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

Event Notification Report for September 09, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
9/8/2020 - 9/9/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54868
Rep Org: KENTUCKY DEPT OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: GEOTECHNOLOGY INC. Region: 1 City: Lexington State: KY County: License #: 201-189-51 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Anjan Bhattacharyya HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin	Notification Date: 08/31/2020 Notification Time: 11:49 [ET] Event Date: 08/30/2020 Event Time: 10:15 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): JOSEPHINE AMBROSINI (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) ILTAB (EMAIL) JEFFERSON CLARK (EMAIL)

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

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was received from the state of Kentucky via email:

"The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of the Kentucky Radioactive Materials Licensee Geotechnology Inc. (RML #201-189-51), reported the theft of a single CPN MC-1 Elite Series Moisture Density gauge (Serial No: 31113 with sealed source models HEG137, 10 mCi Cs-137, sealed source serial number Q785, and AM1.NO2, 50 mCi AM-241:Be, sealed source serial Number K039/18) from an authorized users vehicle while parked overnight at the user's residence located in Lexington KY. The gauge was secured by 2 chains within the cab of the vehicle, but was stolen from the vehicle along with several other items. No forced entry into the vehicle was noted, but one of the two chains securing the gauge was cut and the second chain was removed by breaking the top handle of the gauge transportation case. A report was made to the Lexington Police Department which is investigating the theft (Case No. 2020145606). The Kentucky Radiation Health Branch, will follow up with an interview with the RSO and authorized user.

"Reporting Criteria In 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i)"

Kentucky Incident No.: 201-189-51

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: 54871
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV Licensee: Southern Recycling LLC Region: 4 City: New Orleans State: LA County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: James Pate HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity	Notification Date: 08/31/2020 Notification Time: 15:06 [ET] Event Date: 08/28/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RICK DEESE (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVITY FOUND IN RECYCLED MATERIAL

The following was received from the state of Louisiana:

"On August 28, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) / Emergency Response Services Division / Radiation Section was contacted to report radioactive material was discovered being brought into the facility in a roll-off box to Southern Recycling LLC. The roll-off box came from Monsanto Company, Luling, Louisiana 70070. The roll-off box contained scrap metal from a new construction site at Monsanto Company. American Radiation Services (ARS), Port Allen, LA was brought in to survey the box and make determination of the radioactive material. ARS determined that the radioactive material was Se-75. The survey reading was two mR/hr at surface contact. The survey reading was taken from a corrugated paper box with no removable contamination. At this time, no radiation sealed source has been found or indication to make determination of the potential source.

"LDEQ is sending an inspector to the facility to make further determination if possible with ARS. The radioactive material is secured on site at Southern Recycling."

Louisiana Incident No.: LA20200008

Agreement State	Event Number: 54872
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Solvay Specialty Polymers USA LLC Region: 4 City: Borger State: TX County: License #: L06719 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Art Tucker HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity	Notification Date: 09/01/2020 Notification Time: 11:03 [ET] Event Date: 08/31/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 09/01/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RICK DEESE (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- SHUTTER STUCK IN OPEN POSITION

The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via e-mail:

"On September 1, 2020, the Agency received a report from the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) indicating the shutter on an Ohmart Vega model SH-F1B nuclear gauge was stuck in the open position. Open is the normal operating position of this gauge. The gauge contains a 100 milliCurie (original activity) cesium-137 source. The stuck shutter was found during routine inspections. The licensee has contacted a service provider to repair the gauge. The gauge does not create an exposure risk to any individual. Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: 9791

Agreement State	Event Number: 54873
Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION Licensee: Cincinnati Papperboard Region: 3 City: Cininnati State: OH County: License #: N/A Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Micheal Snee HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity	Notification Date: 09/01/2020 Notification Time: 13:53 [ET] Event Date: 08/28/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/01/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): DAVID HILLS (R3DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHUTTER MECHANISM MALFUNCTION

The following was received from the Ohio Dept. of Health via e-mail:

"During a routine inspection of a generally licensed device a broken spring on the basis weight shutter was discovered. This spring is a fail-safe that closes the shutter in the event of the loss of air pressure. A temporary repair to the spring was made and the shutter was tested. The shutter is now working properly and a replacement spring is on order with a plan to install the spring as soon as possible after it arrives.

"Until the spring is replaced, the scanner will be taken off-line daily and observations made that the shutter closes.

"The device contains a 400 mCi, Kr-85 source. No personnel were exposed due to the spring failure."

Ohio Item Number: OH200005

Ohio Reference Number: OH2020-037

Power Reactor	Event Number: 54888
Facility: Catawba Region: 2 State: SC Unit: [1] [] [] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: Walter Hunnicutt HQ OPS Officer: Jeffrey Whited	Notification Date: 09/08/2020 Notification Time: 13:13 [ET] Event Date: 09/08/2020 Event Time: 09:25 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/08/2020
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): MARK MILLER (R2DO)

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX Crit

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

A/R

100

Power Operation

Hot Standby

Event Text

AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP ON OVER POWER DELTA TEMPERATURE

"At 0925 EDT, on September 8, 2020, with Unit 1 in Mode 1 at 100 percent power, the reactor automatically tripped on Overpower Delta Temperature. Unit 1 Channel 1 Overpower Delta Temperature was tripped as a planned evolution when an inadvertent Unit 1 Channel 2 Overpower Delta Temperature signal was received. This resulted in an automatic reactor trip. The trip was not complex, with all systems responding normally. Because of the reactor trip, the Auxiliary Feedwater (AFW) System actuated as expected due to on ATWS Mitigation System Actuation Circuitry (AMSAC) signal. Unit 2 is not affected.

"Operations responded and stabilized the plant. Decay heat is being removed by discharging steam to the main condenser using the condenser steam dump valves.

"Due to the Reactor Protection System (RPS) actuation while critical, this event is being reported as a 4-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B). This event is also being reported as an 8-hour non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that results in a valid actuation of the AFW system.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Fuel Cycle Facility	Event Number: 54889
Facility: Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas RX Type: Uranium Fuel Fabrication Comments: Leu Conversion (Uf6 To Uo2) Leu Fabrication Lwr Commerical Fuel Region: 2 City: Wilmington State: NC County: New Hanover License #: SNM-1097 Docket: 07001113 NRC Notified By: Phillip Ollis HQ OPS Officer: Jeffrey Whited	Notification Date: 09/08/2020 Notification Time: 14:16 [ET] Event Date: 09/07/2020 Event Time: 20:45 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/08/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: PART 70 APP A (c) - Offsite Notification/News Rel	Person (Organization): MARK MILLER (R2DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

REPORT OF OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO IMPAIRMENT OF FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

"At approximately 2045 EDT on September 7th, 2020, the New Hanover County Deputy Fire Marshal was notified per State code requirements that the fire suppression system encompassing a part of the Fuel Manufacturing Operation (FMO) was impaired due the discovery of a water leak in the sprinkler system. Additional compensatory measures were enacted. The system was restored at approximately 0930 today (9/8/2020) and the Deputy Fire Marshal informed of restoration. Because the New Hanover County Deputy Fire Marshal was notified, a concurrent notification to the NRC Operations Center is being made per 10 CFR 70, Appendix A(c)."

The NRC Region 2 and the State of North Carolina Radiation Protection Office will be notified of this event.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021