| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
12/12/2007 - 12/13/2007 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | General Information or Other | Event Number: 43674 | Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: APAC ARKANSAS INC
Region: 4
City: SPRINGDALE State: AR
County:
License #: ARK-0686-0312
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JARED THOMPSON
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ | Notification Date: 09/28/2007
Notification Time: 14:17 [ET]
Event Date: 09/27/2007
Event Time: 23:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 12/12/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
CLAUDE JOHNSON (R4)
ROBERT PIERSON (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TROXLER GAUGE DAMAGED IN HIGHWAY ACCIDENT
The State provided the following information via email:
"The Arkansas Department of Health received notification on September 27, 2007 at 11:00 p.m. a Troxler 4640B, Serial Number 1574 portable gauge was struck and damaged by a pick up truck. The gauge contains a 9 mCi, Cesium-137 source, Serial number 75-6810.
"The incident occurred on Highway 412 near Springdale, Arkansas. The gauge was being used during highway construction. The authorized user was struck and killed during this incident.
"The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) was contacted and arrived at approximately 12:00 a.m. to assess the scene. The source rod along with part of the shielding was separated from the main part of the gauge. A wipe test was taken and the field survey of the wipe indicated that the source had not been ruptured. The RSO partially shielded the source by returning it to the base plate and placed the source rod back with the gauge in the transport case. The gauge was then transported to the licensee's permanent storage area.
"Arkansas Department of Health personnel arrived at the licensee's facility at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 28, 2007. Department personnel gathered information about the incident and then conducted surveys of the gauge. It appears that the gauge shielding had been cracked and possibly compromised. The highest radiation reading was 35 Mr/hour on contact of the left end side of the gauge.
"The licensee has been in contact with the manufacturer for possible disposal options."
* * * UPDATE PROVIDED BY STATE (STEVE MACK) TO JEFF ROTTON AT 1032 EST ON 12/12/07 VIA EMAIL * * *
The State provided the following information via email:
"The Arkansas Department of Health, Radioactive Materials Program, has received documentation of the receipt and disposal on November 2, 2007 of the gauge involved in this incident by a licensed recipient [CPN of Concord, California, CA License # 1100-07]."
Notified R4DO (Bywater) and FSME EO (Burgess) |
| General Information or Other | Event Number: 43827 | Rep Org: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY
Licensee: ARIZONA ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES
Region: 4
City: SCOTTSDALE State: AZ
County:
License #: 07161
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PATRICIA HAWORTH
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 12/07/2007
Notification Time: 15:32 [ET]
Event Date: 12/03/2007
Event Time: [MST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4)
JOSEPH GIITTER (FSME)
| Event Text ARIZONA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SEALED SOURCE
"A leaking sealed source discovered on Monday, December 3rd 2007, at the Scottsdale Radiation Oncology Center in our hot lab.
"This seed is listed as a sealed source containing Cs-131, from the company IsoRay Medical, Inc. The activity contained inside this seed was 3.12 mCi [milli-Curies] of Cs-131. The incident occurred following a patient prostate implant. This seed had become jammed in a Mick Applicator cartridge. After the patient procedure in the hospital had finished, surveys of linen, OR [Operating Room], patient bed, and trash showed readings of background with the GM [Geiger-Mueller] survey meter. The seed, still in the cartridge, was packaged inside the container it had originally arrived in and shipped to the [Scottsdale Radiation Oncology Center].
"Upon its arrival in Scottsdale, the package was surveyed externally with a wipe test which showed no contamination on the external package. It was at [Scottsdale Radiation Oncology Center] that we ascertained that the seed had leaked into its internal container and contaminated the Mick cartridge it resided in. Our personnel that regularly loads seeds was removing it with bare hands since the outside container had been surveyed and showed no contamination. The seed was dislodged into a lead container behind a leaded shield, and the cartridge was surveyed by a GM tube. Since the GM tube responded, our personnel then placed the cartridge into a lead container and then surveyed her fingers. Upon realizing she was contaminated she informed the ARSO [Assistant Radiation Safety Officer]. She was directed to wash with soap and water. After about 15 minutes her hands showed no residual contamination with a GM and pancake probe with open face. The seeds were then placed into a capped glass container and into a marked leaded container. The original shipping box was surveyed, and the decision was to bag the entire box, and store in locked cabinet for 70 days (10 half lives). A survey will be performed to prove that the container is background before it is put back into service.
