Event Notification Report for October 28, 2009

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
10/27/2009 - 10/28/2009

** EVENT NUMBERS **


45457 45469

To top of page
General Information or Other Event Number: 45457
Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: SOUTHERN SCRAP
Region: 4
City: BLYTHEVILLE State: AR
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAYLA AVERY
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 10/23/2009
Notification Time: 11:18 [ET]
Event Date: 10/20/2009
Event Time: 15:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/23/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
NEIL OKEEFE (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIUM SOURCE FOUND IN SCRAP METAL

The following information was received from the state via e-mail:

"Nucor-Yamato Steel in Blytheville, Arkansas reported to the Arkansas Radiation Control Program on October 20, 2009, that they believed a source had been found in a load of scrap metal received at their facility. The shipper for this load of scrap metal was Southern Scrap, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

"Radiation surveys conducted by steel mill personnel indicated an on contact reading of 5.0 mR/hr.

"Health Physicists from the Arkansas Radiation Control Program responded to Nucor-Yamato Steel in Blytheville, Arkansas on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 arriving at 3:00 p.m.

"The device is 20 inches long and 6 inches square. The only identifying marks are a plate labeled 'MFD BY S.H. COUCH CO INC' and appears to be a type of selector switch containing a Radium-226 backlight. The switch can select 'AFT STA' or 'WHEEL HSE.'

"Survey readings at the selector switch were 5.5 mR/hr. Removable contamination (not quantified) was found on smears of the device taken in the field.

"The device was packaged and transported to the Arkansas Department of Health and is currently in a secured storage area. The Department continues to investigate this incident to determine the identity of the device as well as the owner."

To top of page
Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 45469
Rep Org: KAKIVIK ASSET MANAGEMENT
Licensee: KAKIVIK ASSET MANAGEMENT
Region: 4
City: ANCHORAGE State: AK
County:
License #: 50-27667-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KEENAN REMELE
HQ OPS Officer: KARL DIEDERICH
Notification Date: 10/27/2009
Notification Time: 15:59 [ET]
Event Date: 10/27/2009
Event Time: 00:45 [YDT]
Last Update Date: 10/27/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
DUNCAN WHITE (FSME)

Event Text

RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE UNABLE TO FULLY RETRACT

On October 27, 2009, at approximately 0045 hours local time, in the Kuparuk Oil Field in the North Slope Borough, Alaska, the source in an Industrial Nuclear Corporation (INC) IR-100 radiography camera, serial number 6620 was unable to be fully retracted. This was judged to be due to a frozen lock on the device which occurred due to weather conditions of blowing snow and freezing rain. A certified technician serviced the lock. The lock was returned to fully functional condition and the source was returned to the safe and secure position at approximately 0130 hours. The device has a 60 Ci Ir-192 source. No personnel over exposures occurred.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021