Event Notification Report for November 19, 2001
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
11/18/2001 - 11/19/2001
EVENT NUMBERS
38522
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 38522
Rep Org: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Licensee: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Region: 4
City: DENVER State: CO
County:
License #: 05-01399-08
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DARRELL LILES
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Region: 4
City: DENVER State: CO
County:
License #: 05-01399-08
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DARRELL LILES
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 11/29/2001
Notification Time: 11:00 [ET]
Event Date: 11/19/2001
Event Time: 00:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 11/29/2001
Notification Time: 11:00 [ET]
Event Date: 11/19/2001
Event Time: 00:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 11/29/2001
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM JOHNSON (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
WILLIAM JOHNSON (R4)
FRED BROWN (NMSS)
RADIOACTIVE SHIPMENT SHIPPED AS EXCEPTED PACKAGE - LIMITED QUANTITY INSTEAD OF DOT 7A YELLOW II
The following text describes a mislabeled package shipped via FedEx:
"Summary of Incident:
11/19/2001: Samples were irradiated for McCrone & Associates Inc. by the US Geological Survey TRIGA Reactor staff. (Facility license R-1 13, docket 50-274). After irradiation, the samples were surveyed with an ion chamber and analyzed with a germanium detector for nuclide determination. The ion chamber had been response checked that morning. The samples were packaged in Type A shipping container (juice can) that was placed inside a cardboard box. Radiation surveys on the package were conducted using the same ion chamber as before, and contamination surveys were also conducted. All radiation/contamination surveys and isotope activities indicated an excepted package-limited quantity radioactive shipment. These readings were consistent with prior sample irradiations performed for McCrone & Associates. The package, reading 0.42 mr/hr on the surface was sent from Denver, CO to McCrone and Associates Inc (in a Chicago suburb) via FedEx overnight.
11/20/2001: McCrone's Radiation Safety Officer notified USGS Reactor staff that the package containing the samples had been received and the surface of the box read 4 mr/hr with their Geiger-Mueller pancake detector. No contamination was found on the package. The package was opened only to remove the paperwork and then was placed behind lead shielding.
The calibration of the USGS meter that was used to survey the outgoing package was checked and the meter was found to be defective. A good USGS ion chamber was sent via FedEx overnight to McCrone to get comparison readings.
11/21/2001: Radiation readings were taken on top of the Type A container (inner package) with McCrone's detector (3.0 mr/hr) and with USGS detector (1.8 mr/hr).
Calculations were performed to estimate the radiation levels on the surface of the package and the transport index when it was shipped. These calculations were based on the half-life of Na-24, the predominant isotope, and the readings taken by McCrone & Associates approximately 19 hours after the package was shipped by USGS. These calculations indicate the package read approximately 5.8 mr/hr on the surface and had a transport index of 0.1 at the time of shipment. With a transport index of 0.1 and shipment time of 19 hours (allowing 5 hours for flight) a person at one meter from the package the total 14 hours would receive 1.4 mrem. We believe this calculation represents a very conservative maximum exposure received from the package by any one individual during the shipment.
FedEx was notified of the mislabeled package (Harold Brooks with the Dangerous Goods Department). The State of Illinois has also been notified by McCrone and Associates personnel. The shipping department of the USGS at the Denver Federal Center has also been notified of the incident.
Conclusions:
No radioactivity was released from the package. FedEx workers received an estimated 1.4 person-mrems during shipment of this package.
Follow-up:
Further investigations will be performed to determine actions that can be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. A comprehensive written report will be submitted by December 3, 2001."
The following text describes a mislabeled package shipped via FedEx:
"Summary of Incident:
11/19/2001: Samples were irradiated for McCrone & Associates Inc. by the US Geological Survey TRIGA Reactor staff. (Facility license R-1 13, docket 50-274). After irradiation, the samples were surveyed with an ion chamber and analyzed with a germanium detector for nuclide determination. The ion chamber had been response checked that morning. The samples were packaged in Type A shipping container (juice can) that was placed inside a cardboard box. Radiation surveys on the package were conducted using the same ion chamber as before, and contamination surveys were also conducted. All radiation/contamination surveys and isotope activities indicated an excepted package-limited quantity radioactive shipment. These readings were consistent with prior sample irradiations performed for McCrone & Associates. The package, reading 0.42 mr/hr on the surface was sent from Denver, CO to McCrone and Associates Inc (in a Chicago suburb) via FedEx overnight.
11/20/2001: McCrone's Radiation Safety Officer notified USGS Reactor staff that the package containing the samples had been received and the surface of the box read 4 mr/hr with their Geiger-Mueller pancake detector. No contamination was found on the package. The package was opened only to remove the paperwork and then was placed behind lead shielding.
The calibration of the USGS meter that was used to survey the outgoing package was checked and the meter was found to be defective. A good USGS ion chamber was sent via FedEx overnight to McCrone to get comparison readings.
11/21/2001: Radiation readings were taken on top of the Type A container (inner package) with McCrone's detector (3.0 mr/hr) and with USGS detector (1.8 mr/hr).
Calculations were performed to estimate the radiation levels on the surface of the package and the transport index when it was shipped. These calculations were based on the half-life of Na-24, the predominant isotope, and the readings taken by McCrone & Associates approximately 19 hours after the package was shipped by USGS. These calculations indicate the package read approximately 5.8 mr/hr on the surface and had a transport index of 0.1 at the time of shipment. With a transport index of 0.1 and shipment time of 19 hours (allowing 5 hours for flight) a person at one meter from the package the total 14 hours would receive 1.4 mrem. We believe this calculation represents a very conservative maximum exposure received from the package by any one individual during the shipment.
FedEx was notified of the mislabeled package (Harold Brooks with the Dangerous Goods Department). The State of Illinois has also been notified by McCrone and Associates personnel. The shipping department of the USGS at the Denver Federal Center has also been notified of the incident.
Conclusions:
No radioactivity was released from the package. FedEx workers received an estimated 1.4 person-mrems during shipment of this package.
Follow-up:
Further investigations will be performed to determine actions that can be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. A comprehensive written report will be submitted by December 3, 2001."