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

Event Notification Report for August 11, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
8/10/2020 - 8/11/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54759
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: Steward Norwood Hospital Region: 1 City: Norwood State: MA County: License #: 44-0008 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Kenath Traecde HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity	Notification Date: 06/29/2020 Notification Time: 16:12 [ET] Event Date: 06/29/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 08/10/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): MEL GRAY (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

EN Revision Imported Date : 8/11/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RELOCATION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL DUE TO FLOODING

The following was received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (via email):

"Excessive rain caused flooding in a medical building where licensed radioactive materials are used and stored at Steward Norwood Hospital on the evening of 6/28/2020. A call was received by the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program from licensee's consultant, F. X. Masse Associates, Inc., at approximately 0906 EDT on 6/29/2020. It was reported that the building where licensed material is used and stored was flooded and evacuation was mandatory by 1200 EDT.

"The Radiation Control Program (RCP) contacted the Director of Imaging at Steward Norwood Hospital at 0955 EDT and discussed the event. The hospital was requested to evacuate the relevant building by 1200 EDT by local government. The licensed materials to be moved included: one 186.5 microCurie cesium-137 vial source; one 1.970 milliCurie cobalt-57 flood source; one 2.301 milliCurie cobalt-57 flood source; one 0.277 microCurie cesium-137 rod source; one 9.404 microCurie cesium-137 button source; one 1.691 microCurie cobalt-57 button source; one 0.722 microCurie cobalt-57 button source; one 0.284 milliCurie cobalt-57 flood source; and two intact iodine-125 capsules of unknown activities (at this time). There may be other sources moved and it is expected that they will be reported to the RCP.

"The licensee was granted an emergency approval to move the sources to a different secure building on the site campus until such time as the relevant building is allowed to be reoccupied. A written report and amendment request are forthcoming from the licensee.

"There has been no report of personnel exposure or contamination as a result of the flooding. The hot lab where the licensed materials were initially being used and stored had no reported damage. Additional details will be forthcoming."

MA Item Number: 54759

* * * UPDATE ON 7/2/2020 AT 1724 EDT FROM ANTHONY CARPENITO TO BRIAN LIN * * *

The following update was received via email:

"The subject licensee inventory included Iodine originally reported as Iodine-125. The licensee updated inventory is the same as previously reported except there is no Iodine-125. The correct isotope is Iodine-123 (two intact capsules, each capsule with licensee-reported estimated current activity of 1.2 microCuries).

"The agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] considers this event to still be open."

Notified R1DO (Werkheiser) and NMSS Event Notifications (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 8/10/2020 AT 1724 EDT FROM ANTHONY CARPENITO TO THOMAS HERRITY * * *

The following update was received via email:

"The licensee has requested, and the Agency approved, a license amendment to include a new radioactive material storage location. No additional information is expected by the Agency. The Agency considers this event to be CLOSED."

Notified R1DO (Gray) and NMSS Event Notifications (email).

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

Agreement State	Event Number: 54811
Rep Org: ARIZONA DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Tucson Electric Power Company Region: 4 City: Springerville State: AZ County: License #: 01-006 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Brian Goretzki HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere	Notification Date: 08/03/2020 Notification Time: 21:55 [ET] Event Date: 08/03/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [MST] Last Update Date: 08/03/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING SHUTTER ON FIXED GAUGE

"On August 3, 2020, during a routine inspection, the Department [Arizona Department of Health Services] discovered that the licensee had a shutter go missing from a fixed gauge in November of 2016. The radiation safety officer was attempting to perform a lock-out procedure when he realized that the entire shutter mechanism was missing from the unit. The gauge was a Texas Nuclear Corporation Model 5192, SN: B4192, containing 100 milliCuries of Cs-137.

"The Department has requested additional information and continues to investigate the event."

Arizona Incident: 20-013.

Non-Agreement State	Event Number: 54825
Rep Org: USAF Licensee: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF USAF Region: 3 City: Wright Patterson AFB State: OH County: License #: 42-23539-01AF Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Ramachandra K Bhat HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin	Notification Date: 08/10/2020 Notification Time: 07:10 [ET] Event Date: 06/23/2020 Event Time: 11:30 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/10/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: 30.50(b)(2) - Safety Equipment Failure	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) MARTHA POSTON-BROWN (EMAIL)

Event Text

LEAKING SOURCE FROM AIRCRAFT RADIUM DIAL

The following summary of information was received via email:

