Event Notification Report for May 12, 2026

LOSS OF THE PUBLIC PROMPT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

"On May 9, 2026, at 1529 CDT, the National Weather Service reported to Cooper Nuclear Station that the National Warning System radio tower near Shubert, Nebraska was not functioning. The Shubert tower transmitter activates the emergency alert system and tone alert radios used for public notification. Additional information from the National Weather Service received at 1244 CDT on May 10, 2026, determined that the Shubert Tower transmitter would not likely be repaired within 24 hours. The backup notification system has been verified as available.

"This condition is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) as a major loss of the public prompt notification system capability since the backup alert methods do not meet the primary system's design objective. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been informed."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCES

The following is a summary of information provided by the Alabama Office of Radiation Control (the Agency) via phone and email:

On April 30, 2026, the Agency attempted to conduct a site visit for Pope Testing Services, LLC at its licensed storage address in Mobile, Alabama. The current building owner reported that the licensee vacated the storage space for roughly a year and removed all equipment at that time. No licensed material or company property remains at the location. All recent attempts to contact the licensee have been unsuccessful. The last confirmed interaction with the licensee was on December 23, 2024.
At the last inspection, the licensee possessed two portable moisture/density gauges, but their current location is unknown.

The Agency is currently partnering with the Alabama Department of Public Health General Counsel on next steps, which may include the impoundment of radioactive material and the revocation of the license.

Lost Source Information:
(1) Manufacturer: Troxler
Model No.: 3440
Serial No.: 70923
RAM: 8 mCi of Cs-137, 40 mCi of Am-241/Be

(2) Manufacturer: CPN
Model No.: MC-3
Serial No.: M320506596
RAM: 10 mCi of Cs-137, 50 mCi of Am-241/Be

Alabama Incident Number: 26-09

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.pdf

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST EXIT SIGNS

The following is a summary of information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment via email:

The licensee reported eight exit signs, containing 7.62 Ci of tritium each (60.96 Ci total), were lost in Denver, Colorado.

Manufacturer: Isolite Corporation
Model number: 2000

Colorado event number: CO260005

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.pdf

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FAILED ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

The following is a summary of information provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) via email:

On May 4, 2026, at 1613 EDT, MDE received an email from the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) detailing a reportable event. The report came from the irradiator facility director, and the details are as follows.

On April 6, 2026, at approximately 0930 EDT, the irradiator vault door became inoperable when its drive chain snapped during routine monthly surveillance activities. This failure rendered the access control system nonfunctional. The irradiator sources remained fully shielded throughout the event, and an irradiator operator maintained continuous presence at the vault door to ensure access control.

Operators repaired the broken chain, restoring door operability by approximately 1130. The campus RSO was also informed. A timely 30-day written report, dated April 30, 2026, was submitted to MDE.

No personnel exposures were reported. The vault door was never left unmonitored, and MDE will continue its reactive investigation.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AND RECOVERED GAUGE

The following is a summary of information that was provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Radioactive Materials Branch (RMB) email:

On May 5, 2026, RMB reported that the licensee lost control of a nuclear density gauge after it was improperly secured and fell from a moving vehicle. The North Carolina Department of Transportation observed and responded to the incident and then took readings of the case confirming that both the case and gauge were undamaged. The driver promptly recovered the equipment. A reactive inspection is underway.

Portable Gauge Information
Manufacturer: Troxler
Model: 4640
Serial Number: 1252
Source: Cs-137 (8 millicuries), AmBe (activity unknown)

FITNESS FOR DUTY

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

"On May 11, 2026, at 0600 EDT, a fitness for duty (FFD) employee had a confirmed positive test result for a controlled substance during a random fitness for duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been denied. This notification is being made under 10 CFR 26.719 (b)(2)(ii), significant FFD policy violations or programmatic failures, as a twenty-four (24) hour report.

"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."