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
56039 56040 56041 56046 56047 56052
Agreement State
Event Number: 56039
Rep Org: OK Deq Rad Management
Licensee: Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC)
Region: 4
City: Fort Towson   State: OK
County:
License #: OK-19428-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Anna Fernow
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Notification Date: 08/10/2022
Notification Time: 14:39 [ET]
Event Date: 08/05/2022
Event Time: 22:40 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/10/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
O'Keefe, Neil (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIRE EXPOSURE TO RADIATION SOURCE


The following information was provided by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) via email:

"Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) currently holds a radiation license (OK-19428-01) for multiple gauges utilized at [the WFEC] Hugo Power Plant. This is a steam plant that operates with coal to generate electricity. A fire was reported at the plant exposing one gauge to high temperatures but did not expose the gauge to direct flames. Based on [the licensee's] phone conversation [with the DEQ] on August 8, 2022, at 1136 [CDT]. The licensee provided this description of the events.

"On August 5, 2022, at 2240 [CDT] smoke was reported in coal bunker D. Staff immediately began procedures to extinguish the fire. Coal bunker D is located directly below coal feeder D and this caused thermal heat around the piping which feeds coal feeder D. A plug detector, which is a RA-226 source, is mounted around this pipe. By 0600 [CDT] on August 6, 2022, the Coal Bunker D was down to 120 degrees [Fahrenheit]. The plant staff notified the WFEC Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), at 0640 [CDT] to check the nuclear gauging device (D FDR Top, serial #SE2562, source amount is 2 mCi).

"Upon arriving at the plant, the RSO surveyed the area around the gauge and determined the area was safe. The gauge had received radiant heat from the fire causing the paint to be removed from the gauge. The survey meter read 0.7mR/hr to 1.0mR/hr around the gauge which is normal. The RSO also conducted an in house leak test checking with the survey meter. The background was 0.1mR/hr and sample was 0.2mR/hr. WFEC is contacting the manufacturer to determine if further inspection is needed."

The licensee believes that no radiation exposure or leaks have occurred. Additional information will be provided by the DEQ as it becomes available.


Agreement State
Event Number: 56040
Rep Org: Virginia Rad Materials Program
Licensee: Solenis, LLC
Region: 1
City: Courtland   State: VA
County:
License #: 175-666-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Rose Yankoski
HQ OPS Officer: Howie Crouch
Notification Date: 08/10/2022
Notification Time: 14:59 [ET]
Event Date: 08/10/2022
Event Time: 12:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/10/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Dimitriadis, Anthony (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNABLE TO RETRACT SOURCE IN INDUSTRIAL GAUGE
The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Virginia via email:

"On August 10, 2022, at 12:59 p.m. [EDT], the [Virginia] Office of Radiological Health Radioactive Materials Program (RMP) received an incident notification from the licensee. The source, 5 millicuries of Cs-137, could not be retracted behind the shutter during routine operations. The incident occurred on August 10, 2022 at about 12:00 p.m. (noon). The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) stated that the insertion source detached from the retrieval cable during routine operations (due to high vibrations). The source was stuck in the dip tube (inside the insulation vat). They performed radiation surveys showing that no elevated levels were occurring outside of the insulation vat. Based on the notification, there was no personnel or public exposure due to this incident. The RSO contacted Berthold Technologies to come and perform the source retrieval. They are planning on arriving on August 11, 2022. This notification will be updated when additional information is obtained."

Virginia Event Report ID No.: VA220002


Agreement State
Event Number: 56041
Rep Org: SC Dept of Health & Env Control
Licensee: Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Region: 1
City: Columbia   State: SC
County:
License #: 586
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Adam Gause
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 08/11/2022
Notification Time: 09:15 [ET]
Event Date: 11/01/2021
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/11/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Dimitriadis, Anthony (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - GAMMA KNIFE MALFUNCTION

The following information was provided by South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control via email:
"The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was notified on 08/10/2022, during a follow-up of a routine inspection, that a Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion gamma stereotactic radiosurgery unit had failed to function as designed. The licensee [Prisma Health Richland Hospital] is reporting that during routine maintenance that was conducted by the manufacturer on 11/01/2021, it was discovered that a sector was dragging and not transferring smoothly. The licensee is reporting that one of the sealed sources had slipped less than 1/8 inch within one of the source cavities of the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion unit. The sealed source is a Co-60 Elekta Model 43685 medical teletherapy source, with an estimated activity between 20-22 curies. The licensee is reporting the unit was repaired and source reseeded on 11/05/2021. The licensee is reporting no overexposures to workers, patients, or members of the public. All sealed sources were leak tested on 11/05/2021 and results indicated that no sources were leaking. This event is under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control."


