| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
10/31/2007 - 11/01/2007 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 43751 | Rep Org: KANSAS DEPT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: TULSA GAMMA RAY
Region: 4
City: TULSA State: OK
County:
License #: 2007-013
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JAMES HARRIS
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 10/26/2007
Notification Time: 16:37 [ET]
Event Date: 10/23/2007
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/26/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
LAWRENCE KOKAJKO (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING AN IMPROPERLY CONNECTED CAMERA SOURCE
The following information was received via fax:
"Tulsa Gamma Ray was doing some radiography work at the Coffeyville refinery and had a source hang-up on October 23. The Tulsa Gamma Ray RSO was called. He came up from Tulsa and was able to return the source to the shield after about 10 minutes using a rod to push the source.
"Tulsa Gamma Ray RSO performed an investigation and discovered the radiographer did not properly attach the drive cable to the source assembly. The source was able to be pushed out but did not allow the source to be retracted. The equipment did not fail. The event occurred [due] to human error.
"The personnel were instructed to properly connect the drive cable to the source assembly and verify the connection by attempting to pull the connection apart. The personnel have been given additional radiation safety training."
The camera is an Amersham Model 880B (S/N 1568) containing a 73 Curie Ir-192 source. The RSO received a dose of approximately 150 mrem while reattaching the source. Tulsa Gamma Ray is an Oklahoma licensee (License No. OK-17178-02) performing work in Kansas under reciprocity permit No. 2007-013. The Coffeyville Refinery is located in Coffeyville, KS.
Kansas Reference No.: KS070009 |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 43754 | Rep Org: OK DEQ RAD MANAGEMENT
Licensee: NUTECH
Region: 4
City: ADA State: OK
County: PONTOTOC
License #: L04274 TEXAS
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE BRODERICK
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 10/29/2007
Notification Time: 11:39 [ET]
Event Date: 10/29/2007
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/30/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4)
GREG MORELL (FSME)
| Event Text TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT INVOLVING Tc-99m
"A nuclear pharmacy delivery vehicle has been in an accident. The accident took place on the Chickasaw Turnpike, south of Ada, in Pontotoc County. It is at Mile Marker 14, two miles south of highway 1 and the turnpike junction.
"The vehicle was a nuclear pharmacy delivery vehicle from Nutech, a nuclear pharmacy, in Wichita Falls, TX. He was returning to Wichita Falls (Nutech headquarters is in Tyler, TX, but they have a pharmacy in Wichita Falls). He was returning from making deliveries, and is believed to have had only empty containers of radioactive materials. The radioisotope involved is believed to be Technicium-99m, used in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The doses are believed to have been administered last Friday, which would mean only a slight residue would be in the containers. If the doses involved were in fact from last Friday, the radioactive component should have decayed away by now, and be non-radioactive. The pharmacy reports that the driver had new doses with him for delivery this morning, but he is believed to have delivered those before the accident.
"The delivery vehicle is reported to have swerved across the median of the turnpike and struck an oncoming semi head-on. The driver was killed. Emergency responders removed the driver's body from the vehicle, but no other contact with the vehicle has been made. OHP reports that the ammunition cans used for transport of these doses are outside the vehicles, and at least one has ruptured. There is no evidence of radioactive material on the road, and OHP has left the highway open. This should be safe, even if there is full-strength Tc-99m present.
"OHP and the Ada Fire Department have requested DEQ assistance in verifying the presence or absence of contamination, and a team is on their way there now. If contamination is found, it is likely that DEQ will recommend that the accident area be cordoned off until the material has decayed.
"It is possible there is no hazard at all remaining here, and in any case, there is no hazard except to people in intimate contact with the wreck debris. Keep in mind that these isotopes are intended to be administered to patients, so there is nothing 'lethal' here. DEQ takes any prospect of significant radiation contamination seriously, of course. I am about to inform the NRC of the incident.
"The above is based entirely on reports from OHP, Ada Fire Dept., and NUTECH. It is preliminary and may change as we get more information. There is no known media interest yet, but media interest is likely."
Both the licensee RSO and Oklahoma DEQ are sending teams to investigate possible radiation at the site. It is suspected that the ammo cans are empty since the accident occurred after making deliveries.
* * * UPDATE AT 10:28 ON 10/29/2007 FROM MIKE BRODERICK TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *
The State provided the following information via email:
"DEQ inspectors [DELETED] have been to the accident scene and done surveys. The driver's body and all people who handled the driver's body were surveyed and showed no signs of radiation. They found no evidence of loose radiation contamination, but did find some intact pigs that showed some evidence of still containing radioactivity inside. They worked with the pharmacy owner to confirm that all pigs had been recovered. All syringes except two empty ones have been recovered. They were unable to find the two empty syringes despite repeated surveys of the crash area, which is covered in tall grass. The pharmacy is taking custody of all pigs and syringes, and packaging them to return them to the licensee facility. Vehicles and the body of the pharmacy driver have been removed from the accident scene. The inspectors are returning to the office.
"The above is a preliminary notification based on a telephonic report from the inspectors in the field.
"The pharmacy license number is Texas license L04274."
Notified R4DO (Powers) and FSME EO (Kokajko). |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43760 | Facility: THREE MILE ISLAND
Region: 1 State: PA
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] B&W-L-LP
NRC Notified By: JAMES PAULES
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 10/30/2007
Notification Time: 23:57 [ET]
Event Date: 10/30/2007
Event Time: 23:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 11/01/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
GLENN DENTEL (R1)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Refueling Shutdown | 0 | Refueling Shutdown | Event Text OUTAGE OF SAFETY PARAMETER DISPLAY SYSTEM (SPDS) AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE DATA
SYSTEM (ERDS)
"At 2330 hours, on 10/30/2007, the SPDS and ERDS system was removed from service to support activities from a planned maintenance outage on the 'C' vital bus power supply. The duration of work is expected to be approximately 12 hours. (Scheduled for completion at 11:30 hours on 10/31/2007). During this time, Control Room indications and alternate methods will be available.
"Since the SPDS computer system will be unavailable for greater than 8 hours, this is considered a Loss of Emergency Assessment Capability and reportable under 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii)."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R1DO (Dental).
* * * UPDATE FROM JAMES PAULES VIA TELEPHONE TO K. DIEDERICH AT 0330 ON 11/1/07 * * *
At 0230 hours, on 11/1/2007, the SPDS and ERDS system were returned to service.
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R1DO (Dental). | |