Event Notification Report for July 23, 2003

LOST OR STOLEN TRITIUM SOURCE EXIT SIGN - U. S. AIR FORCE

The licensee reported that an exit sign containing an estimated 20 curie tritium source was determined to missing on July 18, 2003. The exit sign is missing from building 155, Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, New Mexico. The exit sign serial number is 188945.

LOSS OF CONTROL OF SAFEGUARDS MATERIAL

Discovered vulnerability in control of safeguards material for which compensatory measures had not been employed. Immediate compensatory measures taken upon discovery. Licensee contacted NRC Region I (Bellamy) and the State of Connecticut.

Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.

* * * RETRACTION ON 7/30/03 AT 1641 FROM JON BOWER TO BILL GOTT * * *

"On July 23, 2003, Haddam Neck reported a loss of control of safeguards material in accordance with 10 CFR 73.71(b)(1). After further review, this event was determined to be not reportable. This determination is consistent with Generic Letter 91-03, "Reporting of Safeguards Events." The event did not involve: the loss of safeguards information that could significantly assist an individual in gaining unauthorized or undetected access to a facility; or that would significantly assist an individual in an act of radiological sabotage or theft of special nuclear material. Thus, Haddam Neck retracts Event Number 40013."

Notified R4DO (Noggle)

INAPPROPRIATE TRANSFER OF LICENSED MATERIAL DURING REPAIR

On 7/23/03, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality was informed by a representative of the Colorado Department of Health, a Mr. James Jarvis, that a Ludlum TWC 3250, Serial No. 6201, device containing a 1.5 curie Cs-137 source had been delivered to Stewart Instruments in Ardmore, Oklahoma for refurbishing of the electronics package. Normally, the electronic package is disconnected from the source for maintenance. However, the Colorado licensee, i.e., Tube Body Inspection located in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, [Colorado licensee No. 76201], had delivered the device intact. The Stewart Instruments principal [owner] recognized that he did not have a licensee to possess the material but, due to extensive past experience working with these devices, took appropriate steps to ensure proper handling. Oklahoma inspectors visited the storage location and were satisfied with the existing arrangements for temporary storage, i.e., locked public storage location. The Colorado licensee has been contacted and requested to remove the device from Oklahoma.

Tube Body Inspection is in the process of terminating their Colorado license and is making arrangements to transfer this device to a California firm. However, according to the Oklahoma State representative, the California company is not licensed to possess this material.

LEAK IN FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM TO HF [HEXAFLUORIDE] MITIGATION TOWERS

During a training exercise at the HF mitigation towers of the Honeywell Metropolis Site, a leak was discovered in the Fire Protection System that feeds water to the towers. The leak occurred in underground water piping between the Feeds Material building and the Fluorine Production Plant. Personnel made initial leak discovery by water coming up to the surface. The Fluorine Production Plant was not in operation at the time of the leak. Upon discovery, plant personnel isolated the leak by closing system valves. The Fluorine Production Plant has been isolated from the Fire Protection System by these closures. Compensatory measures (fire watch, temporary piping) are in place to ensure fire protection in the Fluorine Production Plant during repair of the piping. All safety systems for licensed material at the plant fed by the Fire Protection System are still operable.

The repair is estimated to take 2-3 days. There was no chemical or radiological release. The licensee is investigating the cause of the leak.

The licensee notified their NRC contact at Paducah GDP.