Event Notification Report for August 18, 2022
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/17/2022 - 08/18/2022
EVENT NUMBERS
56056
56056
Agreement State
Event Number: 56056
Rep Org: SC Dept of Health & Env Control
Licensee: Mitsubishi Power
Region: 1
City: Greer State: SC
County:
License #: 036
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DHEC Mitsubishi Power
HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere
Licensee: Mitsubishi Power
Region: 1
City: Greer State: SC
County:
License #: 036
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DHEC Mitsubishi Power
HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere
Notification Date: 08/19/2022
Notification Time: 09:36 [ET]
Event Date: 08/18/2022
Event Time: 09:48 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2022
Notification Time: 09:36 [ET]
Event Date: 08/18/2022
Event Time: 09:48 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/19/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Jackson, Don (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Jackson, Don (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 9/20/2022
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN WINDOW ON NUCLEAR GAUGE
The following information was provided by the State of South Carolina, Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) via email:
"On August 18, 2022, at 0948 EDT, DHEC inspector Leland Cave received a call from Mitsubishi Polyester Films, LLC (S.C. Lic. No. 036) to report an incident that had occurred at the plant. The licensee stated that earlier that morning the thin window film was torn on one of their Thermo EGS Gauging, LLC beta gauges [1.25 Ci of Kr-85]. The result of the tear was that the production line was stopped until the film could be replaced. The representative from Thermo was already onsite and needed verbal permission to begin the repair on the unit. The permission was given, and the reciprocity notification was sent in.
"The DHEC inspector called in the incident [to the NRC] at 0936 EDT on August 19, 2022, and is preparing to go to the licensee to review the cause of the incident."
* * * RETRACTION ON 9/19/22 AT 1622 EDT FROM LELAND CAVE TO BRIAN LIN * * *
The following information was submitted by the State of South Carolina, Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) via email:
"The inspector called in the incident at 0936 EDT on August 19, 2022 and left to go to the licensee to review the cause of the incident. Upon the inspector's arrival, the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), the representative from ThermoFisher, and other members of management sat down with him in a conference room to discuss the events that led to the call. The representative discussed with everyone about the gauging device and how it has a source side and a detector side. He stated that the detector side foil is an approximately six-inch circular piece of aluminum foil. He brought a piece that had torn before as well as the one that had been damaged the day before. He also brought an example of what the source side foil looks like and what it would look like when it would be damaged. The representative stated that the foil on the detector side ripped, and it shut down the machine as designed. The source was safe with no damage to any part. It was determined that this was not a reportable incident. They reviewed the specific unit and the RSO and representative best assessed that when the product is cut, it can leave a sharp edge on it that can lead to a tear. It is also possible for the product to bunch after it has been cut. The licensee and representative will continue to observe if this happens and potentially how often."
Notified R1DO (Arner) and NMSS via email.
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN WINDOW ON NUCLEAR GAUGE
The following information was provided by the State of South Carolina, Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) via email:
"On August 18, 2022, at 0948 EDT, DHEC inspector Leland Cave received a call from Mitsubishi Polyester Films, LLC (S.C. Lic. No. 036) to report an incident that had occurred at the plant. The licensee stated that earlier that morning the thin window film was torn on one of their Thermo EGS Gauging, LLC beta gauges [1.25 Ci of Kr-85]. The result of the tear was that the production line was stopped until the film could be replaced. The representative from Thermo was already onsite and needed verbal permission to begin the repair on the unit. The permission was given, and the reciprocity notification was sent in.
"The DHEC inspector called in the incident [to the NRC] at 0936 EDT on August 19, 2022, and is preparing to go to the licensee to review the cause of the incident."
* * * RETRACTION ON 9/19/22 AT 1622 EDT FROM LELAND CAVE TO BRIAN LIN * * *
The following information was submitted by the State of South Carolina, Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) via email:
"The inspector called in the incident at 0936 EDT on August 19, 2022 and left to go to the licensee to review the cause of the incident. Upon the inspector's arrival, the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), the representative from ThermoFisher, and other members of management sat down with him in a conference room to discuss the events that led to the call. The representative discussed with everyone about the gauging device and how it has a source side and a detector side. He stated that the detector side foil is an approximately six-inch circular piece of aluminum foil. He brought a piece that had torn before as well as the one that had been damaged the day before. He also brought an example of what the source side foil looks like and what it would look like when it would be damaged. The representative stated that the foil on the detector side ripped, and it shut down the machine as designed. The source was safe with no damage to any part. It was determined that this was not a reportable incident. They reviewed the specific unit and the RSO and representative best assessed that when the product is cut, it can leave a sharp edge on it that can lead to a tear. It is also possible for the product to bunch after it has been cut. The licensee and representative will continue to observe if this happens and potentially how often."
Notified R1DO (Arner) and NMSS via email.