Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2020

Event Notification Report for September 08, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
9/7/2020 - 9/8/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54865
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Wiedenbach Brown Region: 4 City: Duluth State: TX County: License #: N/A Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Art Tucker HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font	Notification Date: 08/28/2020 Notification Time: 18:58 [ET] Event Date: 08/28/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RAY KELLAR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) ILTAB (EMAIL) - CNSC (CANADA) (EMAIL) - CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

EN Revision Imported Date : 9/1/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SHIPMENT OF TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS

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

"On August 28, 2020, the Agency was contacted by an individual to notify it that they had shipped seven Forever Lite tritium exit signs to a manufacturer in May of 2020 and they have been informed by the transportation company that they do not know where the signs are. The signs are Forever Lite signs, each containing 7.03 curies (original activity) of tritium, manufactured in May 2011.

"The package was last scanned in Fort Worth, Texas, in May of 2020. The shipper stated that they were told on May 19, 2020 it was to be delivered in Canada. The next update when they followed up they were advised the package was lost and they were trying to locate the shipment and opened a claim. The location where the signs were lost is unknown at this time; therefore, the Agency is making this report for your information.

"The Agency has requested additional information and clarifications from the shipper. Additional information will be provided as it is received."

Texas Incident #: I - 9789

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

* * * UPDATE ON AUGUST 31, 2020 AT 1126 EDT FROM ART TUCKER TO BRIAN LIN * * *

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

"After reviewing documents provided by the licensee, the Agency contacted the licensee and confirmed that eight signs were lost and not seven as previously reported. The transportation company's radiation safety officer (RSO) was contacted by the Agency and the RSO stated they do not store the tracking records of shipments in their computer system for very long, therefore they would not be able to review the tracking information for this shipment. The Agency will provide additional information as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Deese), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, CNSC (Canada), and CNSNS (Mexico) via email.

Agreement State	Event Number: 54866
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: O'CONNOR & KEZAR LLC Region: 4 City: San Antonio State: TX County: License #: L06318 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Karen Blanchard HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font	Notification Date: 08/29/2020 Notification Time: 16:14 [ET] Event Date: 08/29/2020 Event Time: 09:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/29/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RAY KELLAR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) ILTAB (EMAIL) - CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN VEHICLE WITH MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

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

"The licensee notified the Agency at approximately 1315 CDT that one of its company pickups had been stolen and a Troxler model 3440 moisture/density gauge (SN: 37337) was secured in the bed of the truck. The gauge contains 40 milliCurie americium-241 and 8 milliCurie cesium-137 sources. The technician had a late testing and then went to his residence from the job site due to a serious water leak that was occurring there. After fixing the leak, it was late and he fell asleep and did not return the gauge to the licensee's facility. He last saw the vehicle/gauge at approximately 0100. At approximately 0900, he discovered the vehicle, with the gauge, had been stolen. The set of keys to the locks securing the gauge and the insertion rod were in the cab of the truck. Local police were notified. Police will notify the local pawn shops and the licensee will search local buy/sell/trade internet sites for the gauge and other equipment. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident # I-9790

* * * UPDATE ON 08/29/20 AT 2018 EDT FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO OSSY FONT * * *

The following update was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email:

"The licensee's Radiation Safety Officer notified the Agency at approximately 1847 CDT that he has possession of the gauge and it was back at their facility. He had been called by the San Antonio Fire Department HAZMAT at approximately 1800 that they had been called to a location where the gauge was - the gauge was sitting on the edge of a street next to the curb. The latches on the transport case were unlocked but the gauge and all other equipment were present. The chains and locks that secured the gauge in the bed of the truck were also present. There was no damage to the transport container or the gauge. Technicians put the device through its normal testing procedures and it is fully operational. Any further information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Kellar), and NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico) 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	Event Number: 54868
Rep Org: KENTUCKY DEPT OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: GEOTECHNOLOGY INC. Region: 1 City: Lexington State: KY County: License #: 201-189-51 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Anjan Bhattacharyya HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin	Notification Date: 08/31/2020 Notification Time: 11:49 [ET] Event Date: 08/30/2020 Event Time: 10:15 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): JOSEPHINE AMBROSINI (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) ILTAB (EMAIL) JEFFERSON CLARK (EMAIL)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was received from the state of Kentucky via email:

"The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of the Kentucky Radioactive Materials Licensee Geotechnology Inc. (RML #201-189-51), reported the theft of a single CPN MC-1 Elite Series Moisture Density gauge (Serial No: 31113 with sealed source models HEG137, 10 mCi Cs-137, sealed source serial number Q785, and AM1.NO2, 50 mCi AM-241:Be, sealed source serial Number K039/18) from an authorized users vehicle while parked overnight at the user's residence located in Lexington KY. The gauge was secured by 2 chains within the cab of the vehicle, but was stolen from the vehicle along with several other items. No forced entry into the vehicle was noted, but one of the two chains securing the gauge was cut and the second chain was removed by breaking the top handle of the gauge transportation case. A report was made to the Lexington Police Department which is investigating the theft (Case No. 2020145606). The Kentucky Radiation Health Branch, will follow up with an interview with the RSO and authorized user.

"Reporting Criteria In 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i)"

Kentucky Incident No.: 201-189-51

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	Event Number: 54871
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV Licensee: Southern Recycling LLC Region: 4 City: New Orleans State: LA County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: James Pate HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity	Notification Date: 08/31/2020 Notification Time: 15:06 [ET] Event Date: 08/28/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RICK DEESE (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVITY FOUND IN RECYCLED MATERIAL

The following was received from the state of Louisiana:

"On August 28, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) / Emergency Response Services Division / Radiation Section was contacted to report radioactive material was discovered being brought into the facility in a roll-off box to Southern Recycling LLC. The roll-off box came from Monsanto Company, Luling, Louisiana 70070. The roll-off box contained scrap metal from a new construction site at Monsanto Company. American Radiation Services (ARS), Port Allen, LA was brought in to survey the box and make determination of the radioactive material. ARS determined that the radioactive material was Se-75. The survey reading was two mR/hr at surface contact. The survey reading was taken from a corrugated paper box with no removable contamination. At this time, no radiation sealed source has been found or indication to make determination of the potential source.

"LDEQ is sending an inspector to the facility to make further determination if possible with ARS. The radioactive material is secured on site at Southern Recycling."

Louisiana Incident No.: LA20200008

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021