Power Reactor
Event Number: 56046
Facility: Cook
Region: 3     State: MI
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Dan Kurth
HQ OPS Officer: Howie Crouch
Notification Date: 08/16/2022
Notification Time: 12:33 [ET]
Event Date: 08/16/2022
Event Time: 09:56 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/16/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - Fitness For Duty
Person (Organization):
Orth, Steve (R3DO)
FFD Group, (EMAIL)
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
2 N Y 89 Power Operation 89 Power Operation
Event Text
FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT
A licensed employee had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.


Power Reactor
Event Number: 56047
Facility: Wolf Creek
Region: 4     State: KS
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Jason Kunst
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 08/16/2022
Notification Time: 14:09 [ET]
Event Date: 07/22/2022
Event Time: 19:49 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/16/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.73(a)(1) - Invalid Specif System Actuation
Person (Organization):
Werner, Greg (R4DO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N Y 47 Power Operation 47 Power Operation
Event Text
INVALID ACTUATION OF AUXILIARY FEEDWATER

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"This 60-day telephone notification is being made under the reporting requirements specified by 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) and 10 CFR 50.73(a)(1) to describe an invalid actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system. At 1949 Central Daylight Time (CDT), on 7/22/22, an invalid actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system occurred due to human error. At the time of the event, Wolf Creek Generating Station was coming out of a forced outage. Plant conditions were 47 percent power with operators increasing power approximately 10 percent per hour. At this power level there was one main feedwater pump in service and Operations was performing the procedure to place the second main feedwater pump into service. A control room operator was verifying that the control oil switches were not tripped for the main feedwater pumps by verifying the bulbs for both the 'A' and 'B' trains were not lit. To verify the unlit bulbs were not burnt out, the operator was pushing the lamp test buttons. The operator successfully verified the 'A' train, but on the 'B' train the operator mistakenly pushed the bi-stable which is located directly above the bulb rather than the lamp test button. This bi-stable is the low oil pressure switch for the 'A' main feedwater pump. Because the second feedwater pump was not running yet, this caused a 'two out of two' signal for low oil pressure and caused an auxiliary feedwater system actuation.

"The auxiliary feedwater system responded correctly and was returned to standby condition.

"The Senior Resident Inspector has been notified."


Part 21
Event Number: 56052
Rep Org: Framatome Anp
Licensee:
Region: 2
City: Birmingham   State: AL
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Catherine Galloway
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 08/17/2022
Notification Time: 17:40 [ET]
Event Date: 05/23/2022
Event Time: 12:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/17/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
21.21(a)(2) - Interim Eval Of Deviation
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Part 21/50.55 Reactors, - (EMAIL)
Orth, Steve (R3DO)
Werner, Greg (R4DO)
Jackson, Don (R1DO)
Event Text
PART 21 INTERIM REPORT OF DEVIATION

The following is a summary of a report provided by Southern Nuclear:

On May 23, 2022, Framatome notified Farley Nuclear Power Plant, among other plants, by letter of a potential nonconformance in certain Siemens medium voltage circuit breakers that could create a substantial safety hazard in certain applications. Southern Nuclear has determined that additional time beyond the 60-day evaluation period is needed to perform the necessary walkdowns of the installed equipment and complete the substantial safety hazard evaluation for reportability in accordance with 10 CFR 21. At the time, Framatome did not have enough information to determine where licensees intended to or had installed the supplied breakers, or how many breakers within the population supplied were actually nonconforming. The interim report does not describe details of the nonconformance and the original May 23, 2022 letter was not sent to the Headquarters Operations Center.

Contact Information:
Ryan Joyce, Fleet Licensing Manager, (205) 992-6468

Known affected plant: Farley among others