Event Notification Report for March 01, 2021

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK GAUGE SHUTTER

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

"On March 1, 2021, the [Texas Department of State Health Services] was contacted by a licensee stating that during routine testing, the shutter on a nuclear gauge was found stuck in the open position. The gauge is an Ohmart Vega model SH-F2-30, containing a 100 milliCurie (original activity) cesium-137 source. Source serial number is 1965CG and the manufacturer is Ohmart. The licensee reported there is no risk of radiation exposure to members of the general public or workers at the facility due to the failure. The licensee stated they were working on a plan to repair the gauge and would provide that information once the plan is completed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

TX Incident #: 9829

AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP DUE TO REACTOR PROTECTION SYSTEM ACTUATION

"On 3/1/21 at 1112 EST, with Unit 3 in Mode 1 at approximately 100 percent Rated Thermal Power (RTP), the reactor automatically tripped.

"Auxiliary Feedwater initiated as designed to provide Steam Generator (S/G) water level control. Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) have been exited and General Operating Procedures (GOPs) were entered. Unit 3 is stable in Mode 3 at normal operating temperature and pressure.

"This event is being reported pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A).

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

"All rods are inserted, decay heat is being removed via S/G through normal secondary systems. The plant is in a normal electrical line-up. The cause of the automatic reactor trip is [unknown at this time and is] being investigated."

There was no effect on Unit 4.

MAIN CONTROL ROOM INOPERABLE DUE TO MCR DOOR BEING AJAR

"At 1511 EST on March 1, 2021, it was discovered that the main control room (MCR) envelope was inoperable due to a MCR door being found ajar; therefore, this condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v). The door was closed, restoring the MCR envelope to operable at 1513 EST.

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 4/5/2021

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CATEGORY 2 PACKAGE CONTAINING SEVEN SEALED SOURCES LOST IN TRANSIT

"The licensee reported to the Agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] at 1400 EST on March 1, 2021, that it discovered on March 1, 2021 at 1200 EST that a package (Yellow-III, T.I. 2.6, Type B, UN 2916) containing seven sealed sources (Ir-192; 59.9 Ci, 59.2 Ci, 58.1 Ci, 59.9 Ci, 59.5 Ci, 59.8 Ci, and 69.2 Ci) in a model 976C source changer was missing.

"The package was shipped by QSA Global, Inc. on February 12, 2021, for export to their customer NDT Instruments, based in Singapore. On March 1, 2021 at 1200 EST, QSA Global, Inc. discovered that the package had not been received.

"The carrier indicated that the package had been at their Memphis, TN facility on 2/13/2021, and that since then the location is unknown.

"The reporting requirement is immediate and is of 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1), missing licensed radioactive materials in aggregate quantity equal to or greater than 1,000 times the quantity specified in 105 CMR 120.297, Appendix C. The four-hour reporting requirement of 105 CMR 120.077(B), missing shipment of Category 2 quantity of radioactive material, also applies."

The Agency considers this event to be open.

Notified: DHS-SWO, FEMA-OC, USDA-OC, HHS-OC, DOE-OC, DHS CISA Central, and EPA-EOC, Notified via E-mail: FDA- EOC, Nuclear SSA, FEMA-NWC, and CWMD-Watch Desk.

* * * UPDATE ON 3/5/2021 AT 1534 EST FROM ROBERT LOCKE TO JOANNA BRIDGE * * *

The following was received via e-mail from the Radiation Control Officer, Massachusetts Radiation Control Program:

"Licensee reports that they were notified on [5 March, 2021] that the missing package had been located in Memphis. The package was found undamaged and will continue for export to Singapore."

Notified R1DO (BURKET), NMSS (RIVERA-CAPELLA), IR MOC (GOTT), and ILTAB (RICHARDSON) and via email NMSS EVENTS NOTIFICATION, and INES NATIONAL OFFICER (MILLIGAN). Also notified DHS-SWO, FEMA-OC, USDA-OC, HHS-OC, DOE-OC, DHS CISA Central, and EPA-EOC and via email FDA- EOC, Nuclear SSA, FEMA-NWC, and CWMD-Watch Desk.

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

EN Revision Imported Date: 11/12/2021

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST GAS CHROMATOGRAPH SOURCE

The following is a synopsis of information received via email:

In early September, the radiation safety officer (RSO) sent a leak test kit to the Center for Applied Isotopes Department to smear test the gas chromatograph. He was informed that the gas chromatograph had been declared "surplus" on March 1, 2021. The Surplus Department decided it had no economic value and sent it to the state surplus scrap metal dealer. The device was shredded and pulverized with other scrap equipment from the university. It is believed the Ni-63 source was shredded with the equipment. The RSO did not find out that the source was missing until 6 months after it was shredded. Exposure risk is considered low because it would need to be ingested. The RSO has sent a letter to the Surplus department to remind their employees to contact the RSO before processing surplus equipment that may contain radioactive materials. The RSO has also reminded University researchers to check their equipment to make sure they have the appropriate signage.

Georgia incident number: 46

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