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Event Notification Report for March 18, 2005

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
03/17/2005 - 03/18/2005

** EVENT NUMBERS **

!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Power Reactor	Event Number: 41453
Facility: MCGUIRE Region: 2 State: NC Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: AL YODER HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN	Notification Date: 03/01/2005 Notification Time: 16:19 [ET] Event Date: 03/01/2005 Event Time: 15:45 [EST] Last Update Date: 03/17/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL	Person (Organization): CAROLYN EVANS (R2)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
2	M/R	Y	20	Power Operation	0	Hot Standby

Event Text

MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DURING A RAPID SHUTDOWN FOR STEAM LEAK REPAIR

The following information was provided by the licensee via facsimile (licensee text in quotes):

"[The licensee] reduced power on Unit 2 due to a steam leak on a moisture separator reheater vent line. The reactor was manually tripped at 20% reactor power per normal shutdown sequence. All systems and components operated correctly. Unit restart will commence following completion of a planned refueling outage."

All rods fully inserted. One steam line secondary PORV lifted and reseated. Decay heat removal is via AFW and steam bypass valves to the main condenser. The steam leak was reported to be on a 2-inch MSR vent line elbow.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION FROM GRADY PICKLER TO HOWIE CROUCH @ 1501 EST ON 3/17/05 * * *

The following information was obtained from the licensee via facsimile (licensee text in quotes):

"On March 1, 2005, McGuire Unit 2 experienced a steam leak on a two-inch pipe in the heater bleed steam system. In consideration of that leak, Unit 2 was shutdown by manually tripping the reactor. This was reported as an unplanned valid actuation of the reactor protection system [10CFR 50.72 (b) (2)(iv)(B)]. Reference Event Report 41453.

"The manual reactor trip of Unit 2 was not required to mitigate the steam leak. However, in consideration of the steam leak, a decision was made to perform a shutdown of Unit 2 using the normal reactor shutdown procedure. This procedure requires that the control rods be inserted by manually tripping the reactor. As per guidance provided in NUREG-1022, the above actions do not satisfy the criteria for reporting under the requirements of 10CFR 50.72 (b) (2)(iv)(B) or any other reporting criteria. Therefore, McGuire is retracting Event Report 41453."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R2DO (Cahill).

General Information or Other	Event Number: 41461
Rep Org: OR DEPT OF HEALTH RAD PROTECTION Licensee: GEO PACIFIC, INC Region: 4 City: BEND State: OR County: License #: ORE-90950 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ED WRIGHT HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 03/04/2005 Notification Time: 12:49 [ET] Event Date: 03/04/2005 Event Time: 08:00 [PST] Last Update Date: 03/17/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): CHUCK CAIN (R4) TOM ESSIG (NMSS) BEN SANDLER (EMAIL) (TAS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

A Troxler Model 3440 Moisture Density Gauge (Serial Number 35472) was stolen from a licensee's pickup truck sometime during the night or early morning of 03/03/05 - 03/04/05 while parked at a Holiday Inn Express Motel in Bend, OR. The gauge contains an 8 milliCurie Cs-137 source (Serial Number 772585) and a 40 milliCurie Am-241/Be source (Serial Number 78-408). The licensee notified the Oregon State Police and the Bend, OR Police Department. The State of Oregon has dispatched an investigator to the area and plans on issuing a press release.

Oregon Incident No. RPS 05-0013.

* * * UPDATE FROM STATE OF OREGON (WRIGHT) TO NRC (HUFFMAN) AT 1017 EST ON 3/17/05 * * *

The Department of Radiation Protection for the State of Oregon reported that the gauge was recovered in Bend, Oregon during the evening of 3/16/05. The local Fire Department responded to a report of a yellow box along the side of a road and found the gauge and container intact and apparently undamaged. The HAZMAT team performed a survey which showed no indication of contamination. The owner has been notified and is en route to pick up the gauge.

R4DO (Farnholtz), NMSS (Essig), and TAS (Foster via e-mail) notified.

