Event Notification Report for October 28, 2020

EN Revision Imported Date: 10/26/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - GAUGE DAMAGED ON CONSTRUCTION SITE

The following was received from the state of Nevada via email:

"A front-end loader ran over and crushed a Humboldt 5001EZ, S/N 3246, Portable Nuclear Gauge while the Authorized User was performing the standard count. The source was still in the shielded position during the incident, but the source rod was broken off and the gauge can no longer be used. No injuries or exposures occurred, but the device was damaged beyond repair and will be returned to the manufacturer for disposal."

State Event Report ID: NV-20-0010

* * * UPDATE VIA EMAIL FROM HALEY BROWN TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 1458 EST ON 10/23/2020 * * *

Leak Test results confirm that the Humboldt Portable Nuclear Gauge SN 3246 (11 mCi Cs-137/ 44 mCi Am-241) is not leaking. The licensee will be shipping this device to the manufacturer on Monday, October 26th for disposal.

Notified R4DO (Pick) and NMSS Events notification (email).

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following was received from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (The Department) via email:

"On October 20, 2020, at 0930 EDT, the Department was notified by the licensee's RSO [(Radiation Safety Officer)] that one of its gauges had been struck by a passing pickup truck while taking a measurement. The RSO stated that the gauge was able to be return to the fully shielded and locked position. The gauge damage was only to the electronics side of the gauge and did not damage the sources. The gauge is a Humboldt Model 5001 EZ (serial number: 9568) and contains 11 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241/Be."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SOURCE DISCONNECT

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

"On October 19, 2019, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for APPlus RTD, USA, contacted the Radiologic Health Branch regarding a source disconnect event at the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery. The device was a INC Ir-100 exposure device (serial number not reported) with an INC Model 32 Ir-192 source (serial number and activity not reported). The disconnect occurred while the source was cranked out of the device for an exposure. After the disconnect was discovered, the radiographer stopped cranking the source, isolated the area and contacted the RSO about the incident. After arriving at the scene, the RSO and alternate RSO assessed the situation and then proceeded to return the source back into the exposure device. The licensee's investigation into this event is ongoing and will be reviewed further by the California Department of Public Health."

CA 5010 No.:101920

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following information was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via email:

"On October 20, 2020, a representative of the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) received a report from a licensee via email that a portable nuclear moisture/density gauge was damaged in a vehicle accident at the intersection of Airport Road and Hwy 156 in Sandston, Virginia. The report indicated that a Troxler soil density gauge (Model 3430, Serial # 36803, containing 8 milliCuries of Cesium-137 and 40 milliCuries of Americium-241/Beryllium) was being transported in its case in the bed of a truck. During the accident, the case was damaged and the gauge housing was cracked, but there appeared to be no significant damage to the baseplate, rod, shielding or sources. The licensee's survey of the gauge yielded readings of 8-10 mR/hr at a 6 inch distance from the gauge. The gauge was returned to the Ashland office then transferred to an intact case and transported to North East Technical Services for further evaluation. The VRMP is working with the licensee to obtain additional information and this report will be updated once the licensee's investigation is complete and the information is received."

VA incident no.: VA20005

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

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AND FOUND PORTABLE GAUGE

The following was received from the state of Washington via email:

"At approximately 1430 [PDT] on October 19, 2020, a portable gauge technician, working for GN Northern, had completed performing compaction tests at Mt. Adams Elementary School in Harrah, Washington. At the end of the job, about 1500 [PDT] he placed his gauge (not in its case) on his pickup tailgate and did his write-up. Then at approximately 1515 [PDT] he drove off down the highway toward the GN Northern's home office in Yakima with the gauge on the tailgate. Then at approximately 1530 [PDT], the technician looked behind and noticed his tailgate down and remembered the gauge on the tailgate but [was] no longer there. The technician then turned around to look for it for about three (3) hours. He then called the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of GN Northern, and reported what had happened. After returning to Yakima the two of them looked for the gauge with flashlights along the highway but could not find it. The RSO then called 206-Nuclear and reported it to the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Section who then notified the Radioactive Materials Section the following morning. The Radioactive Materials Section then learned on the morning of October 20, 2020 from the RSO and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) that a private citizen ran over the gauge during the afternoon of October 19th and notified the WSP. At approximately 1600 [PDT] on October 19th, a WSP Trooper was notified by dispatch that there was a male individual at the WSP office in Union Gap, WA with a damaged gauge that he had struck on the highway and drug it while it was lodged underneath until he could [pull] over. The Union Gap police had also stopped to assist and advised the two males to deliver the gauge to the WSP for safe keeping. WSP Troopers took the gauge and delivered it to the WSP impound facility in Union Gap, WA for safe keeping. Meanwhile, during the afternoon of October 19th, GN Northern had notified Yakima County Sherriff's Department. Shortly after, the Yakima County Sherriff's Department notified other law enforcement agencies including WSP. Therefore, at approximately 0730 [PDT] on October 20th, WSP called GN Northern to let them know that they have their gauge. GN Northern then came and picked up their damaged gauge from WSP at approximately 0830 [PDT] on October 20, 2020."

WA incident no.: WA-20-021

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

LOSS OF EMERGENCY PLAN DOSE ASSESSMENT CAPABILITY

"At 1608 CDT on 10/27/2020, Wolf Creek Unit 1, operating at 100 percent rated thermal power in Mode-1, experienced a loss of the on-site wired corporate network. During actions to restore, it was discovered the ability to access the dose assessment software was compromised due to a security program. Access to the program was established after some time using Wi-Fi connectivity, but was not able to be accessed without network access. Actions are being taken to rectify.

"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

The licensee believes this was not a cyber-event and that the Emergency Response Data System was available, but couldn't verify. Should the Wi-Fi network access be lost, there's no capability to perform a dose assessment. Standalone laptops are being provided but have not been placed onsite yet. That should restore the ability to have dose assessment capability at all times.


* * * UPDATE ON 10/27/2020 AT 2220 FROM JOHN WEBER TO OSSY FONT * * *

The licensee notified the NRC that the network has been restored to the Technical Support Center building and the emergency plan dose assessment group was capable of performing dose assessment. The licensee also noted that the group is able to perform dose assessment without the network, if needed. The network is still unavailable in the control room. The licensee confirmed that ERDS is available.

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

Notified R4DO (Pick).