Event Notification Report for May 17, 2024

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST CAMERA

The following synopsis was received via phone and email from the New Mexico Radiation Control Bureau:

At 1230 MDT on 05/09/2024, a Delta 880 industrial radiography camera containing an activity of 74 curies of iridium (Ir-192) has been determined to be lost on a closed non-public road on an oil field lease. The camera serial number is D15729. The sealed source serial number is 93189M.

Local law enforcement has been informed, details to follow.

NM Event number: ENTS 18002

Notified the following external agencies: DHS Senior Watch Officer, FEMA Operations Center, USDA Operations Center, HHS Operations Center, DOE Operations Center, CISA Central, EPA Emergency Operations Center, FDA Emergency Operations Center, Nuclear SSA (email), FEMA National Watch Center (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email)

* * * UPDATE ON 5/14/2024 AT 1723 EDT FROM VICTOR DIAZ TO SAMUEL COLVARD * * *

The following is a summary of information received from the New Mexico Radiation Control Bureau via phone and email:

The Delta 880 camera has been found by a member of the public and is in process of being transferred to a representative of the Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological Assistance Program for inspection and transfer to a DOE facility. The device has an automatic locking mechanism and there is no indication of public exposure at this time.

Notified R4DO (Josey), NMSS Regional Coordinator (Williams), IRMOC (Grant), ILTAB (MacDonald), INES National Officer (email), NMSS Events Notification (email), NMSS INES Coordinator (email).

Notified the following external agencies: DHS Senior Watch Officer, FEMA Operations Center, USDA Operations Center, HHS Operations Center, DOE Operations Center, CISA Central, EPA Emergency Operations Center, FDA Emergency Operations Center (email), Nuclear SSA (email), FEMA National Watch Center (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), CNSNS-Mexico (email).

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Category 2' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE

The following is information received from the Washington State Department of Health via email:

"On 05/07/2024, three radiographers started work around 1000 [PDT] and were in the process of completing a second shot about 12-feet off the floor when the collimator attached to the source fell to the ground. This caused a bend/crimp in the guide tube preventing the radiographers from retracting the source back into its shielded position within the exposure device. After several attempts at retracting the source, the radiographers contacted the radiation safety officer (RSO) at 1026 PDT. The boundaries were expanded and the workers guarded the area. No other workers or contractors were present at the time.

"At 1130 PDT, the RSO arrived with additional shielding (lead shot bags) and tools. The RSO made a first approach to the source and observed that the collimator was facing northwest. The RSO, using a long reaching tool to manipulate the collimator, turned it to face the ground. No change in activity was recorded and it was determined that the source was not within the collimator. The RSO placed a 25-pound bag of lead shot on the guide tube just below the collimator. No change in activity was observed. The team then retreated. The technician approached the source and placed a second bag further down the guide tube. Survey meters read a substantial decline in activity. The RSO then returned to the source and placed several more bags on the source location. After the source was shielded, the RSO inspected the guide tube and located a slight pinch in the tube. The RSO then used a tool to partially remove an irregularity from the guide tube and requested the technician to crank the source back into the camera. The source was returned to the camera successfully. The RSO removed the damaged guide tube from service.

"The total exposure to the lead radiographer was 10.75mR. The first assistant radiographer exposure was 3.9mR. The second assistant radiographer exposure was 3.6mR. The RSO had an exposure of 20mR on their arm and 4.3mR on their trunk.

"The camera is a Sentinel model 880 with an Ir-192 source of 38.7 Ci."

Washington Incident No.: WA-24-013

DAMAGED GAUGE

The following synopsis of the event was provided by the licensee via phone:

On the afternoon of May 9, 2024, during a leak test, the licensee identified a damaged shutter on a gauge (Serial Number - SH-F180) with a cesium (Cs-137) source of 100 millicuries at their facility. The licensee determined that no exposures or injuries occurred as a result of the damaged shutter since the gauge is located twenty feet off the ground in a primarily inaccessible location. No surveys are known to have been performed at this time. The shutter was determined to be unworkable, and is scheduled to be replaced at a later date.

* * * Additional information provided on 5/10/24 at 1327 EDT from B. Elkins to T. Herrity * * *
The license number was originally reported as 373525501 but it should actually be 16-35383-01. Unit is 10 feet above the floor not 20 feet. Survey readings have been taken: 25.65 mR/hr at the surface; 1.73 mR/hr at 1 foot; 0.32 mR/hr at 3 feet; 0.05 mR/hr at 4 feet. Based on the survey readings, it is believed that the shutter is closed. The mine is now looking to repair the shutter control unit, not replace the gauge.

Notified R1DO (Young) and NMSS Events via email.

UNIT 2 MANUAL REACTOR TRIP

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"On May 15, 2024 at 0427 EDT, DC Cook's Unit 2 reactor was manually tripped due to difficulty maintaining steam generator water levels.

"DC Cook Unit 2 had removed the main turbine from service at approximately 0354 EDT during a planned down-power to repair a steam leak on the high pressure turbine right outer steam/stop control valve upstream drip pot. Stable steam generator water levels were unable to be maintained. As a result, DC Cook Unit 2 was manually tripped with reactor power stabilizing at approximately 20 percent.

"This notification is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B), 'Reactor Protection System' actuation as a four hour report, and under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A), specified system actuation of the 'Auxiliary Feedwater System', as an eight hour report.

"The reactor trip was not complicated and all plant systems functioned normally. The DC Cook NRC Resident Inspector was notified."

REACTOR WATER CLEANUP SYSTEM ISOLATION CHANNEL INOPERABLE

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"On May 16, 2024 at 0840 EDT, operations declared the reactor water cleanup (RWCU) leak detection instruments related to the high differential flow signal inoperable. Technical specification (TS) 3.3.6.1, primary containment and drywell isolation instrumentation, conditions `A' and `B' were entered as one required channel of instrumentation was inoperable, and an automatic function with isolation capability was not maintained. Therefore, this condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D). All other RWCU primary containment isolation instrumentation functions remained operable.

"At 1210 EDT, the affected leak detection instruments were declared operable, and the TS limiting condition for operation 3.3.6.1 was declared met.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."