General Information or Other	Event Number: 41490
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: TEXAS GAMMA RAY, LLC Region: 4 City: PASADENA State: TX County: License #: L05561 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: GLENN CORBIN HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 03/14/2005 Notification Time: 16:44 [ET] Event Date: 10/31/2004 Event Time: [CST] Last Update Date: 03/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): TOM FARNHOLTZ (R4) LAWRENCE KOKAJKO (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNEXPLAINED EXPOSURE DOSE

The following is a summary of a report submitted by the State of Texas to the NRC via email:

A radiographer employed by Texas Gamma Ray, LLC received an unexplained dose of 6730 mrem during the month of October 2004. Additional dose reported for the month of November 2004 increased the annual accrued dose for the year 2004 to 7780 mrem which exceeds the yearly occupational dose limit [5 Rem].

The licensee [Texas Gamma Ray, LLC] immediately informed the State of the overexposure via telephone and initiated an investigation. The investigation determined through interviews with the radiographer and a review of his October work assignments that he had dropped his film badge near a radioactive source (approximately 1 meter distance from a camera containing 30-40 Curies Ir-192) for about thirty minutes to an hour. The radiographer did not report the incident at that time or in his written statement describing his work activities. The licensee noted during their review of the monthly dosimetry monitoring reports provided by Atomic Energy Industrial Laboratory that two of the three individuals assigned to work with this radiographer wore spare film badges.

The State cited the licensee for eleven violations of their TX license. Texas Incident No. I-8190.

General Information or Other	Event Number: 41491
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: TESTMASTERS, INC Region: 4 City: HOUSTON State: TX County: License #: L03651-001 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KAREN VERSER HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 03/14/2005 Notification Time: 12:41 [ET] Event Date: 12/20/2004 Event Time: [CST] Last Update Date: 03/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): TOM FARNHOLTZ (R4) LAWRENCE KOKAJKO (NMSS)

Event Text

TEXAS AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURES

The following is a summary of a report submitted by the State of Texas to the NRC via email:

On January 11, 2005 the licensee [Testmasters, Inc.] was notified by their Atomic Energy Industrial Laboratory that two Testmaster employees had received high doses on their 11/20/04 through 12/19/04 film badges, i.e., 7,035 mRem and 950 mRem. The licensee initiated an investigation and determined that both individuals had performed an adjustment of the collimator on the 117.8 curie AEA Model 424-9 Ir-192 camera, S/N B1831, after cranking in the source following a shot. Neither individual had a survey meter when they approached the camera for the collimator adjustment. A subsequent review of their pocket dosimeters showed a "high off-scale" reading which was not reported to the company RSO.

The State cited the licensee for six violations of their TX license. Texas Incident No. I-8198

General Information or Other	Event Number: 41493
Rep Org: NE DIV OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS Licensee: WAVE FORM SPECIALISTS Region: 4 City: OMAHA State: NE County: License #: GLO-636 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: TRUDY HILL HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 03/15/2005 Notification Time: 17:02 [ET] Event Date: 09/30/2004 Event Time: [CST] Last Update Date: 03/15/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): TOM FARNHOLTZ (R4) GARY JANOSKO (NMSS) JOE FOSTER (TAS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS

The following information was provided by the State via facsimile (State text in quotes):

"Isolite/Safety Light shipped two exit signs [Serial Nos. 281266 and 2181268], model SLX60 with 9.5 curies [each] of H-3 on September 1, 2004 to Wave Form Specialists via General Electric Supply. The signs were to be installed in a new facility for the City of Omaha at 4001 South 120th St, as the end user. Wave Form Specialist never installed the signs. Wave Form Specialists declared bankruptcy in September. Wave Form was bonded and another company finished the electrical contract work. The bonding company and the electrical contactor never found the signs when they took over the job. The signs were not returned to Isolite. Have not been able to contact owner of Wave Form Specialists."

