Event Notification Report for December 05, 2008
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/04/2008 - 12/05/2008
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 44699
Rep Org: OLSSON ASSOCIATES
Licensee: OLSSON ASSOCIATES
Region: 3
City: State: MO
County: GREENE
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CURT MADER
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Licensee: OLSSON ASSOCIATES
Region: 3
City: State: MO
County: GREENE
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CURT MADER
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 12/05/2008
Notification Time: 18:13 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2008
Event Time: 16:15 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/05/2008
Notification Time: 18:13 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2008
Event Time: 16:15 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/05/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3)
REBECCA TADESSE (FSME)
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3)
REBECCA TADESSE (FSME)
DAMAGED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
"[The following narrative describes a damage event to [a] Troxler 3440 (SN 37660) which occurred at about 4:15PM (CST) on 12/5/08. The event occurred in Greene County, Missouri, on Route J approximately 4 miles North of US 60 Hwy, approximately 4 miles east of US 65, SE of Springfield, Missouri.
"The project is a roadway reconstruction. [The licensee] employee was in the process of performing a compaction test with the gauge when an inattentive scraper operator nearly ran [the licensee] over, but did run over the gauge. The employee cordoned off the area and ceased all work in the area. An initial visual assessment of the gauge indicated that both the Americium and Cesium sources were intact. A field wipe test is being performed to verify whether or not the sources have been damaged. No results are available at the time of this report. What is currently known is that the gauge sustained such damage that the base plate was dislodged from the bottom of the gauge and that the tungsten sliding block/source shield also became dislodged. If the sources are not damaged, attempts will be made to remove a portion of the probe (with the Cesium source intact), re-insert it in the top of the source shield, re-insert the source back into the gauge, wrap the gauge with duct tape to secure the sources, put the gauge back into the carrying case, and transport the gauge back to the office storage location for further processing instructions.
"[Licensee] additional updates will follow."
Typical Troxler gauges of this series contain a source of 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am/Be.
* * * UPDATE FROM CURT MADER TO VINCE KLCO AT 2300 EST ON 12/05/2008
"At around 7:00PM (CST) a field wipe test indicated that there was no damage/contamination of either radioactive material source. The gauge was put back into the storage case and transported back to the office storage location. The top portion of the handle had to be sawed off in order to retract the probe source back into the tungsten/sliding block housing. The base cover plate was hammered back into shape and was screwed back onto the base of the gauge.
"[The licensee office Radiation Safety Officer] will be traveling to Springfield, MO tomorrow to assess the situation. Pictures will be taken and another wipe test will be performed and sent to Troxler Electronics in preparation of shipping the gauge back to them for decommissioning."
Notified R3DO (Mike Kunowski) and FSME (Rebecca Tadesse).
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.
"[The following narrative describes a damage event to [a] Troxler 3440 (SN 37660) which occurred at about 4:15PM (CST) on 12/5/08. The event occurred in Greene County, Missouri, on Route J approximately 4 miles North of US 60 Hwy, approximately 4 miles east of US 65, SE of Springfield, Missouri.
"The project is a roadway reconstruction. [The licensee] employee was in the process of performing a compaction test with the gauge when an inattentive scraper operator nearly ran [the licensee] over, but did run over the gauge. The employee cordoned off the area and ceased all work in the area. An initial visual assessment of the gauge indicated that both the Americium and Cesium sources were intact. A field wipe test is being performed to verify whether or not the sources have been damaged. No results are available at the time of this report. What is currently known is that the gauge sustained such damage that the base plate was dislodged from the bottom of the gauge and that the tungsten sliding block/source shield also became dislodged. If the sources are not damaged, attempts will be made to remove a portion of the probe (with the Cesium source intact), re-insert it in the top of the source shield, re-insert the source back into the gauge, wrap the gauge with duct tape to secure the sources, put the gauge back into the carrying case, and transport the gauge back to the office storage location for further processing instructions.
"[Licensee] additional updates will follow."
Typical Troxler gauges of this series contain a source of 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am/Be.
* * * UPDATE FROM CURT MADER TO VINCE KLCO AT 2300 EST ON 12/05/2008
"At around 7:00PM (CST) a field wipe test indicated that there was no damage/contamination of either radioactive material source. The gauge was put back into the storage case and transported back to the office storage location. The top portion of the handle had to be sawed off in order to retract the probe source back into the tungsten/sliding block housing. The base cover plate was hammered back into shape and was screwed back onto the base of the gauge.
"[The licensee office Radiation Safety Officer] will be traveling to Springfield, MO tomorrow to assess the situation. Pictures will be taken and another wipe test will be performed and sent to Troxler Electronics in preparation of shipping the gauge back to them for decommissioning."
Notified R3DO (Mike Kunowski) and FSME (Rebecca Tadesse).
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.
Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 44700
Facility: NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES INC.
Region: 2 State: TN
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: HEU CONVERSION & SCRAP RECOVERY
NAVAL REACTOR FUEL CYCLE
LEU SCRAP RECOVERY
NRC Notified By: CHARLES STREET
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Region: 2 State: TN
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: HEU CONVERSION & SCRAP RECOVERY
NAVAL REACTOR FUEL CYCLE
LEU SCRAP RECOVERY
NRC Notified By: CHARLES STREET
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 12/06/2008
Notification Time: 13:18 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2008
Event Time: 04:27 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/06/2008
Notification Time: 13:18 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2008
Event Time: 04:27 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/06/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
70.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
10 CFR Section:
70.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
Person (Organization):
ROBERT HAAG (R2)
DANIEL DORMAN (NMSS)
FUELS OUO via e-mail
ROBERT HAAG (R2)
DANIEL DORMAN (NMSS)
FUELS OUO via e-mail
UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
"During a transfer of uranyl nitrate, solution entered a column overflow. Less than one (1) liter of solution leaked from a fitting on the overflow line and contaminated process equipment primarily in an area inaccessible to personnel. The event is being reported because decontamination could not be completed within 24-hours.
"The area was isolated and personnel access was restricted. Cleanup activities were initiated and decontamination was performed in areas accessible to personnel. Decontamination of remaining areas [are] ongoing."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
"During a transfer of uranyl nitrate, solution entered a column overflow. Less than one (1) liter of solution leaked from a fitting on the overflow line and contaminated process equipment primarily in an area inaccessible to personnel. The event is being reported because decontamination could not be completed within 24-hours.
"The area was isolated and personnel access was restricted. Cleanup activities were initiated and decontamination was performed in areas accessible to personnel. Decontamination of remaining areas [are] ongoing."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.