Event Notification Report for April 04, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/03/2023 - 04/04/2023
Agreement State
Event Number: 56466
Rep Org: Utah Division of Radiation Control
Licensee: University of Utah
Region: 4
City: Salt Lake City State: UT
County:
License #: UT 1800001
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Gwyn Galloway
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Licensee: University of Utah
Region: 4
City: Salt Lake City State: UT
County:
License #: UT 1800001
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Gwyn Galloway
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 04/13/2023
Notification Time: 03:26 [ET]
Event Date: 04/04/2023
Event Time: 12:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/13/2023
Notification Time: 03:26 [ET]
Event Date: 04/04/2023
Event Time: 12:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/13/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Deese, Rick (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Deese, Rick (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SOURCE
The following information was provided by the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) via email:
"The University of Utah contacted the DWMRC to report that they had found that an Isotope Products Laboratories, Cs-137 Resin Vial Source, Source Number 988-97-3 with an assayed activity of 208.9 microcuries (assay date May 1, 2004), was leaking.
"A routine quarterly leak test was taken of the sealed source. When counted with a PerkinElmer 2480 Wizard2 radiation detector, the wipe showed an elevated reading. The wipe results showed 4531 cpm (background 32 cpm). The technologist who performed the wipe contacted the licensee's Radiological Health Department. The technologist was told to count the wipe in the well counter (Biodex AtomLab 500). The well counter on the Cs-137 channel showed there was 0.6 microcuries with a 0.3 microcuries background on the sample for a leak test result of 0.3 microcuries. Since there was no obvious leak in the resin vial, the licensee suspected it had been contaminated with short lived radioisotopes. The source was doubly bagged and isolated in storage until the next day when it was again verified to be above background. On April 11, 2023, it was retested. The leak test was performed with both an alcohol pad and a gauze pad. The results of these samples were counted with the PerkinElmer instrument, but not the well counter. The result of the wipes was 4248 cpm and 7303 cpm respectively (PerkinElmer 2480 Wizard2 radiation detector for both tests was 32 cpm). This showed it was not a short-lived isotope and the source was leaking.
"The individual stated that when he performed the wipe test on April 11, 2023, he heard the plastic vial crack and the crack opened while the wipe was being taken but returned to a 'closed position' when the wipe was completed. He immediately returned the wipe to the baggies and put it in storage. Since the wipes taken verified the original assessment was correct, the licensee stated that the source would be placed with their waste and disposed in their normal waste shipments to a licensed radioactive waste disposal site.
"After the initial finding on April 4, 2023, radiation surveys of the area and equipment were conducted to verify that no contamination was present. No contamination was found, and the area and equipment were released for use.
"The licensee stated that the vial appeared to be slightly yellowed around the crack and believes the plastic may have cracked due to radiation fatigue. The licensee had ordered two of these sources in 2004. The other source was in use at one of the licensee's other medical facilities but was removed from service and will be disposed of with the leaking source as a precaution."
Utah Event Report ID Number: UT 23-0004
The following information was provided by the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) via email:
"The University of Utah contacted the DWMRC to report that they had found that an Isotope Products Laboratories, Cs-137 Resin Vial Source, Source Number 988-97-3 with an assayed activity of 208.9 microcuries (assay date May 1, 2004), was leaking.
"A routine quarterly leak test was taken of the sealed source. When counted with a PerkinElmer 2480 Wizard2 radiation detector, the wipe showed an elevated reading. The wipe results showed 4531 cpm (background 32 cpm). The technologist who performed the wipe contacted the licensee's Radiological Health Department. The technologist was told to count the wipe in the well counter (Biodex AtomLab 500). The well counter on the Cs-137 channel showed there was 0.6 microcuries with a 0.3 microcuries background on the sample for a leak test result of 0.3 microcuries. Since there was no obvious leak in the resin vial, the licensee suspected it had been contaminated with short lived radioisotopes. The source was doubly bagged and isolated in storage until the next day when it was again verified to be above background. On April 11, 2023, it was retested. The leak test was performed with both an alcohol pad and a gauze pad. The results of these samples were counted with the PerkinElmer instrument, but not the well counter. The result of the wipes was 4248 cpm and 7303 cpm respectively (PerkinElmer 2480 Wizard2 radiation detector for both tests was 32 cpm). This showed it was not a short-lived isotope and the source was leaking.
"The individual stated that when he performed the wipe test on April 11, 2023, he heard the plastic vial crack and the crack opened while the wipe was being taken but returned to a 'closed position' when the wipe was completed. He immediately returned the wipe to the baggies and put it in storage. Since the wipes taken verified the original assessment was correct, the licensee stated that the source would be placed with their waste and disposed in their normal waste shipments to a licensed radioactive waste disposal site.
"After the initial finding on April 4, 2023, radiation surveys of the area and equipment were conducted to verify that no contamination was present. No contamination was found, and the area and equipment were released for use.
