Event Notification Report for November 13, 2020

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 11/13/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST GAUGES

The following was received from the state of Tennessee via email:

"General licensee, Blues City Brewery, reported the loss of 3 gauges after contractor work that involved the movement of the gauges. Blues City reported the loss. It is possible that the gauges could have made it into the local scrap metal stream. From the scrap metal facility, the load that might have included the gauges went to a shredding facility in Alabama. The State of Alabama Radiation Control has been notified in case gauges are discovered at the shredding facility. The gauge is below:

"Manufacturer Model SN Isotope Activity
"Industrial Dynamics CI-2GV/3 44 Am-241 300 mCi
"Industrial Dynamics CI-2GV/3 46 Am-241 300 mCi
"Industrial Dynamics FT-100 33 Am-241 100 mCi"

TN event number: TN-20-152

* * * UPDATE ON 11/12/2020 AT 2014 EST FROM ROBERT SIMS TO BRIAN P. SMITH * * *

The following update was a summary of an email report received from the state of Mississippi concerning information pertaining to the lost gauges:

On October 19, 2020, the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health contacted the Mississippi Division of Radiological Health and the Alabama Department of Public Health Radiation Control concerning three lost gauges from the Blues City Brewery facility. The facility believes the gauges were lost in the July-August timeframe during construction on some of their lines. Blues City Brewery told the contractor to take the gauges to a storage area, but the contractor moved the wrong parts allegedly to the scrap yard. The scrap metal/gauges are believed to have been brokered by an unknown entity and allegedly sent to Iskiwitz Metals at 604 Marble Ave, Memphis, TN 38107. The Tennessee Division of Radiological Health sent someone to look for the gauges and survey for them, but they only found the detector for part of one of the devices. From Iskiwitz, the metal was believed to be sent to a shredder in TN and a scrap yard in Mississippi named Martin Brothers Scrap Metal located at 690 Belmont Rd, Sardis, MS 38666, then allegedly to a smelter in Alabama. Soil samples were taken at the scrap yard in Mississippi, however, readings show only background radiation. The gauges have not been found. Mississippi Division of Radiological Health considers the event closed.

Mississippi Event Number: MS-200004

Notified R1DO (Carfang), R4DO (Dixon), NMSS Events Notification (Email), ILTAB (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

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 11/11/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN NUCLEAR GAUGES

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

"On November 5, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee that three of their nuclear density/level measurements gauges had been stolen from one of their storage sites. The storage site had been vandalized and various pieces of equipment were damaged as well. The licensee has contacted local law enforcement about this incident.

"The gauges contain Cs-137 sources. The total activity of the missing sources is estimated to not exceed 200 mCi. The licensee does not have any additional information regarding the incident or gauges at this time."

Texas Incident Number: 9808

* * * UPDATE ON 11/10/20 AT 0813 EST FROM ART TUCKER TO BRIAN LIN * * *

"On November 9, 2020, the licensee provided additional information on the stolen gauges. All gauges contained cesium-137 sources. Two of the gauges were Thermo Fisher model 5192 gauges. One of the two gauges contained a 250 milliCurie (mCi) (original activity now 215 mCi) source and the other contained a 200 mCi (now 162 mCi) source. The third gauge was a Thermo Fisher model 5190 gauge containing a 200 mCi (now 166 mCi) source. The gauges had been stored in a locked cage on the licensee's site. The gauges were still installed on the pipes they were used on. The licensee stated the last time the gauges were seen was September 1, 2020. The Agency instructed the licensee to notify local scrap yards of the theft and provided them with a copy of the attached picture. The Agency has requested additional information from the licensee. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Dixon), ILTAB (email), NMSS Events Notification (email), and CNSNS-Mexico (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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following is a summary of information was received via email:

On 11/4/20, one of the licensee's moisture density gauges was damaged at a job site in Chualar, California. The gauge was not in use and the sources were in the shielded position when it was run over by a scraper. The area was immediately secured and the scraper was taken out of service. The source rod was broken off at the top of the shielding and the outer casing of the gauge was heavily damaged. On the day of the incident, gauge was transported to licensee's storage facility. On 11/5/20, the gauge was taken to InstroTek for disposal. Leak tests performed at InstroTek were negative for any contamination.

The gauge was a CPN MC3-Elite (S/N: 800338) containing 10 mCi Cs-137 and 50 mCi of Am-241.

California 5010 Number: 110420

AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP DUE TO TURBINE TRIP

"At 1732 EST on November 12, 2020, with Unit 2 in Mode 1 and 100 percent power, the reactor automatically tripped due to a turbine trip. The trip was not complex with all systems responding normally post trip. Operations responded and stabilized the plant. Decay heat is being removed by the steam generators through the steam dumps into the condenser. Unit 1 is not affected.

"An automatic actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System (AFW) also occurred. The AFW auto-start is an expected response from the reactor trip.

"Due to the Reactor Protection System actuation while critical, this event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B), as well as in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) as an event that results in a valid actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System. There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO HIGH REACTOR PRESSURE SIGNAL

"At 0245 EST on November 13, 2020, the Limerick Unit 1 reactor automatically scrammed on a valid Reactor High Pressure signal (1096psig). The Reactor High Pressure signal was caused by the closure of the 1B Inboard Main Steam Isolation Valve (MSIV), causing reactor pressure to rise, exceeding the Reactor Protection System (RPS) setpoint of 1096psig.

"The shutdown was normal and the plant is stable in Hot Shutdown with normal pressure control via the Main Steam Bypass Valves to the Main Condenser and normal level control using the Feedwater System.

"The closure of the 1B Inboard MSIV appears to have been caused by a loss of Primary Containment Instrument Gas (PCIG) pneumatic supply to the valve."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector, and will be notifying Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, as well as the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.