Event Notification Report for November 19, 2020

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POSSIBLE MISCONNECT OF RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE

The following information was received from the State of Kansas via email:

"On November 3, 2020, at 1100 CST, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was notified that the Desert NDT LLC radiography crew experienced a possible misconnect at 1430 CST on November 2, 2020, at a job site in Liberal, KS. The two crew members performed an exposure using the Delta 880 exposure camera containing an Iridium-192 source with 51.9 curies (1902 GBq). After the exposure the crew noticed that they did not hear the source click back in place in the camera. Through surveys, the crew noted abnormally high readings at the front of the exposure device. The crew ensured 2 mR boundaries were appropriately set and that all personnel was clear of the area. The crew then called their radiation safety officer (RSO) explaining the problem.

"The site RSO from the Perryton, Texas [location] was notified to assist with the possible misconnect. The RSO arrived onsite at 1545 CST on the same date and was able to assess possible reasons for the disconnect and devised a plan to retrieve the source. After reducing the radiation area to a manageable level, he was able to disconnect the Source Guide Tube from the device to be able to remove it from the radiation area and inspect the device for further inspection and investigation as to why the disconnect had occurred. After disconnecting the controls from the device it was determined that the Assistant Radiographer had not connected the drive cable to the pig-tail of the source assembly creating a 'Misconnect.' Once the reason for the misconnect was discovered, the RSO replaced the controls on the device and moved forward with the retrieval and was able to connect the drive cable to the source and retract it into the shielded position. The RSO stated that he completed the retrieval at 1610 CST on November 2, 2020.

"There was no exposure to the general public or any other individuals other than the three crew members. The closest area for any member of the public to be exposed was at a roadway approximately 300 feet away. The RSO, who was authorized to perform source retrieval, received an exposure of 45 mR to his hands and 20 mR to his trunk. Surveys were taken using a ND-2000 survey meter, serial number 54261, and calibration date of July 28, 2020. The RSO wore a model 883 pocket dosimeter and alarm rate meter (ARM) model RA-500, serial number 71037, and calibration date of February 11, 2020. Landauer whole body badges were also worn during the retrieval process.

"KDHE staff will be performing a reactive inspection of this licensee on the next entry into Kansas and will provide additional details after that inspection."

Kansas Incident Number: KS00006.

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - ACCIDENTALLY SOLD A SEALED SOURCE DEVICE

The following was received from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) via email:

On November 2, 2020, the Department received a call from a licensee about disposal of a sealed source device.

"The licensee was getting ready to dispose of their device and was informed by their surplus department that it had been accidentally sold at a surplus auction on September 17, 2020. Sale information was retrieved from auction records on November 3, 2020, and the purchaser was located and contacted. The device had been delivered to the purchaser in Columbus, Ohio and the purchaser is working with the licensee to properly dispose of the device. The device is to be retrieved from Columbus, Ohio by the disposal company, but a date has not yet been set. The licensee will notify the Department when disposal arrangements have been finalized."

Nebraska Incident Number: NE200009.

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 - NUCLEAR GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK CLOSED

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

"On November 11, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that on November 10, 2020, while working at a field site, the shutter roll pin on a Berthold Technologies LB 8010 nuclear gauge fell out and the shutter vibrated closed. The gauge contains a 20 milliCurie (original activity) source. The gauge is installed on a pipe which is installed in line with existing piping at the well site for testing. The gauge was taken out of service and the RSO stated they would repair the gauge within the next few days. The RSO stated the gauge does not pose an exposure risk to any individual. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA- 300."

Texas Incident No.: I-9811

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST PACKAGE CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

The following was received via e-mail from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency):

"A 6"x6"x6" excepted package containing approximately 86 mCi of Am-241 was reported missing in transit on November 11, 2020 by the licensee. The last known location was Bridgefield, Ohio at the [common carrier] terminal. The [common carrier] is still actively searching. While a reportable quantity under DOT and NRC, this does not represent a serious public exposure hazard. There is no indication of intentional theft or diversion at this time. This quantity of material would not be immediately useful for illicit purposes.

"The Agency was contacted on November 11, 2020, by the radiation safety officer for the licensee to advise that a package scheduled to arrive at their Downers Grove, IL facility on November 10, through November 11, had not arrived. The [common carrier] could not immediately locate the package. The package contained two special form model AMC-25 sealed sources containing approximately 43 mCi of Am-241 each. Source serial numbers were 4429CW and 4475CW. Both sources were contained in a 6"x6"x6" brown cardboard box. As it was an excepted package, it only bears UN2910 and does not have radioactive labels on the exterior. Should the package be opened, there is an aluminum 5"x5" round can filled with foam and two zip lock bags. Each bag contains a shielded source holder with the Am-241 capsules therein. The bags and the can are labeled with a trefoil and the words 'Radioactive Material'. Unshielded, the two sources would yield a combined exposure rate of about 15 mR/hour at one foot. This is not an immediate hazard to workers or members of the public that locate the package.

"The package is assigned tracking number 474-473-809-5 by the [common carrier]. The package left their Buffalo, NY terminal on November 5 after a trailer switch. It was reported as arriving at the common carrier's Bridgefield, OH terminal on November 6, and leaving November 7, on the same trailer. The package was bound for the [common carrier's] Bolingbrook, IL terminal but reportedly never arrived. The [common carrier] is actively searching and Illinois staff are in contact. Ohio Radiation program staff will be notified as well."

* * * UPDATE ON 11/11/2020 AT 2025 EDT FROM DANIEL SAMSON TO BRIAN P. SMITH * * *

The following update regarding the lost package en route from New York to Illinois was received via fax from the New York State Department of Health:

"A shipment of two 45 mCi sources of Am-241/Be was misplaced in transit between Tonawanda, NY and Bolingbrook, IL. The last known location was in Tonawanda, NY. The truck went through PA/OH/IN and arrived without the package in Illinois. More information will be forthcoming as it is discovered."

Notified R1DO (Carfang), R3DO (Cameron), NMSS Events Notification (email), ILTAB (email), CSNC Canada (fax)

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

DAMAGED SOURCE RACK