"All areas and personnel were surveyed with the GM and pancake probe open faced, to confirm no residual contamination. The area and personnel were clean and further wipe tests showed only background.
"The physician was informed of incident as well as ARRA [Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency], and IsoRay's health physicist. A calculation showed that the 15 minutes of exposure to the personnel extremities did not exceed the regulation AAC R12-1-445 of 50 rads that is reportable.
"As a corrective action, personnel will now wear rubber gloves until all cartridges are examined following the return of any seeds." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43835 | Facility: COOPER
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: STEVE WHEELER
HQ OPS Officer: JASON KOZAL | Notification Date: 12/11/2007
Notification Time: 16:20 [ET]
Event Date: 12/11/2007
Event Time: 10:19 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/13/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
RUSSELL BYWATER (R4)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text LOSS OF 11 ALERT AND NOTIFICATION SIRENS DUE TO SEVERE ICE STORM
"Due to a severe winter ice storm in the area surrounding Cooper Nuclear Station, 11 of 24 Alert and Notification System Sirens were discovered to be out of service as of 1019 hours on 12/11/07. This event impacts the ability to readily notify a portion of the 10 Mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) Population for Cooper Nuclear Station. This event also meets NRC 8 hour reporting criterion 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii), major loss of the off-site emergency notification system.
"Eight of the failed sirens are located in Atchison County, MO (Seven have failed directly due to loss of AC power and one has partially failed due to other aspects of the storm). One of the failed sirens is located in Richardson County, NE (due to direct loss of AC Power). The other two sirens are located in Nemaha County, NE (One has failed directly due to loss of AC power and one has partially failed due to other aspects of the storm).
"Atchison, Richardson, and Nemaha County Authorities have been notified and compensatory emergency route alerting has been discussed as an alternate means of public notification. NOAA/EAS Tone Alert Radios issued for notification of rural residents within the 10-mile emergency planning zone are available and the local NOAA radio transmitter is operable. Contact of the local power utilities has been initiated so that power restoration efforts can be monitored. The licensee also notified the NRC Resident Inspector, FEMA Region 7, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency."
** UPDATE FROM BRAD BARE TO J. KNOKE AT 2207 ON 12/12/07 **
"As of 1702 on 12/12/07, the number of inoperable Alert and Notification System (ANS) sirens fell below 25% of the total number of sirens (24) which was the basis for reporting the major loss of the off-site emergency notification system. Currently there are 4 sirens still inoperable in Atchison County, MO. Power restoration activities by local power companies are still in progress in Atchison County. All ANS Sirens located in the Nebraska side of Cooper Nuclear Station 10-Mile EPZ have been returned to service. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector, and authorities in Atchison County and State of Missouri."
Notified R4DO (Bywater) |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 43840 | Facility: FERMI
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: RODNEY JOHNSON
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 12/12/2007
Notification Time: 17:02 [ET]
Event Date: 10/14/2007
Event Time: 02:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/12/2007 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.73(a)(1) - INVALID SPECIF SYSTEM ACTUATION
| Person (Organization):
JOHN MADERA (R3)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | N | 0 | Refueling | 0 | Refueling | Event Text INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR
"This 60-day optional telephone notification as allowed by 10 CFR 50.73(a)(1) is being made in lieu of an LER submittal. This notification is made pursuant to the reporting requirements specified in 10 CFR50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) for an invalid actuation of one of the systems listed in 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(B).
"On October 14, 2007, at approximately 0200 hours EST with the plant in Mode 5, Refueling, while performing ECCS Start and Load Reject surveillance testing on Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) 14, the EDG unexpectedly auto-started. Investigation revealed that the auto-start was caused by a faulty test switch. The test switch had been tested multiple times prior to performing the surveillance with no abnormalities noted.
"EDG 14 is one of two EDG's in Division II of the Onsite Emergency Power system. The EDG responded properly to the auto-start signal. The actuation was complete, in that the EDG started and ran unloaded. The surveillance testing was immediately stopped upon receipt of the inadvertent actuation. In accordance with the EDG operating procedure, the EDG was synchronized, loaded for about an hour, shut down and returned to standby status.
"Since no actual plant condition existed that required the EDG to auto-start, the actuation was invalid. There were no safety consequences or impact on the health and safety of the public. The event was entered in the corrective action program for evaluation and resolution.
"The NRC Resident Inspector will be notified of this report." | |