Event Notification Report for October 29, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

EVENT REPORTS FOR
10/28/2020 - 10/29/2020

!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor
Event Number: 54938
Facility: Monticello
Region: 3     State: MN
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] GE-3
NRC Notified By: Matt Brunner
HQ OPS Officer: Jeffrey Whited
Notification Date: 10/08/2020
Notification Time: 13:14 [ET]
Event Date: 10/08/2020
Event Time: 11:25 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/28/2020
Emergency Class: Unusual Event
10 CFR Section:
50.72(a) (1) (i) - Emergency Declared
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - Offsite Notification
73.71(b)(1) - Safeguards Reports
Person (Organization):
BRIAN HOLIAN (NSIR)
MIRELA GAVRILAS (NRR)
JACK GIESSNER (R3 RA)
ROBERT ORLIKOWSKI (R3DO)
CHRIS MILLER (NRR EO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 100 Power Operation 100 Power Operation
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 10/29/2020

EN Revision Text: NOTIFICATION OF AN UNUSUAL EVENT

At 1125 CDT on 10/8/20 Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant declared a Notification of an Unusual Event (NOUE) due to a Security Condition that did not involve a hostile action, due to a helicopter that hovered over the site for approximately 10 minutes.

The unit remained at 100 percent power during the event.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, the Minnesota State Duty Officer and the Wright County and Sherburne County Sherriff departments of the event.

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


* * * UPDATE ON 10/8/2020 AT 2013 EDT FROM JEFF OLSON TO JEFFREY WHITED * * *

"At 1715 CDT Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant terminated the Notice of Unusual Event (HU1.1), upon confirmation through federal law enforcement and conversation with the aircraft owner that the aircraft in question was performing power line inspections for a different utility and was not a threat to the plant. Monticello determined that this condition did not meet the 1-hour reporting requirements of 10 CFR 73.71."

Notified R3DO (Orlikowski), NRR EO (Miller), and IRD MOC (Gott). Additionally, notified DHS SWO, FEMA Operations Center, CISA Central, FEMA NWC (email), DHS Nuclear SSA (email), and FEMA NRCC SASC (email).


* * * RETRACTION ON 10/28/20 AT 1436 EDT FROM JACOB BURSKI TO BETHANY CECERE * * *

"Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (MNGP) is retracting this event notification based on subsequent information received that was not available at the time of the original notification. Following review of the additional information collected by the site through an investigation performed with input from local and federal law enforcement, Xcel Energy determined the helicopter did not constitute a credible threat or compromise site safety or security. There was no impact to public health or safety. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

The licensee will notify the State and county.

Notified R3DO (Peterson).


Agreement State
Event Number: 54956
Rep Org: SC DEPT OF HEALTH & ENV CONTROL
Licensee: KCI Technologies, Inc.
Region: 1
City: Blacksburg   State: SC
County:
License #: 935
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Andrew Roxburgh
HQ OPS Officer: Andrew Waugh
Notification Date: 10/20/2020
Notification Time: 10:35 [ET]
Event Date: 10/19/2020
Event Time: 12:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/20/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
MEL GRAY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following was received from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (The Department) via email:

"On October 20, 2020, at 0930 EDT, the Department was notified by the licensee's RSO [(Radiation Safety Officer)] that one of its gauges had been struck by a passing pickup truck while taking a measurement. The RSO stated that the gauge was able to be return to the fully shielded and locked position. The gauge damage was only to the electronics side of the gauge and did not damage the sources. The gauge is a Humboldt Model 5001 EZ (serial number: 9568) and contains 11 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241/Be."


Agreement State
Event Number: 54957
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: APPlus RTD USA
Region: 4
City: Torrance   State: CA
County:
License #: 8179-30
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Donald Oesterle
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin
Notification Date: 10/20/2020
Notification Time: 15:53 [ET]
Event Date: 10/19/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/20/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SOURCE DISCONNECT

The following information was received from the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch via email:

"On October 19, 2019, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for APPlus RTD, USA, contacted the Radiologic Health Branch regarding a source disconnect event at the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery. The device was a INC Ir-100 exposure device (serial number not reported) with an INC Model 32 Ir-192 source (serial number and activity not reported). The disconnect occurred while the source was cranked out of the device for an exposure. After the disconnect was discovered, the radiographer stopped cranking the source, isolated the area and contacted the RSO about the incident. After arriving at the scene, the RSO and alternate RSO assessed the situation and then proceeded to return the source back into the exposure device. The licensee's investigation into this event is ongoing and will be reviewed further by the California Department of Public Health."

