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

Event Notification Report for August 10, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
8/7/2020 - 8/10/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54805
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Westrock Texas LP Region: 4 City: Silsbee State: TX County: License #: L 01095 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Arthur Tucker HQ OPS Officer: Andrew Waugh	Notification Date: 07/30/2020 Notification Time: 08:13 [ET] Event Date: 07/29/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 07/30/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTERS

The following information was received via email:

"On July 29, 2020, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that during the performance of routine gauge inspections two gauges were found to have shutters that would not function. One was a Ronan model SA-1-F37 gauge containing a 150 mCi cesium-137 source with the shutter stuck in the open position. The second gauge was a Ronan model SA-1-C10 gauge containing a 100 mCi cesium-137 source with the shutter stuck in the closed position. Both source activities reported are the original activities. The gauge shutters are stuck in the normal operating position and do not create any additional exposure risk to any individual. The licensee has contacted a service company to repair the gauges. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: 9780

Agreement State	Event Number: 54807
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: Town of Littleton Region: 1 City: Attleboro State: MA County: License #: N/A Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Zara Rejaee HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere	Notification Date: 07/30/2020 Notification Time: 12:35 [ET] Event Date: 07/01/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 07/30/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): BRICE BICKETT (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) ILTAB (EMAIL)

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - ABANDONED RADIOACTIVE SCRAP METAL

The following information was received via email:

"On 7/1/2020, Massachusetts Radiation Control Program was informed by Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., that a scrap metal shipment from Town of Littleton Transfer Station in Littleton, MA set off the radiation monitor alarm. The vehicle was redirected back to Littleton Transfer Station for follow-up survey and mitigation in accordance with MA RCP DOT Special Permit 10656 MA-MA-20-01.

"On 7/6/20, the material was identified and segregated from the scrap metal load by an independent radiation consultant. The radioactive material discovered was radium-226 Aircraft gauge. Device is intact and not leaking as a wipe test was done by radiation consultant. A Ludlum Model 9DP-1 ion chamber was used for direct measurements on the instrument. The dose rate at 6 inches from the instrument was 1 mR/hr. Dose rate outside of drum is less than 300 microR/hr. The radium-226 activity was estimated to be approximately 31.6 microCuries based on the dose rate measured.

"The RAM material is being stored in safe secure storage away from people and labeled as radioactive material held for proper 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 Massachusetts Radiation Control Program considers this event to be open until proper disposal of this instrument is confirmed."

Event Docket No.: MA 19-4216

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: 54809
Rep Org: Mistras Group Licensee: Mistras Group Region: 3 City: Burr Ridge State: IL County: License #: 12-16559-02 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Matt Kim HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font	Notification Date: 08/01/2020 Notification Time: 09:51 [ET] Event Date: 07/31/2020 Event Time: 11:55 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/01/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: 30.50(b)(2) - Safety Equipment Failure	Person (Organization): BRICE BICKETT (R1DO) MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

NON-AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA GUIDE TUBE

The following is a summary of information received from the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) via phone:

While two radiographers where shooting pipe welds in Saint Albans, WV with a 100 Ci Ir-192 radiography camera, a separate pipe rolled off and crimped the guide tube with the source in the collimator. They extended the work area to 1 mR/h and called a retrieval team. The team arrived 1.5 hours later with lead bags, which were placed on the collimator, reducing the dose rate to 1 mR/h at the source. They cut some of the crimped metal in order to retract the source. The camera was returned to the licensee's South Point, Ohio storage unit. The guide tube will be cut and replaced.

The dose to the radiographer and radiographer assistant was 30 mrem and 19 mrem, respectively. The dose to the retrieval team RSO and RSO assistant was 30 mrem and 22 mrem, respectively.

Agreement State	Event Number: 54810
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Jacob & Martin LTD Region: 4 City: Abilene State: TX County: License #: L06083 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Karen Blanchard HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere	Notification Date: 08/01/2020 Notification Time: 20:36 [ET] Event Date: 08/01/2020 Event Time: 12:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/01/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): HEATHER GEPFORD (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 - LOST MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

"At approximately 1749 CDT on August 1, 2020, the licensee notified the agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) that at approximately 1200 CDT, one of the licensee's technicians had completed density testing and placed the Troxler Model 3440 gauge (SN: 25201) in the bed of his pickup with the insertion rod locked. The technician then collected a moisture sample. He failed to secure the gauge in its transportation case and failed to raise the tailgate of the truck as well. The technician had driven approximately 1.5 miles from the site when he realized what had happened and that the gauge was not in the bed of the truck. He reported immediately to his supervisor. The licensee searched by vehicle and on foot the entire route the technician had driven and also checked with some other workers on the site but they had not seen anything. The licensee reported the loss to local police department and then notified the agency. The licensee will pursue other avenues to attempt to locate the gauge (notify pawn shops, check for surveillance cameras at locations along the route, etc.). The gauge contained an 8 milliCurie cesium-137 and 40 milliCurie americium-241 source. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident No.: TBD.

* * * UPDATE ON 8/1/20 AT 2150 EDT FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO BETHANY CECERE * * *

"The licensee has notified the agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) that a member of the public had posted on Facebook that he had found the gauge. The technician who lost the gauge saw the post and made arrangements to get the gauge from him. At approximately 1945 CDT, the licensee took possession of the gauge. The lock on the insertion rod was still in place, sources were in the fully shielded position, and there is no apparent damage to the gauge. The licensee will have it checked by the manufacturer/service company. Licensee will notify LLEA of the recovery."

Notified R4DO (Gepford), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico).

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: 54824
Facility: Grand Gulf Region: 4 State: MS Unit: [1] [] [] RX Type: [1] GE-6 NRC Notified By: Gabriel Hargrove HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin	Notification Date: 08/08/2020 Notification Time: 05:34 [ET] Event Date: 08/08/2020 Event Time: 01:27 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/08/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (R4DO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

M/R

Power Operation

Hot Shutdown

Event Text

REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO A TURBINE HIGH PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE MALFUNCTION

On August 8, 2020, at 0127 CDT, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station was manually shut down due to a turbine high pressure control valve malfunction. Reactor pressure is being controlled with bypass control valves to the main condenser. Reactor level is being maintained with condensate and feedwater through startup level control. The plant is stable in MODE 3 and proceeding to cold shutdown. The cause of the 'D' high pressure control valve malfunction is under investigation at this time.

All rods fully inserted and there were no complications. All systems responded as designed.

This event is being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B), as any event or condition that results in actuation of the Reactor Protection System (RPS) when the reactor is critical.

Additionally, at 0159 CDT, with all rods fully inserted and after the 0127 CDT manual reactor Scram, an automatic valid RPS actuation signal was received.

This event is also being reported under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A), as an event or condition that results in a valid actuation of any of the systems listed in 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(B).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021