Report a Safety Concern
Search
Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2020

Event Notification Report for August 31, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
8/28/2020 - 8/31/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **
 
54850 54851 54852 54863 54864

Non-Agreement State Event Number: 54850
Rep Org: Uniformed Services University
Licensee: Uniformed Services University
Region: 1
City: Bethesda   State: MD
County:
License #: 19-23344-02
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Brian Champaine
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith		 Notification Date: 08/21/2020
Notification Time: 13:03 [ET]
Event Date: 08/18/2020
Event Time: 19:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/21/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.2202(b)(1) - Pers Overexposure/Tede >= 5 Rem		 Person (Organization):
JONATHAN GREIVES (R1DO)
KELLEE JAMERSON (NMSS DAY)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURE RESULTING IN BURN

The following is a summary from a phone call with the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) at Uniformed Services University of Health Services:

At the Uniformed Services University of Health Services, a research individual, authorized to operate the self-shielded CO-60 irradiator, last operated the irradiator on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at 1900 EDT. On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, she experienced a burn on her left hand and went to the hospital believing it to be from a radiation overexposure. From information she received at the hospital, in order for her to have received that burn from a radiation overexposure the dose equivalent would have to be estimated to be 600R. The RSO does not believe that to be the case since the highest surveyed area both before and after the event where her hand could have come in contact was a thin pipe reading 150mR/hour on contact. The individual has been in contact with her physician, fingernail samples have been sent out for analysis, the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) has been contacted by both the individual and the RSO, and her TLD has been sent out for analysis. The site has taken the machine out-of-service until more information can be collected.

The RSO had been in contact with specialists in Region 1.

Agreement State Event Number: 54851
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: Orion Marine Construction Inc.
Region: 4
City: Corpus Christi   State: TX
County:
License #: L 06473
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Arthur Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Andrew Waugh		 Notification Date: 08/21/2020
Notification Time: 15:08 [ET]
Event Date: 08/21/2020
Event Time: 08:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/27/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State		 Person (Organization):
NICK TAYLOR (R4DO)
KELLEE JAMERSON (NMSS DAY)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text



EN Revision Imported Date : 8/28/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGE ENGULFED DURING FIRE

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On August 21, 2020, at 1307 CDT the Agency was notified by the licensee consultant (LC) that a fire was burning on one of its dredges off the coast Corpus Christi, Texas. The LC stated the drudge had a 250 milliCurie (original activity) [Cs-137] source in a Berthold model 7440 nuclear gauge installed on a pipe for density measurement. The LC did not have any other information on the location, but knew the dredge was in between 40 and 50 feet of water. The LC stated that the personnel on board were fighting the fire. The LC stated they believed that the gauge would be engulfed by the fire. The LC stated they would supply additional information once the fire is out and they have a chance to inspect the equipment.

"At 1553 CDT the LC contacted the Agency and stated the dredge workers were able to take dose rate reading about two feet from the gauge and the reading was 26 millirem per hour. The LC stated that the steel was still too hot to stay very long in the area. The LC stated (when asked) that they believe the fire is out. The LC stated the current priority on the drudge was locating several missing individuals. The LC stated they directed personnel on the drudge to take a contamination survey on the gauge as soon as possible. The LC stated the gauge source serial number was 0025-06.

"A search of news sources in Corpus Christi, Texas by the Agency found that a barge had struck an underwater natural gas line at a facility in Corpus Christy, Texas. This information was verified by the licensee's LC. The news reports stated the event occurred at about 0800 CDT. The report stated that the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel are on the ground to provide support, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is monitoring air quality in the area. The United States Coast Guard is assisting in the fire fighting and search for individuals. The name of the drudge involved was provided in several reports. The Agency contacted the LC verified the ship was owned by the licensee. This information was verified by the Agency by reviewing four different news sources.

"Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: 9784

* * * UPDATE ON 8/21/20 AT 2337 EDT FROM ARTHUR TUCKER TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On August 21, 2020, at 2200 CDT, the Agency was notified by the LC that the drudge has sunk. The drudge is believed to be in 45-50 feet of water on its starboard (stbd) side. The gauge is located on the stbd side of the vessel and the shutter was in the open position. The LC stated that after talking to the radiation safety officer who is at the location the LC stated the dose rate they were able to take earlier today and was reported as 26 mR/hr at 2 feet was 26 mR/hr at 6 feet. A request for the composition of the source material has been made to the manufacturer. The search for four missing persons continues and is the current priority."

Notified R4DO (Taylor), NMSS (Jamerson), and NMSS Events Notifications (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 8/22/20 AT 0915 EDT FROM ARTHUR TUCKER TO THOMAS KENDZIA * * *

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On August 22, 2020 the manufacturer confirmed the source involved in this event is made of ceramic source material and is double encapsulated."

Follow-up phone call to the Agency confirmed that the fire is out and the LC and the RSO are working on a recovery plan. First priority remains the search for the four missing persons.

Notified R4DO (Taylor), NMSS (Jamerson), and NMSS Events Notifications (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 8/23/20 AT 1444 EDT FROM ARTHUR TUCKER TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"The Agency has contacted the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) and received the following information. The RSO stated that before the vessel sank a hazmat crew was able to get eyes on the gauge. The hazmat team stated the gauge did not appear to have been damaged by the fire. The area around the gauge also did not appear to have been damaged by the fire. The RSO stated the current plan is to raise the vessel, survey the gauge, and close the shutter. The RSO stated they would send a written report providing additional information."

