Event Notification Report for December 06, 2022
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/05/2022 - 12/06/2022
Non-Power Reactor
Event Number: 56267
Rep Org: Univ Of Utah (UTAT)
Licensee: University Of Utah
Region: 0
City: Salt Lake City State: UT
County: Salt Lake
License #: R-126
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000407
NRC Notified By: Glenn Sjoden
HQ OPS Officer: Kerby Scales
Licensee: University Of Utah
Region: 0
City: Salt Lake City State: UT
County: Salt Lake
License #: R-126
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000407
NRC Notified By: Glenn Sjoden
HQ OPS Officer: Kerby Scales
Notification Date: 12/09/2022
Notification Time: 13:07 [ET]
Event Date: 12/06/2022
Event Time: 10:30 [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/09/2022
Notification Time: 13:07 [ET]
Event Date: 12/06/2022
Event Time: 10:30 [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/09/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
Yin, Xiaosong (NPR Man.)
Takacs, Michael (NPR Coor)
Yin, Xiaosong (NPR Man.)
Takacs, Michael (NPR Coor)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION VIOLATION
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"On December 6th, 2022, University of Utah Training Reactor (UUTR) was in the process of performing a research sample irradiation. The sample was known to have a negative reactivity worth and was therefore placed in the reactor prior to reactor startup. Upon commencing reactor startup procedures, the reactor operator subsequently terminated the startup attempt after noting that the sample appeared to demonstrate a larger negative reactivity worth than what was initially anticipated. After investigating, we identified that there was an inconsistency/miscommunication regarding the sample materials specifications, and the actual negative sample reactivity worth was a larger negative value than that of the original estimate. Immediately afterwards, we performed an updated materials assessment of the sample, which, following reactor calculations, revealed that the sample indeed demonstrated a larger negativity reactivity worth than was originally predicted. As a result, this report is being submitted in accordance with UUTR Technical Specification (TS) 6.7.2 due to 'observed inadequacy in the implementation of administrative or procedural controls such that the inadequacy could have caused the existence or development of an unsafe condition with regard to reactor operation.'
"In accordance with UUTR TS, the reactor was secured, and Utah Nuclear Engineering Program Director notified, and operations shall not resume unless authorized by the Director."
The NRC Project manager was notified.
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"On December 6th, 2022, University of Utah Training Reactor (UUTR) was in the process of performing a research sample irradiation. The sample was known to have a negative reactivity worth and was therefore placed in the reactor prior to reactor startup. Upon commencing reactor startup procedures, the reactor operator subsequently terminated the startup attempt after noting that the sample appeared to demonstrate a larger negative reactivity worth than what was initially anticipated. After investigating, we identified that there was an inconsistency/miscommunication regarding the sample materials specifications, and the actual negative sample reactivity worth was a larger negative value than that of the original estimate. Immediately afterwards, we performed an updated materials assessment of the sample, which, following reactor calculations, revealed that the sample indeed demonstrated a larger negativity reactivity worth than was originally predicted. As a result, this report is being submitted in accordance with UUTR Technical Specification (TS) 6.7.2 due to 'observed inadequacy in the implementation of administrative or procedural controls such that the inadequacy could have caused the existence or development of an unsafe condition with regard to reactor operation.'
"In accordance with UUTR TS, the reactor was secured, and Utah Nuclear Engineering Program Director notified, and operations shall not resume unless authorized by the Director."
The NRC Project manager was notified.
