UNITED STATES
                          NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555

                                  May 27, 1988


Information Notice No. 88-33:  RECENT PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE MODEL 
                                   SPEC 2-T RADIOGRAPHIC EXPOSURE DEVICE 


Addressees: 

All Agreement States and NRC licensees authorized to manufacture, distribute 
or operate radiographic exposure devices and source changers. 

Purpose: 

This notice is provided to alert licensees of the occurrence of a recent 
trans-portation accident which occurred in Houston, Texas involving a Model 
SPEC 2-T radiographic exposure device (NRC Certification of Compliance (COC) 
No. 9056).  It is suggested that licensees review this information for 
applicability to their operations involving transportation of radiography 
devices.  However, suggestions contained in this notice do not constitute new 
NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is 
required. 

Description of Circumstances: 

In this accident, the device fell off the rear of a truck onto the roadway, 
where it subsequently was struck by another vehicle.  The device became jammed
beneath the vehicle and was dragged for a considerable distance along the 
roadway.  At some point in the accident, the source and the device became 
separated.  The source was found lying in the roadway.  This accident is 
currently under review by the State of Texas (an Agreement State), the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), and this Agency.  At this point, it is 
unclear as to whether the source became separated as a result of the stress of 
scraping along the roadway, or as a result of its initial impact with the 
roadway. 

Although the review is not completed, several issues and facts have surfaced 
which should be brought to the attention of licensees.  These are described 
below. 

Discussion: 

1.   Some Model SPEC 2-T devices may have been fabricated without the internal 
     polyurethane material which is foamed in place between the outer shell 
     and the internal depleted uranium shield.  The NRC is attempting to 
     obtain additional information on this matter and will provide further 
     information to licensees/users, as appropriate.




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                                                                 May 27, 1988 
                                                                 Page 2 of 2 


2.   Some Model SPEC 2-T devices, which have been distributed to users, may 
     not conform to the drawing referenced in NRC COC No. 9056, issued March 
     12, 1986.  The NRC is attempting to determine if this variance is 
     significant.

3.   All users are reminded that operation and transportation of radiography 
     devices must be in accordance with applicable NRC, Agreement State, and 
     U.S. DOT regulations.  Licensees are cautioned that the safety of such 
     devices in transportation depends, in part, on the proper securing of 
     plugs and lock mechanisms before the device is transported.  Licensees 
     should assure that the procedures specified in the COC are followed in 
     preparing the device for transportation.  Users of NRC-certified radio-
     graphy devices must register with the NRC in accordance with the require-
     ments of .. 10 CFR 71.12 and 49 CFR 173.471. 

     The manufacturer of the Model SPEC 2-T is: 

     Source Production and Equipment Company 
     ATTN:  R. D. Dicharry 
     625 Oxley Street 
     Kenner, LA  70062 
     Telephone: 504/464/9471 (Telex 46-156) 

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the 
appropriate NRC Regional Office or this office. 



                                        Robert F. Burnett, Director
                                        Division of Safeguards and
                                          Transportation
                                        Office of Nuclear Material Safety
                                          and Safeguards

Technical Contact:  C. E. MacDonald, NMSS
                    (301) 492-3382

Agreement State     D. A. Nussbaumer, GPA
Contact:            (301) 492-0326

Attachment:  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices 
.                                                            Attachment
                                                            IN 88-33 
                                                            May 27, 1988 
                                                            Page 1 of 1

                             LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
                            NRC INFORMATION NOTICES 
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information                                  Date of 
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________

88-32          Prompt Reporting to           5/25/88        All NRC materials 
               NRC of Significant                           licensees. 
               Incidents Involving 
               Radioactive Material 

88-31          Steam Generator Tube          5/25/88        All holders of OLs
               Ruptube Analysis                             or CPs for 
               Deficiency                                   Westinghouse and 
                                                            Combustion 
                                                            Engineering 
                                                            designed nuclear 
                                                            power plants. 

88-30          Target Rock Two-Stage         5/25/88        All holders of OLs
               SRV Setpoint Drift                           or CPs for nuclear
               Update                                       power reactors. 

88-29          Deficiencies in Primary       5/24/88        All holders of OLs
               Containment Low-Voltage                      or CPs for nuclear
               Electrical Penetration                       power reactors. 
               Assemblies 

88-28          Potential for Loss of         5/19/88        All holders of OLs
               Post-LOCA Recirculation                      or CPs for nuclear
               Capability Due to                            power reactors. 
               Insulation Debris Blockage 

88-27          Deficient Electrical          5/18/88        All holders of OLs
               Terminations Identified                      or CPs for nuclear
               in Safety-Related                            power reactors. 
               Components 

85-35,         Failure of Air Check          5/17/88        All holders of OLs
Supplement 1   Valves to Seat                               or CPs for nuclear
                                                            power reactors. 

88-26          Falsified Pre-Employment      5/16/88        All holders of OLs
               Screening Records                            or CPs for nuclear
                                                            power reactors and
                                                            all major fuel 
                                                            facility 
                                                            licensees. 
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit