, CA. The ARSO stated that the hydroprobe was removed from the two chain lock in the back of the truck and placed in the cab of the truck overnight when it was stolen along with some other items. On 07/03/20, immediate notification was made to Tulare County Police Department (Deputy G. Canales A344, case # 20-055488). Licensee will be posting a reward for the safe return of the gauge.

"RHB will be following up with the investigation. The licensee will be cited for several items including failure to notify RHB per 10 CFR 20.2201(a)."

CA 5010 Number: 070820

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

Part 21 Event Number: 54767
Rep Org: PIEZOTECH, LLC
Licensee: Piezotech, LLC
Region: 3
City: Indianapolis   State: IN
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Eric Heidt
HQ OPS Officer: Dan Livermore		 Notification Date: 07/09/2020
Notification Time: 16:17 [ET]
Event Date: 01/01/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
21.21(d)(3)(i) - Defects And Noncompliance		 Person (Organization):
- PART 21 MATERIALS (EMAIL)
KARLA STOEDTER (R3DO)
DAVID ALLEY (NMSS)
SHIRLEY XU (NMSS)

Event Text

PART 21 - PARTS MANUFACTURED USING SOURCE MATERIAL WITHOUT A SPECIFIC LICENSE

The following is a summary of information received from Piezotech, LLC:

Piezotech possessed and used source material, in the form of depleted uranium, without applying for and receiving a specific license in accordance with 10 CFR 40.31. The depleted uranium was used to manufacture piezoelectric ceramics which contained an "Unimportant Quantity" of depleted uranium as defined in 10 CFR 40.13(c)(2)(ii). Piezotech transferred the piezoelectric ceramics to several customers without first applying for and receiving a license for initial transfer of items containing source material in accordance with 10 CFR 40.52 and did not file initial transfer reports as required by 10 CFR 40.53.

Piezotech suspects that a formulation to manufacture piezoceramics, named K180, was developed in the 1970s or 1980s. K180 uses depleted uranium as one of the doping materials in the manufacture of piezoceramics. The formulation uses an amount of depleted uranium that is less than 1 percent by weight.

In January of 2020, an engineer raised a concern to Piezotech's General Manager and to its Compliance Director that the company may need an NRC license to use depleted uranium in making the K180 piezoceramic. A review of NRC regulations showed that this was the case and at that time all activity regarding K180 was halted. All material used in K180 manufacturing and all existing inventory and intermediate stage materials were segregated from manufacturing and the container of depleted uranium was secured in a locked cabinet where it currently remains.

In February 2020, Piezotech commissioned a radiation survey of the facility and sampling occurred in all areas where K180 and its component materials were stored or processed. This survey indicated that all processing areas were at background radiation levels and all areas where the depleted uranium and K180 ceramics had been stored were below the annual exposure levels for untrained personnel.

Piezotech has decided to discontinue manufacturing the K180 material. The depleted uranium will remain sealed in the original container and shipping crate, having all the original markings and labels and secured in a locked flameproof cabinet. Piezotech is making arrangements with an appropriately licensed facility for the proper disposal of the remaining depleted uranium and intermediate stage and finished K180 product. If in the future Piezotech decides to resume manufacturing the K180 material or any material using NRC regulated substances, Piezotech will apply for the required licenses and will not initiate any regulated manufacturing or sales activities until all applicable licenses have bee issued.

For further information, contact:
John Churchill
Piezotech Compliance Director
Phone: (301) 216-3002
FAX: (301) 330-8873

Agreement State Event Number: 54774
Rep Org: VIRGINIA RAD MATERIALS PROGRAM
Licensee: ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC
Region: 1
City: Manassas   State: VA
County: Prince William Co.
License #: 683-314-3
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Asfaw Fenta
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin		 Notification Date: 07/10/2020
Notification Time: 11:12 [ET]
Event Date: 07/09/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/10/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State		 Person (Organization):
ANTHONY DIMITRIADIS (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - PORTABLE MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE DAMAGED

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

"On July 9, 2020, a representative of the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) received a report from a licensee through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management that a portable nuclear moisture /density gauge was damaged at a temporary jobsite in Manassas, Virginia. The VRMP contacted the licensee immediately and learned that a Bobcat V519 forklift struck the gauge (CPN MC1 Elite, Serial # 30950, containing 10 milliCuries of Cesium-137 and 50 milliCuries of Americium-241/Beryllium). The incident occurred while the gauge operator was running a gauge standardization count in front of the forklift. The guide tube of the gauge was bent and the case was scratched. However, the sources were in the shielded position and the shielding integrity was not damaged. The licensee performed a survey of the gauge and readings observed were less than 0.4 mR/hr at three (3) feet distance from the gauge. The gauge was put in its transport box and returned to the Manassas office. Wipe test samples were taken and results are pending. The VRMP is working with the licensee to obtain additional information and this report will be updated once the licensee's investigation is complete and the information is received."

Virginia report no.: VA-20-003

Agreement State Event Number: 54775
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: Regents of the Univeristy of California, Los Angeles
Region: 4
City: Los Angeles   State: CA
County:
License #: 1335-19
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Andrew Taylor
HQ OPS Officer: Solomon Sahle		 Notification Date: 07/10/2020
Notification Time: 20:18 [ET]
Event Date: 07/08/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/10/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State		 Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
GRETCHEN RIVERA-CAPELLA (NMSS DAY)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MEDICAL EVENT

The following report was received from the State of California via email:

"On July 10, 2020, the Radiation Safety Officer for the University of California, Los Angeles, notified the Radiologic Health Branch of a Medical Event that occurred with a Varian High Dose Afterloader with an Ir-192 source during an ovarian cancer treatment. The prescribed dose to the intended organ was 24 Gray (2400 rad). Due to an incorrect entry of the catheter length into the treatment delivery system, an unintended dose of 21.8 Gray (2180 rad) was estimated to have been delivered to the large bowel. The dose delivered to the intended organ was initially estimated at 0 Gray (0 rad). The patient and the patient's physician were notified. The licensee's investigation into this medical event is ongoing and will be reviewed further by the California Department of Public Health"

California 5010 report no: 071020

A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

Power Reactor Event Number: 54789
Facility: Diablo Canyon
Region: 4     State: CA
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Brian Engleton
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith		 Notification Date: 07/17/2020
Notification Time: 19:59 [ET]
Event Date: 07/17/2020
Event Time: 13:46 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/17/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical		 Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

Event Text

MANUAL REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO INCREASED HYDROGEN USAGE

"On July 17, 2020, at 1346 PDT with Diablo Canyon Power Plant Unit 2 operating at 100 percent power, the reactor was manually tripped in accordance with plant procedures due to increasing hydrogen usage in the Unit 2 main generator. The reactor trip was uncomplicated and the Auxiliary Feedwater system started as expected. The plant is stable in Mode 3.

"This notification is being made in accordance the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) as a manual actuation of the reactor protection system and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an automatic actuation of a specified safety system.

"The cause of the increased hydrogen usage is under investigation. There was no impact to the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.

"The Senior Resident Inspector has been notified."

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021