Nebraska Incident No: NE050004

General Information or Other	Event Number: 41495
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: RENAISSANCE HOSPITAL Region: 4 City: GROVES State: TX County: License #: NOT PROVIDED Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KAREN VERSER HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY	Notification Date: 03/15/2005 Notification Time: 17:03 [ET] Event Date: 03/14/2005 Event Time: 09:30 [CST] Last Update Date: 03/15/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): TOM FARNHOLTZ (R4) GARY JANOSKO (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED DIAPER PLACED IN REGULAR TRASH

The following information was provided by the State via email (State text in quotes):

"On March 14, 2005 BFI returned a compactor/dumpster to Renaissance Hospital because of radiation detector alarms. After surveying the entire container, one area was reading 9 mR/hr on contact. The trash from this area was again surveyed. A diaper from a patient that had received an I-131 iodine therapy treatment was accidentally put in the regular hospital trash for immediate disposal. The diaper has been removed from the dumpster and sent to the hospital's Nuclear Medicine department for decay. The dumpster was again surveyed after removing the diaper and there were no dose rates above background found. The diaper was reading 10 mR/hr on contact. The diaper was again surveyed on 3/15/05. It was reading 5 mR/hr on contact with a 1 foot reading of 2 mR/hr."

Texas Incident No. I-8220

Power Reactor	Event Number: 41500
Facility: NINE MILE POINT Region: 1 State: NY Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] GE-2,[2] GE-5 NRC Notified By: JOHN MANLY HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH	Notification Date: 03/17/2005 Notification Time: 21:45 [ET] Event Date: 03/17/2005 Event Time: 17:55 [EST] Last Update Date: 03/17/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: OTHER UNSPEC REQMNT	Person (Organization): LAWRENCE DOERFLEIN (R1)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
2	N	Y	100	Power Operation	100	Power Operation

Event Text

OTHER UNSPECIFIED REQUIREMENT - LICENSE CONDITION 2.F

The following information was obtained from the licensee via facsimile (licensee text in quotes):

"This notification is being made in accordance with License Condition 2.F for Nine Mile Point Unit 2 which states in part 'report any violations of the requirements contained in Section 2.C of this license in the following manner: initial notification shall be made within 24 hours to the NRC Operations Center via the Emergency Notification System, with written follow-up within 30 days in accordance with the procedures described in 10 CFR 50.73(b), (c), and (e).' License condition 2.C (2) states in part 'Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications.'

"Earlier this year Operations was notified by Engineering that a portion of the procedural guidance contained in the Operating Procedure for Standby Gas Treatment System (SGTS) would render an operating SGTS sub-system inoperable during certain evolutions (e.g. Primary Containment Purge). Specifically when the filter train's recirculation valves are taken out of the automatic mode of operation, the subsystem's ability to drawdown the Secondary Containment within the required time and maintain less than 1/4" W.C. vacuum cannot be assured.

"In accordance with the guidance provided in NUREG-1022, an extensive review of the operation of the SGTS system over the past 3 years was performed. This review identified two (2) instances where, if a SGTS subsystem(s) had been declared inoperable as required, one or more Technical Specifications would have been violated. For example: on 3/15/2002 one SGTS subsystem was being utilized for Primary Containment Purge evolutions (and as such inoperable) and the opposite Division's EDG was simultaneously inoperable for pre-planned maintenance for greater than 4 hours. Technical Specification 3.8.1 Condition B.2 requires declaring required feature(s), supported by the inoperable DG, inoperable when the redundant required feature(s) are inoperable (i.e. the non-running SGTS subsystem). This was not recognized and the requirement to initiate a plant shutdown per LCO 3.0.3 was not performed. The second instance occurred in November of 2002 and was similar to the first occurrence. Following the identification of these occurrences Engineering performed an analysis of actual plant data to confirm inoperability of SGTS.

"The example noted above and the others identified will be explained in detail in the follow-up LER that will be submitted as required by 10CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B) - 'Any operation or condition which was prohibited by the plant's Technical Specifications.'"

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.