"The licensee stated that the vial appeared to be slightly yellowed around the crack and believes the plastic may have cracked due to radiation fatigue. The licensee had ordered two of these sources in 2004. The other source was in use at one of the licensee's other medical facilities but was removed from service and will be disposed of with the leaking source as a precaution."
Utah Event Report ID Number: UT 23-0004
Power Reactor
Event Number: 56452
Facility: Susquehanna
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: Bob Bingman
HQ OPS Officer: Ian Howard
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: Bob Bingman
HQ OPS Officer: Ian Howard
Notification Date: 04/04/2023
Notification Time: 19:55 [ET]
Event Date: 04/04/2023
Event Time: 19:15 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/04/2023
Notification Time: 19:55 [ET]
Event Date: 04/04/2023
Event Time: 19:15 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/04/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - Offsite Notification
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - Offsite Notification
Person (Organization):
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
| 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 | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling |
OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 1915 EDT, Susquehanna Nuclear Control Room was notified of a reportable oil release from a spare transformer outside of its secondary containment of an unknown quantity. Oil staining was observed on the ground outside of the designed containment vault stored on the grounds of Susquehanna Nuclear. The quantity and duration of the oil leak is unknown and thus poses a potential pollution risk to groundwater. Spill response measures are in-progress and as of 1500 on 4/4/2023 a field walkdown reported no visible oil outside of the containment vault. The spill event is reportable under Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Clean Streams Law (PACSL) per PA Code 91.33 and 25 PA code 92a.41. This notification is being written to notify the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission within 4 hours of determination of a required report to another government agency per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi)."
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 1915 EDT, Susquehanna Nuclear Control Room was notified of a reportable oil release from a spare transformer outside of its secondary containment of an unknown quantity. Oil staining was observed on the ground outside of the designed containment vault stored on the grounds of Susquehanna Nuclear. The quantity and duration of the oil leak is unknown and thus poses a potential pollution risk to groundwater. Spill response measures are in-progress and as of 1500 on 4/4/2023 a field walkdown reported no visible oil outside of the containment vault. The spill event is reportable under Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Clean Streams Law (PACSL) per PA Code 91.33 and 25 PA code 92a.41. This notification is being written to notify the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission within 4 hours of determination of a required report to another government agency per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi)."
The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.
Agreement State
Event Number: 56454
Rep Org: Kentucky Dept of Radiation Control
Licensee: Big Rivers Electric Corporation
Region: 1
City: Centertown State: KY
County: Ohio
License #: 201-277-56
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Dr. Curt Pendergrass
HQ OPS Officer: Dan Livermore
Licensee: Big Rivers Electric Corporation
Region: 1
City: Centertown State: KY
County: Ohio
License #: 201-277-56
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Dr. Curt Pendergrass
HQ OPS Officer: Dan Livermore
Notification Date: 04/05/2023
Notification Time: 11:51 [ET]
Event Date: 04/04/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/06/2023
Notification Time: 11:51 [ET]
Event Date: 04/04/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/06/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER
The following is a summary of information provided by the Kentucky Department of Radiation Control via email:
On April 4, 2023, an authorized gauge user identified a shutter stuck open on a gauge mounted 15 feet up in the air on a coal feeder at the D.B. Wilson power plant. The shutter opened and closed; however, when the shutter was placed into a closed position some radiation exposure was still present outside the shutter. The gauge is model number 7062BP, serial number 17777, with 100 mCi Cs-137. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) alerted employees of the stuck shutter. The gauge will remain in place until a certified contractor can remove it. The contractor is expected to arrive on April 5, 2023.
* * * UPDATE ON 4/6/2023 AT 1254 EDT FROM CURT PENDERGRASS TO IAN HOWARD * * *
The following information was provided by the Kentucky Department of Radiation Control via email:
"According to the RSO, RAM Services, Inc. was able to free up the shutter yesterday, but there were issues with elevated exposure rates so the decision was made to dispose of the device and package it for shipping."
Notified R1DO (Gray) and NMSS Events Notification.
The following is a summary of information provided by the Kentucky Department of Radiation Control via email:
On April 4, 2023, an authorized gauge user identified a shutter stuck open on a gauge mounted 15 feet up in the air on a coal feeder at the D.B. Wilson power plant. The shutter opened and closed; however, when the shutter was placed into a closed position some radiation exposure was still present outside the shutter. The gauge is model number 7062BP, serial number 17777, with 100 mCi Cs-137. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) alerted employees of the stuck shutter. The gauge will remain in place until a certified contractor can remove it. The contractor is expected to arrive on April 5, 2023.
* * * UPDATE ON 4/6/2023 AT 1254 EDT FROM CURT PENDERGRASS TO IAN HOWARD * * *
The following information was provided by the Kentucky Department of Radiation Control via email:
"According to the RSO, RAM Services, Inc. was able to free up the shutter yesterday, but there were issues with elevated exposure rates so the decision was made to dispose of the device and package it for shipping."
Notified R1DO (Gray) and NMSS Events Notification.