Event Notification Report for June 30, 2023

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SOURCE

The following information was provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control [the Department] via email:

"The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was notified via telephone at 1515 EDT on 06/22/23, that during the commissioning of a new device [at their Gaston S.C. facility] the strip source of the fixed gauging device was stuck between the source housing and dip-tube. The licensee is reporting that the fixed gauge is a Berthold Technologies USA, LLC., LB 300 IRL Type III Series gauging device, housing a Cs-137 Berthold Technologies USA, LLC., sealed source Model BT-MPLM. The licensee is reporting that no immediate health and safety concerns have been identified. The licensee is reporting that a consultant has been contacted to perform the repair. A department inspector will be dispatched to the facility to conduct an on-site investigation. This event is still under investigation by the Department."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SOURCE RECOVERY MALFUNCTION

The following is a summary of the information provided by the Washington State Office of Radiation Protection via email:

On 6/22/23 at 1419 PDT, the licensee identified that a 56.4 Ci Ir-192 radiography source could not be retracted into the exposure device (QSA Model 880D) due to a crank malfunction. The radiographer immediately contacted the Radiation Safety Officer who provided source recovery/retrieval actions along with crank mechanism fixes. The radiographer secured the source in the exposure device at 1422 PDT. The problem with the retrieval was identified as a loose securing nut that caused the crank to spin freely and the drive cable to come out of the crank conduit.

During the incident, the radiographer's survey meter read 20 mr/hr at the crank location. A radiographer assistant expanded the boundaries and ensured the general public was not affected. The radiographer's total direct dosimeter reading after 6 normal radiography exposures and the source recovery actions were complete was 3 mRem. The incident took place at a temporary job site in Anacortes, WA. There were no overexposures or spread of contamination.

WA Incident Number: WA-23-010

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS DEVIATION - DEGRADED FUEL PIN

The following information was provided by the Texas A&M University (TAMN) via phone and email:

"At approximately 1315 CDT on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, during routine fuel inspections required under Technical Specification (TS) 4.1.5 ['Reactor Fuel Elements'], a fuel pin (serial number 11394) did not pass the test criteria. The pin was bloated enough to not fit in the bend test rig. This meets the definition of a `Reportable Occurrence' under the definitions in TS 1.3. In accordance with the requirements of TS 6.6.2 and 6.7.2, TAMN notified the NRC Headquarters Operations Officer within one working day.

"Visual inspection of the pin did not indicate any obvious degradation that would be exceptional for a pin with sixteen years of burnup history, other than a slight bloat in the middle of the pin.

"There have been no indications of cladding failure on routine primary coolant analyses.

"As required by TS 4.1.5.2, TAMN is initiating an inspection of the entire core fuel inventory once TAMN finishes the regularly scheduled fuel inspections for the year. TAMN informed the NRC Project Manager."

FITNESS-FOR-DUTY REPORT

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"A non-licensed supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."