Notified R4DO (Taylor), NMSS (Jamerson), and NMSS Events Notifications (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 8/24/20 AT 2209 EDT FROM ARTHUR TUCKER TO ANDREW WAUGH * * *

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"The Agency contacted the licensee's consultant (LC) on August 24, 2020, and requested an update on the event. The consultant stated he had received a written report completed by the licensee's RSO for his review. The LC stated he is on vacation but hoped to forward it to the Agency today. As of the writing of this update the report has not been received by the Agency. The LC stated they had a contractor in place to retrieve the vessel. Once raised the plan is to inspect the gauge, perform surveys of the gauge, and close the shutter. The raising of the vessel is not scheduled to take place until next week or the week after that due to difficulties getting the needed equipment in place. In addition, the local weather may hamper recovery activities."

Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notifications (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 8/25/20 AT 2046 EDT FROM ARTHUR TUCKER TO BRIAN LIN * * *

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On August 25, 2020, the Agency received the following information from the licensee's radiation safety officer: 'We do not have the equipment to do a deep-water survey of the radiation source. T&T our salvage contractor is ordering the equipment to do the survey of the source to insure the safety of their divers because the source has not had an up-close survey since the vessel sunk. We have taken a survey above the water and have not picked up any radioactivity.' The report from the licensee has been delayed while a review is completed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notifications (email).

* * * UPDATE ON AUGUST 27, 2020 AT 1136 EDT FROM ART TUCKER TO BRIAN LIN * * *

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email:

"The licensee has confirmed that a member of a hazmat team who was able to inspect the gauge from a small boat next to the vessel prior to it sinking stated the gauge appeared undamaged, the wires leading to and from the gauge appeared to be undamaged, and that painted surfaces in the area of the gauge did not appear to be damaged by heat or the fire. The licensee stated they were unable to locate any pictures of the gauge prior to the vessel sinking. The licensee stated that their salvage contractor is ordering the equipment to do an underwater survey of the source to insure the safety of their divers because the source has not had an up-close survey since the vessel sunk. The licensee stated they have taken a survey in the water above the vessel and have not picked up any radioactivity. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notifications (email).

Agreement State Event Number: 54852
Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: Sunflower Enterprises
Region: 3
City: Dubuque   State: IA
County:
License #: 3389-1-31-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Randal S Dahlin
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Kendzia		 Notification Date: 08/22/2020
Notification Time: 09:29 [ET]
Event Date: 08/21/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/22/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State		 Person (Organization):
RICHARD SKOKOWSKI (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN SHUTTER ON FIXED GAUGE

The following was received from the Iowa Department of Public Health via email:

"On Friday August 21, 2020 the registrant reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health that they had discovered, on that day, a broken shutter handle on a Berthold Technologies model LB 7440 fixed gauging device. The registrant also indicated that an outside vendor had been contacted to repair the handle. This device is located on a barge used for dredging the Mississippi River. There is no threat to the health and safety of the public.

"This event will be updated in NMED once the required 30 day written report has been received."

Power Reactor Event Number: 54863
Facility: Dresden
Region: 3     State: IL
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-3,[3] GE-3
NRC Notified By: Joseph Bushen
HQ OPS Officer: Donald Norwood		 Notification Date: 08/28/2020
Notification Time: 10:22 [ET]
Event Date: 08/27/2020
Event Time: 16:45 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/28/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - Fitness For Duty		 Person (Organization):
RICHARD SKOKOWSKI (R3DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation

Event Text

FITNESS-FOR-DUTY REPORT - LICENSED OPERATOR TESTED POSITIVE

"At 1645 CDT on 8/27/2020, it was determined that a licensed operator tested positive in accordance with the FFD testing program. The individual's authorization for site access has been terminated.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Power Reactor Event Number: 54864
Facility: Vogtle
Region: 2     State: GA
Unit: [3] [4] []
RX Type: [3] W-AP1000,[4] W-AP1000
NRC Notified By: Nick Kellenberger
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font		 Notification Date: 08/28/2020
Notification Time: 16:38 [ET]
Event Date: 08/26/2020
Event Time: 09:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/28/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Other Unspec Reqmnt		 Person (Organization):
MARK MILLER (R2DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
3 N N 0 Under Construction 0 Under Construction
4 N N 0 Under Construction 0 Under Construction

Event Text

DESIGN CHANGE ALTERED BASIS FOR ITAAC

"In accordance with 10 CFR 52.99(c)(2), as described in NEI 08-01, 'Industry Guideline for the ITAAC Closure Process Under 10 CFR Part 52,' Vogtle Units 3 and 4 Construction is making this notification to the NRC for determining that Inspections, Tests, Analyses and Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC) 2.5.02.07a (Index No. 534) and ITAAC 2.5.02.07e (Index No. 538) for both units require additional actions to restore their completed status. The ITAAC Closure Notifications for ITAAC 534 were submitted on March 31, 2017 (Unit 3 ML17093A286, Unit 4 ML17093A535). The ITAAC Closure Notifications for ITAAC 538 were submitted on November 30, 2016 (Unit 3 ML16351A350, Unit 4 ML16351A334).

"On August 26, 2020, it was determined that a design change, issued for several Protection and Safety Monitoring System (PMS) isolation barrier assemblies (ISBs), materially altered the basis for determining that the ITAAC 534 and ITAAC 538 Acceptance Criteria were met. The modified ISBs will require testing per IEEE 384-1981, Standard Criteria for Independence of Class 1E Equipment and Circuits, to demonstrate that the Acceptance Criteria is met. System function is not required while the plant is under construction.

"ITAAC Post Closure Notifications in accordance with 10 CFR 52.99(c)(2) will be submitted following completion of corrective actions.

"The 10 CFR 52.99(c)(4) All ITAAC Complete Notification has not been submitted for VEGP [(Vogtle Electric Generating Plant)] 3 and 4.

"The resident inspector has been notified."

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021