Event Notification Report for April 05, 2023

EN Revision Imported Date: 4/5/2023

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SEALED SOURCE GAUGES INVOLVED IN A FIRE

The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:

"The Agency was contacted on February 3, 2023, by Jiva Resources in Sauget, IL to advise that five Cs-137 gauges had been impacted by a fire in September 2022. A Jiva Resources representative called and initially reported the five radioactive gauges as stolen 'in the last week.' When Agency staff returned his call that same morning, the devices had been located but were identified as having been involved in a fire back in September 2022. While the container (sealed drum) holding the gauges was impacted by the fire, it is unclear if there was any impact to the gauges. The devices include two Ohmart model SH-F1 gauges (serial numbers 2879GK and 1652GK) and three Vega model SR-A gauges (serial numbers 2174GK, 2878GK, and 63008). All contain 20 millicuries of Cs-137 except for serial number 63008 which contains 30 millicuries of Cs-137. It should be noted the SH-F1 housings are identified in the Sealed Source and Device Registry as being fireproof (rated above 800 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes) while the SR-A housings are lead-filled cylindrical steel shells, which are noted for retaining the source should the lead shielding melt out. Exposure rates should be less than 5 mR/hr at one foot - which will be confirmed by Agency staff. Leak tests will be conducted and source security assessed. Additional regulatory requirements regarding proper disposal, storage, leak testing and reporting will be investigated as well."

* * * UPDATE ON 02/06/2023 AT 1248 EST FROM GARY FORSEE TO LLOYD DESOTELL * * *

The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:

"Agency staff attempted to perform a reactionary inspection the morning of February 6, 2023, to inspect the condition of the five radioactive gauges identified above. This effort confirmed that the registrant did in fact lose accountability of the gauges as it appears they were stolen at some point in the last four months. The last known location was in Sauget, IL in September 2022 when that storage location was involved in a fire. Since that time, the building has reportedly been accessible to looters. Local scrap yards and public safety partners will be notified."

Illinois Incident Number: IL230002

Notified: R3DO (Szwarc); NMSS Events Notification and ILTAB via email.

* * * UPDATE ON 04/04/2023 AT 1120 EDT FROM GARY FORSEE TO BRIAN LIN * * *

The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:

"On 3/7/23 the property owner (39N properties) was contacted to coordinate a site visit. The Agency was advised that on 2/23/2023, all assets were transferred to JET Resources by matter of court decision. The Agency staff coordinated with the new property owners and performed a site visit on 3/30/2023. The Agency staff performed surveys for nearly 2.5 hours to attempt to locate the gauges. While it is possible the gauges may still be buried beneath debris, surveys on the accessible surface did not show evidence of the gauges. Sodium iodide surveys performed throughout the site yielded count rates that were indistinguishable from background. The area is secured and looting does not appear to be an issue as initially reported. Site cleanup is ongoing and the new owners will coordinate with the Agency if anything suspect is located. The contractor has radiation detection equipment. Enforcement regarding this matter is ongoing. While this report will be updated with any developments, all available evidence indicates these gauges are no longer on the site and were either stolen or improperly transferred by the previous owners. This matter is considered closed by the Agency unless additional information becomes available."

Notified: R3DO (Orlikowski); NMSS Events Notification, NMSS Regional Coordinator (Rivera-Capella), and ILTAB via email.

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 - LOST DEVICE

The following information was provided by Iowa Department of Health and Human Services via email:

"In the process of a registrant closing out their general license, the registrant identified that a generally licensed 3M model 703 handheld static eliminator (s/n: 7030250) containing hydrogen-3 with a current activity of 20 millicuries (manufactured in 1982 with 200 millicuries) had been lost. In 2015, the registrant had three (3) 703 devices, in which two (2) were disposed of through the manufacturer. No other records of sale, transfer, or disposal could be identified.

"The registrant spent 400 man-hours searching their facility, methodically sectioning off and checking all storage locations, interviewing current and former employees, contacting vendors who had conducted leak test services on other devices, and contacting radioactive waste disposal groups who have handled waste in the past. None had any records of the missing unit. It is the registrant's belief that the unit was likely removed from the site sometime before 2018. No occupational illnesses or injuries have been reported or would likely occur from the loss of this device due to its age and characteristics."

Iowa Incident Number: IA230002

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 - STUCK SHUTTER

The following report was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services [the Agency] via email:

"On March 29, 2023, the licensee reported to the Agency that on March 28, 2023, one of its technicians was performing routine shutter checks, and the shutter on one of their Vega SHF-2 gauges, containing a 50 millicurie cesium-137 source, was stuck in the open position. Open is the normal operating position for the gauge. The gauge is mounted 10-12 feet above the ground on the side of a tank with no direct access so there is no risk of exposure to individuals The licensee will contact a service company to make repairs. An investigation into this event is ongoing. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident No.: 10002

Texas NMED No.: TX230013

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE

The following report was received from the Washington State Department of Health [WA State] via email:

"WA State received a licensee report of a stuck radiography source incident at 1606 [PDT] on March 28, 2023. The incident took place at the licensee's facility in Tacoma. The source guide tube was crimped, preventing the source drive cable from retracting into the device's shielded enclosure. A two milli-Roentgen per hour, radiation boundary was established, and the facility operations location/entrance was secured. No overexposures or spread of contamination occurred due to the event. Source retrieval/recovery actions have been completed. WA State was notified that the source was fully retracted into the shielded exposure device today, March 29, 2023, at 0430 [PDT]."

WA Incident No.: WA-23-006

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"At 1915 EDT, Susquehanna Nuclear Control Room was notified of a reportable oil release from a spare transformer outside of its secondary containment of an unknown quantity. Oil staining was observed on the ground outside of the designed containment vault stored on the grounds of Susquehanna Nuclear. The quantity and duration of the oil leak is unknown and thus poses a potential pollution risk to groundwater. Spill response measures are in-progress and as of 1500 on 4/4/2023 a field walkdown reported no visible oil outside of the containment vault. The spill event is reportable under Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Clean Streams Law (PACSL) per PA Code 91.33 and 25 PA code 92a.41. This notification is being written to notify the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission within 4 hours of determination of a required report to another government agency per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi)."

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.