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Event Notification Report for July 29, 2008

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
07/28/2008 - 07/29/2008

** EVENT NUMBERS **

44361

44370

General Information or Other	Event Number: 44361
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM Licensee: HARRINGTON GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING INC Region: 4 City: ORANGE State: CA County: License #: 5657-30 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN	Notification Date: 07/23/2008 Notification Time: 16:32 [ET] Event Date: 07/23/2008 Event Time: 10:35 [PDT] Last Update Date: 07/23/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): RICHARD DEESE (R4) DENNIS RATHBUN (FSME) ILTAB VIA E-MAIL () MEXICO VIA FAX ()

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the State via e-mail:

"On July 23, 2008, at approximately 10:35 a.m., [the] RSO for Harrington Geotechnical Engineering, Inc., notified RHB about a nuclear gauge (CPN model MC-3 S/N M35116478, 10 mCi Cs-137, 50 mCi Am:Be-241) that had been stolen at a residence (in Westminster, CA 92683, located near the intersection of Magnolia St. and McFadden Ave.) sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Due to an urgent personal need, the operator left the truck outside the residence, with the gauge locked to the bed of the truck by a cable. The cable was cut by the perpetrator to remove the transport case containing the gauge. The Westminster Police Department was notified and a police report was generated (report number 08-06699). The RSO stated that the residence of the operator was in an area that had some gang activity. The RSO was informed of the requirement for a written report within 30-days. The RSO stated that he would place an ad in the newspaper and to offer a reward for the gauge. RHB will investigate this incident.

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.

Power Reactor	Event Number: 44370
Facility: PRAIRIE ISLAND Region: 3 State: MN Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-2-LP,[2] W-2-LP NRC Notified By: JERRY GOSMAN HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN	Notification Date: 07/28/2008 Notification Time: 13:32 [ET] Event Date: 07/28/2008 Event Time: 08:50 [CDT] Last Update Date: 07/28/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION	Person (Organization): PATTY PELKE (R3)

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

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO A SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE SPILL

"At approximately 0850 [CDT] on July 28, 2008 Xcel Energy notified the State of Minnesota's Duty Officer of a 53 gallon 12% Sodium Hypochlorite spill at the Prairie Island plant. The spill was due to a leak in the chemical piping. The release was stopped but only partially contained within the berms of the building. Some of the Sodium Hypochlorite seeped through the berms concrete walls and into the environment. The amount escaping the containment berm was less than the reportable quantity but was being reported since a portion did reach the soil."

The licensee informed both the State and the NRC Resident Inspector.