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 56262
Rep Org: Kakivic Asset Management
Licensee: Kakivic Asset Management
Region: 4
City: Prudhoe Bay State: AK
County:
License #: 50-27667-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Marty Anderson
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Licensee: Kakivic Asset Management
Region: 4
City: Prudhoe Bay State: AK
County:
License #: 50-27667-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Marty Anderson
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 12/06/2022
Notification Time: 12:05 [ET]
Event Date: 12/06/2022
Event Time: 02:00 [YST]
Last Update Date: 12/28/2022
Notification Time: 12:05 [ET]
Event Date: 12/06/2022
Event Time: 02:00 [YST]
Last Update Date: 12/28/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - Safety Equipment Failure
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - Safety Equipment Failure
Person (Organization):
O'Keefe, Neil (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
O'Keefe, Neil (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 12/29/2022
EN Revision Text: DAMAGED RADIOGRAPHIC CAMERA
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 0200 YST on December 06, 2022, the radiation safety supervisor (RSS) received a call that the technicians had a source which refused to retract to the safe and secured position. During the exposure, the camera fell approximately 4 feet to the ground and landed on the guide tube, which then didn't allow the source to be returned to a shielded position. The radiographers on site followed their procedure and secured their boundaries and notified the RSS. Two RSSs arrived on site at 0245 YST and were able to safely return the source back to locked position. At 1000 YST, a third RSS arrived on location to assist in retrieval.
"The source that required retrieval was Ir-192 at 80.6 curies in a Type B container/special form."
* * * UPDATE ON 12/27/2022 AT 0909 EDT FROM MARTY ANDERSON TO ERNEST WEST * * *
The following update was provided by the licensee via email:
The licensee reported the following doses received by personnel who assisted in the source retrieval:
RSS #1 Right hand 173 mR, Left hand 88 mR, Chest 98 mR, Electronic Dosimetry Reading 60 mR
RSS #2 Right hand 138 mR, Left hand 132 mR, Chest 74 mR, Electronic Dosimetry Reading 41 mR
RSS #3 Right hand 58 mR, Left hand 240 mR, Chest 40 mR, Electronic Dosimetry Reading 14 mR
Notified R4DO (Gepford) and NMSS Events Notification email group.
EN Revision Text: DAMAGED RADIOGRAPHIC CAMERA
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 0200 YST on December 06, 2022, the radiation safety supervisor (RSS) received a call that the technicians had a source which refused to retract to the safe and secured position. During the exposure, the camera fell approximately 4 feet to the ground and landed on the guide tube, which then didn't allow the source to be returned to a shielded position. The radiographers on site followed their procedure and secured their boundaries and notified the RSS. Two RSSs arrived on site at 0245 YST and were able to safely return the source back to locked position. At 1000 YST, a third RSS arrived on location to assist in retrieval.
"The source that required retrieval was Ir-192 at 80.6 curies in a Type B container/special form."
* * * UPDATE ON 12/27/2022 AT 0909 EDT FROM MARTY ANDERSON TO ERNEST WEST * * *
The following update was provided by the licensee via email:
The licensee reported the following doses received by personnel who assisted in the source retrieval:
RSS #1 Right hand 173 mR, Left hand 88 mR, Chest 98 mR, Electronic Dosimetry Reading 60 mR
RSS #2 Right hand 138 mR, Left hand 132 mR, Chest 74 mR, Electronic Dosimetry Reading 41 mR
RSS #3 Right hand 58 mR, Left hand 240 mR, Chest 40 mR, Electronic Dosimetry Reading 14 mR
Notified R4DO (Gepford) and NMSS Events Notification email group.
Agreement State
Event Number: 56263
Rep Org: NE Div of Radioactive Materials
Licensee: Hilltop 4 Theatres
Region: 4
City: Kearney State: NE
County:
License #: GL0202
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Deb Wilson
HQ OPS Officer: Nestor Makris
Licensee: Hilltop 4 Theatres
Region: 4
City: Kearney State: NE
County:
License #: GL0202
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Deb Wilson
HQ OPS Officer: Nestor Makris
Notification Date: 12/07/2022
Notification Time: 11:02 [ET]
Event Date: 12/06/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2022
Notification Time: 11:02 [ET]
Event Date: 12/06/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
O'Keefe, Neil (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
O'Keefe, Neil (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST EXIT SIGNS
The following information was provided by the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services via email:
The licensee discovered two tritium exit signs were lost. The exit signs are Isolite model SLX60 containing 7.5 Ci of tritium (H-3) each. This is being reported under 10 CFR 20.2202(a)(1)(i).
Nebraska Incident No.: NE220006
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.pd