CA 5010 No.:101920


Agreement State
Event Number: 54960
Rep Org: VIRGINIA RAD MATERIALS PROGRAM
Licensee: Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
Region: 1
City: Sandston   State: VA
County:
License #: 107-453-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Sheila Nelson
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin
Notification Date: 10/20/2020
Notification Time: 20:19 [ET]
Event Date: 10/20/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/20/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
MEL GRAY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

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

"On October 20, 2020, a representative of the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) received a report from a licensee via email that a portable nuclear moisture/density gauge was damaged in a vehicle accident at the intersection of Airport Road and Hwy 156 in Sandston, Virginia. The report indicated that a Troxler soil density gauge (Model 3430, Serial # 36803, containing 8 milliCuries of Cesium-137 and 40 milliCuries of Americium-241/Beryllium) was being transported in its case in the bed of a truck. During the accident, the case was damaged and the gauge housing was cracked, but there appeared to be no significant damage to the baseplate, rod, shielding or sources. The licensee's survey of the gauge yielded readings of 8-10 mR/hr at a 6 inch distance from the gauge. The gauge was returned to the Ashland office then transferred to an intact case and transported to North East Technical Services for further evaluation. 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."

VA incident no.: VA20005

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: 54961
Rep Org: WA OFFICE OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: GN Northern
Region: 4
City: Yakima   State: WA
County:
License #: I0457
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Steve Matthews
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin
Notification Date: 10/20/2020
Notification Time: 21:12 [ET]
Event Date: 10/19/2020
Event Time: 14:30 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/28/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 10/29/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AND FOUND PORTABLE GAUGE

The following was received from the State of Washington via email:

"At approximately 1430 [PDT] on October 19, 2020, a portable gauge technician, working for GN Northern, had completed performing compaction tests at Mt. Adams Elementary School in Harrah, Washington. At the end of the job, about 1500 [PDT] he placed his gauge (not in its case) on his pickup tailgate and did his write-up. Then at approximately 1515 [PDT] he drove off down the highway toward the GN Northern's home office in Yakima with the gauge on the tailgate. Then at approximately 1530 [PDT], the technician looked behind and noticed his tailgate down and remembered the gauge on the tailgate but [was] no longer there. The technician then turned around to look for it for about three (3) hours. He then called the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of GN Northern, and reported what had happened. After returning to Yakima the two of them looked for the gauge with flashlights along the highway but could not find it. The RSO then called 206-Nuclear and reported it to the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Section who then notified the Radioactive Materials Section the following morning. The Radioactive Materials Section then learned on the morning of October 20, 2020 from the RSO and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) that a private citizen ran over the gauge during the afternoon of October 19th and notified the WSP. At approximately 1600 [PDT] on October 19th, a WSP Trooper was notified by dispatch that there was a male individual at the WSP office in Union Gap, WA with a damaged gauge that he had struck on the highway and drug it while it was lodged underneath until he could [pull] over. The Union Gap police had also stopped to assist and advised the two males to deliver the gauge to the WSP for safe keeping. WSP Troopers took the gauge and delivered it to the WSP impound facility in Union Gap, WA for safe keeping. Meanwhile, during the afternoon of October 19th, GN Northern had notified Yakima County Sherriff's Department. Shortly after, the Yakima County Sherriff's Department notified other law enforcement agencies including WSP. Therefore, at approximately 0730 [PDT] on October 20th, WSP called GN Northern to let them know that they have their gauge. GN Northern then came and picked up their damaged gauge from WSP at approximately 0830 [PDT] on October 20, 2020."