On June 23, 2020 at approximately 1130 [CDT], the Permit Radiation Safety Officer (PRSO) was working on a J-79 engine and proceeded to survey his work area. During the survey, he found measurements indicating contamination on a nearby table that contained an instrument dial. He did a direct measurement of the Oxygen Pressure Indicator dial, which is approximately 2 inches in diameter and found approximately 7000 Counts Per Minute (CPM) direct reading. The PRSO surveyed the covering over the table on which the dial was on and found approximately 100 CPM with the Ludlum 44-9 pancake style Geiger Muller (GM) probe. The area of the contamination he found was about the size of the probe area. Surveys of the cockpit and surrounding areas were all less than 20 disintegrations per minute (dpm)/100 square centimeter loose and 100 dpm/100 square cm total for Radium-226 in accordance with the Acceptable Surface Contamination Levels. The dial was removed from a restored aircraft in a publicly accessible part of the museum. The aircraft was originally surveyed in 1989 and the presence of the radium dial was not detected. Therefore, no radiological controls were implemented to prevent any possible public exposure. The quantity of Radium-226 was estimated at 2 microCuries for the dial. The dial was turned into the Air Force Radioactive Recycling and Disposal center for disposal. The contaminated portion of the table was cut out and disposed of. The open cockpit was surveyed to verify no presence of Radium-226. Any cleaning equipment for the cockpit and surrounding area of the aircraft were controlled and moved to a radioactive storage area.

The licensee contacted Region IV.

Power Reactor	Event Number: 54826
Facility: Duane Arnold Region: 3 State: IA Unit: [1] [] [] RX Type: [1] GE-4 NRC Notified By: Scott Welch HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font	Notification Date: 08/10/2020 Notification Time: 14:38 [ET] Event Date: 08/10/2020 Event Time: 12:58 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/10/2020
Emergency Class: Unusual Event 10 CFR Section: 50.72(a) (1) (i) - Emergency Declared 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(A) - Eccs Injection 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation	Person (Organization): PATRICIA PELKE (R3DO) JOHN GIESSNER (R3 RA) HO NIEH (NRR) JEFFERY GRANT (IRD) CHRIS MILLER (NRR EO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

A/R

Power Operation

Hot Shutdown

Event Text

NOTICE OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER DUE TO HIGH WINDS

At 1258 CDT on August 10, 2020, Duane Arnold Energy Center declared an Unusual Event due to a loss of offsite power due to high winds. The event at the single unit plant resulted in an automatic scram from 82 percent power (Mode-1) to zero percent power (Mode-3). They are headed to Mode-4. There is damage on site, but the Reactor Building is intact. All rods inserted and cooling is being addressed via Reactor Core Isolation Cooling (RCIC) for level control and Safety Relief Valves are removing decay heat to the torus. Both Standby Diesel Generator are running.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, the Iowa Department of Emergency Management, and the Linn County and Benton County Emergency Management agencies.

Notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, CISA Central, FEMA NWC (email), DHS Nuclear SSA (email), and FEMA NRCC SASC (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 08/10/2020 AT 1554 EDT FROM CURTIS HANSEN TO OSSY FONT * * *

"This report is being made under CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv)(B) for an automatic reactor scram due to loss of offsite power due to high winds.

"In addition, this report is being made under CFR 50.72 (b)(3)(iv)(A) and (B) due to PCIS [(Primary Containment Isolation System)] Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 [activating] due to loss of offsite power. All isolations went to completion. RCIC injecting for level control.

"All rods fully inserted during the scram. The plant electrical line up is both SBDGs (Standby Diesel Generators) are running.

"Decay heat is being removed via SRVs (Safety Relief Valves) to the torus.

"Progress towards shutdown cooling.

"NRC Senior Resident [Inspector] notified at 1448."

Notified R3DO (Pelke).

Part 21	Event Number: 54827
Rep Org: WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION Licensee: Masoneilan Region: 4 City: Killona State: LA County: St. Charles License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Maria Zamber HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity	Notification Date: 08/10/2020 Notification Time: 17:05 [ET] Event Date: 08/03/2020 Event Time: 16:59 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/10/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: 21.21(d)(3)(i) - Defects And Noncompliance	Person (Organization): DAVID PROULX (R4DO) - PART 21/50.55 REACTORS (EMAIL)

Event Text

PART 21 REPORT - DEFECT OF MASONEILAN 8012N-3C ELECTROPNEUMATIC POSITIONER

The following was received from the licensee:

"On August 3, 2020, Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy) completed an evaluation of a deviation at Waterford 3 which concluded the condition constitutes a defect pursuant to 10 CFR 21. The Waterford 3 Site Vice President was notified of the result of this evaluation on August 10, 2020.

"The Masoneilan 8012N-3C electropneumatic positioner installed on Emergency Feedwater Valve EFW-223A locked during as-found diagnostic testing. Failure analysis concluded that the condition was due to an internal failure of the magnet-coil assembly due to the magnet base had poor solder joints. This has been attributed to a manufacturing defect. Entergy concluded that this condition could affect the ability to properly respond to an Emergency Feedwater Actuation Signal / Main Steam Isolation Signal if present on any of the four air operated Emergency Feedwater to Steam Generator flow control valves; therefore, it could have created a substantial safety hazard."

Licensees affected: Waterford.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified R4DO and the Part 21 group via email.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021