Event Notification Report for February 21, 2005

AGREEMENT STATE - RADIOGRAPHIC SOURCE PARTIALLY DISCONNECTED FROM CAMERA

The following information was provided via E-mail by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) (state text in quotes):

"On February 21,2005 at the Motiva Enterprise facility located in Port Arthur, Texas an event took place that prevented the return of a radiography source to the shielded position via normal operations. The unauthorized retrieval of the source was done without proper license condition authorization. All dosimeters have been processed and no overexposures have occurred as a result of the retrieval. Additionally, a verbal notification was made to DSHS, and followed by written report received 03/21/05.

"The Operating and Emergency procedures to be employed in an incident of this type were reviewed for full understanding by all staff involved in Radiographic operations."

The source was Ir-192 (150 Ci) from a SPEC Model G-60; AEA Model 969.

Texas Incident # I-8224

AGREEMENT STATE - GENERAL LICENSE - LOST AND DAMAGED TRITIUM SIGNS

The following information was provided by the State of Arizona via facsimile:

"At approximately 8:50 AM, February 21, 2005, the Agency received notice from AZ DPS advising that 9 Tritium Exit signs were missing. In addition, three signs were located in the store (under construction). A forth sign was damaged in the store. The [damaged] sign was not glowing as the other three. This information was supplied by the Tucson Police Department to AZ DPS who advised the Agency. The Tucson Fire Department was also at the site and they indicated they thought the sources were removed between Friday night and Monday morning. The building does not have doors or windows, but is otherwise closed.

"Since the facility is under construction, who is the responsible party is a portion of the investigation. The signs have not been reported as transferred into the State. The devices were made by Isolite and contain 11.5 Curies of Tritium each. As much as 103.5 Curies of tritium may be missing in addition to the 11.5 [Curies] in the broken exit sign. Tucson Police report # 0502210205 applies to this event.

"Due to the potential contamination of persons a press release may be made.

"The Agency continues to investigate this event. The US FBI will be notified of this event."

Arizona Report #: 05-02

SAFETY PARAMETER DISPLAY SYSTEM INOPERABLE FOR GREATER THAN ONE HOUR

"On February 21, 2005, at 0250 hours [EST], the Unit 1 Plant Computer System (PCS) failed rendering the Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS) inoperable. The PCS and SPDS were restored at 0650 hours. This event is a major loss of emergency assessment capability for greater than one hour and is reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii)."

The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.

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THIS IS NOT A NEW REPORT.

This event report was originally withheld from public release under the NRC's policy for protecting sensitive unclassified information. The NRC has reevaluated this policy and is now making this event report available to the public with suitable redactions.
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EXTERNAL RADIATION LEVELS EXCEEDED THE TRANSPORTATION INDEX (TI) LIMIT OF 10.

On 2/16/05 a radioactive Yellow - III shipment containing eight well logging sources was shipped from Baker Hughes Inteq in Houston, TX. The shipment of sources, Am-241/Be (1480 GBq), arrived at BWXT in Lynchburg, VA. On 02/21/05. Emery Worldwide indicated the shipment mode had a Transportation Index (TI) reading of 9, however, BWXT's reading was 12.6. BWXT placed the package in a restricted area to minimize exposure to personnel, which has a surface contact reading of 83.3 millirem/hr, and at one meter away it read 12.6 millirem/hr.

Since this shipment had a TI >10 it was reportable under 10CFR 20.1906. (Note: Transportation Index is the radiation reading in millirem/hr at a distance of one meter.)

Licensee notified NRC Resident Inspector and final carrier.

* * * UPDATE ON 05/11/08 BY H. Crouch * * *

THIS IS NOT A NEW REPORT.

This event report was originally withheld from public release under the NRC's policy for protecting sensitive unclassified information. The NRC has reevaluated this policy and is now making this event report available to the public with suitable redactions.
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