Event Notification Report for March 03, 2016

LOST ELECTRON CAPTURE DETECTOR SOURCES

"Eurofins Eaton Analytical, Inc., (EEA) is reporting two lost ECDs [Electron Capture Detector] serial# B794 and A10856 that were listed under the General License GL-65970 held by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

"A notice to the NRC was sent on November 25, 2015 stating that the devices under General License GL-65970 were transferred to EEA. On February 4, 2016 it was brought to our attention by NRC Region III's Material Safety Licensing Branch, that ECDs, Serial# B794 and A10856 should be in our possession. After a thorough search of the facility and records we could not locate these ECDs.

"(i) Lost device ECD, Serial# B794, Model# 03-917440-00, isotope Ni-63, activity 15 mCi, was manufactured by Varian Associates, Inc.
(ii) Lost device ECD, Serial# A10856, Model# 02-0001972-00, isotope Ni-63, activity 15 mCi, was manufactured by Varian Associates, Inc.
(iii) Both ECDs were not located in a recent inventory check.
(iv) Both ECDs were more than likely returned to Varian for disposal before 2008.
(v) No known exposures have been reported from this ECD at this time.
(vi) [EEA] performed a thorough search of the facility and in-house records. In addition, [EEA] attempted to contact Varian. In 2010 Varian was sold off to Agilent and Buker Corp. Buker Corp then sold off their portion of Varian Gas Chromatography equipment to Scion in 2014. All three companies were contacted in order to determine who currently holds the Varian ECD records. None of the companies contacted claimed to hold the records.
(vii) [EEA] now maintains a list of ECDs showing each ECD location. The list is maintained by the laboratory and monitored by the RSO."

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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

CONTAMINATED RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SHIPMENT

"On March 3, 2016, at approximately 1745 [EST], a radioactive material shipment was received at NFS from the Westinghouse Electric Company in Hopkins, South Carolina. Receipt contamination and radiation surveys were completed at approximately 1905. Results indicated removable surface contamination on two of the nine radioactive material packages that exceeded the criteria of the cited regulations.

"The radioactive material shipment left the Westinghouse Electric Company facility at 1300 [EST] on March 3, 2016. It was received at the NFS receiving facility at approximately 1745 on March 3, 2016. Surface contamination and radiation surveys were initiated immediately upon receipt. Removable surface contamination in excess of 10 CFR 20.1906(d) limits was verified to be present on the external surface of two of the nine shipping containers in the shipment at 1905. Contamination was controlled at the receiving facility and successfully decontaminated below criteria of 10 CFR 20.1906(d) by approximately 2030 on March 3, 2016."

This was an exclusive shipment. The alpha contamination measured 4278 dpm/100 sq. cm. and 6345 dpm/100 sq. cm., respectively. The licensee informed Westinghouse who is conducting an investigation into this incident.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION ON 07/15/16 AT 1243 EDT FROM RANDY SHACKELFORD TO DONG PARK * * *

"On 3/4/2016, NFS made an event report to the NRC Operations Center regarding receipt of containers with removable contamination that exceeded the criteria of the cited regulations. Based on a recent determination by NRC that the materials of concern are considered to be low toxicity alpha emitters, the contamination limits for low toxicity alpha emitters were not exceeded. Therefore, NFS is retracting the event report.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R2DO (Rich) and NMSS Events Notification via email.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVE GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION

The following information was summarized from the State of Louisiana via email:

"[On 03/03/16, the licensee] RSO e-mailed [Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)] at approximately 1330 [CST] to report that a gauge installed on a process at the LA Pigment Company facility in Westlake, LA, had a shutter malfunction. The gauge is installed on a routing process for material at the facility. The gauge shutter is stuck in the open position.

"The gauge is a Berthold Technologies, Model: Berthold Systems, LB-330 utilizing a 12 mCi Cs-137 source, S/N1768-5-90, Model: Lab. Prof. Dr. Berthold Dwg. #2653.100-001.

"On 03/04/2016, a Service Engineer with Berthold Technologies evaluated the situation and stated the source holder/shield will be replaced and the same Cs-137 source will be installed in the new source holder. The cause of the operational failure appears to be corrosion, extended wear and tear and age of the device. The service holder order was placed and anticipated delivery is 4 to 6 weeks. The device will be shipped from Germany.

"There are no exposure or health and safety issues involved with this event. The gauge and rod source will remain installed on the functioning process. The areas are posted with 'Do Not Enter or Operate' since the source cannot be locked out for human entry. The resolution of the situation will be directed by the ability to be repaired or if the gauge should be uninstalled and sent for disposal.

"The corrective action: The repairs and/or corrective actions were determined on 03/04/2016 by [the Service Engineer] and will be completed when the replacement source holders arrive."

LADEQ considers this incident closed.

State Event Report ID No.: LA 160004