WA incident no.: WA-20-021


* * * UPDATE ON 10/28/2020 AT 1610 EDT FROM STEVE MATTHEWS TO OSSY FONT * * *

The following update was received from Washington State via email:

"The WSP personnel were not able to perform an adequate survey to check for external radiation levels or count wipes for removable contamination from a possible breech of one or both sources. Therefore, [on 10/21/2020,] one of the inspectors from the Richland office drove to Yakima to perform radiation and contamination checks. To summarize, there was no removable contamination and no radiation levels above what would be expected while the sources are in their shielded positions. Hence, while the portable gauge has been damaged beyond repair, the source holders remain intact."

Notified R4DO (Pick) and NMSS Events Notification via email.

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


Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 54962
Facility: Framatome Anp Richland
RX Type: Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Comments: Leu Conversion
Fabrication & Scrap Recovery
Commercial Lwr Fuel
Region: 2
City: Richland   State: WA
County: Benton
License #: SNM-1227
Docket: 07001257
NRC Notified By: Calvin Manning
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font
Notification Date: 10/21/2020
Notification Time: 10:14 [ET]
Event Date: 10/20/2020
Event Time: 11:45 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/21/2020
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
CONCURRENT REPORT DUE TO NON-RADIATION WORKER INJURY

"A carpenter working in a clean area (not a radiological controlled area) injured his hand and required medical treatment.

"The nature of the hand injury requires reporting to the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industry. This concurrent report is being made in compliance with 10 CFR 70 Appendix A criteria c) which requires the reporting of any event or situation, related to health and safety for which notification to other government agencies has been or will be made."

The licensee also notified the NRC Region 2 office.


Agreement State
Event Number: 54964
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: University of Pennsylvania
Region: 1
City: Philadelphia   State: PA
County:
License #: PA-0131
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: John Chippo
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin
Notification Date: 10/21/2020
Notification Time: 15:59 [ET]
Event Date: 10/20/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/21/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
MEL GRAY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
- CNSC (CANADA) (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING LICENSED MATERIAL

The following information was received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via email:

"On October 20, 2020 the licensee discovered a lost gadolinium-153 source. This source, Eckert and Ziegler Model NES8412, is an attenuation correction source in a SPECT camera. These sources are sold in pairs, and the serial numbers for the pair are R3-129 and R3-130. Only one is missing and it is unknown which it is currently. The licensee believes the sources were present in mid-June when the source holders were removed from the gamma camera in preparation for scrapping. The licensee is investigating to confirm that is true. The sources were nominally 250 mCi (+20%/-10%) each on March 1, 2019. The activity on June 15, 2020 was calculated to be 64 mCi, and on the date of discovery 44 mCi. The licensee has notified its facility and safety staff and is actively searching for the source. The DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] has been in contact with the licensee and will update this event as soon as more information is provided."

PA incident no.: PA200022

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: 54965
Rep Org: WISCONSIN RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: Columbia - St. Mary's, Inc.
Region: 3
City: Milwaukee   State: WI
County:
License #: 079-1297-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Kyle Walton
HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin
Notification Date: 10/21/2020
Notification Time: 17:36 [ET]
Event Date: 10/20/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/21/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
PATRICIA PELKE (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EQUIPMENT FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED

The following information was received from the State of Wisconsin, Department of Health Service (DHS) via email:

"On October 20, 2020, the licensee's high dose-rate remote afterloader experienced multiple abnormalities during the administration of a fraction to a patient. Prior to exposure, the device failed to retract its check cable when performing the pre-administration routine. Following the manufacturer's advice, the licensee restarted, and performed a system restore on the device. The routine was then re-initiated and went as expected, with the exception of "Status - Terminated" appearing on the console during the administration. All indications were that the fraction was delivered successfully to the patient. Following the fraction, no information was saved indicating that any fraction had been delivered. The licensee was able to replicate circumstances using radiographic film, and verified that while dose is being delivered as intended, no record is being retained by the software. The licensee worked with a manufacturer's service technician on October 21 to address the issue. They believe they have resolved the immediate hardware and software issues. The manufacturer will continue to follow up on the event. DHS will follow up with the licensee."

WI Incident No.: WI200007