Event Notification Report for March 14, 2023

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On March 7, 2023, the Agency was notified by the licensee that the shutter on a Vega SH-F2 nuclear gauge had failed in the open position during routine testing. The gauge contains a 300 millicurie (original activity) Cs-137 source. Open is the normal operating position for the gauge. The licensee has contacted the manufacturer for repairs to the gauge. The licensee stated the gauge does not create an exposure risk to any individual as the gauge is located 300 feet in the air on the side of a vessel. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas event report number: 56392

* * * UPDATE ON 3/8/23 AT 1341 EST FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES TO JOHN RUSSELL VIA EMAIL * * *

"On March 8, 2023, the Agency was notified by the licensee that while performing routine shutter inspections a second gauge shutter was found in the stuck open position. The gauge is a Vega model SHF2C gauge containing a 500 millicurie (original activity) cesium-137 source. Open is the normal operation position for the gauge shutter. The licensee has contacted the manufacturer for repairs. The gauge does not create an exposure risk to any personnel. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Heather Gepford), NMSS Events Notification.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCE

The following information was received from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (the Department) via email:

"On February 7, 2023, the Department was notified by phone call from a physics consultant for the licensee that a package containing radioactive material being shipped by a common carrier from Wisconsin to Burbank, California on December 24, 2022, did not arrive at its destination. The package contained an Eckert & Ziegler Model HEGL-0133 sealed line source (s/n T1-924). The source contained 10 millicuries of Gd-153 on manufacturer's assay date of October 1, 2020. The licensee calculated the activity at the time of shipment to be 0.972 millicuries on December 24, 2022. The courier was contacted by the licensee on February 2, 2023, and the courier's last record for the package shows it located in Memphis, TN on December 24, 2022. The current location of the package is unknown. A lost shipment claim has been made with the courier."

Event Report ID Number: WI230002



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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - THEFT OF MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following was received from the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch via email:

"On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the Krazan and Associates, Inc. Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) reported the theft of a moisture density gauge, CPN MC-3 (M351208119) containing sealed sources of Cs-137 (10 mCi) and Am-241:Be (50 mCi), Cal OES control number: 23-1630. The theft occurred overnight between Monday and Tuesday, March 6-7, 2023, at the office's equipment storage container located within their fenced in property. The RSO stated that the thief cut a hole in the back fence that borders an open dirt area behind their lot and then cut the lock off of the storage container and opened the doors. This theft was reviewed on security camera footage. They had several gauges in the storage container and other construction equipment, but only this one gauge was stolen. The other equipment was assumed to be too heavy for the thief. The CPN nuclear gauge handle was locked to prevent operation. The gauge was locked in its transport case, and the company had contact information on the gauge and case. Lancaster police were notified. An investigation will be conducted, and a report will be provided when available. The licensee was advised to submit a reward ad in the local paper to aid in the recovery effort. Further information will be provided as it becomes available."

California Event Number: 030723

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