Event Notification Report for January 30, 2006
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
01/29/2006 - 01/30/2006
EVENT NUMBERS
42295422964230742773
General Information or Other
Event Number: 42295
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: CHALMETTE REFINERY
Region: 4
City: CHALMETTE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-2247-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOE NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Licensee: CHALMETTE REFINERY
Region: 4
City: CHALMETTE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-2247-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOE NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 01/30/2006
Notification Time: 16:00 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/30/2006
Notification Time: 16:00 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/30/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
JOSEPH HOLONICH (NMSS)
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
JOSEPH HOLONICH (NMSS)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- MISSING SOURCES FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA
A representative from the State of Louisiana reported that an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Unit used by the Chalmette Refinery is missing following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. The building housing the XRF Unit was under 20 feet of water from storm related flooding. The building was gutted in post Katrina restoration without first locating the XRF Unit. The licensee has searched for the unit and declared it missing on 1/30/06. It is believed that the Unit was sent to a landfill with other building wastes.
The XRF Unit was a model TN-927 with a 45 mCi Fe-55 source and a 5 mCi Cd-109 source.
State Report Number: Pending
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.
A representative from the State of Louisiana reported that an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Unit used by the Chalmette Refinery is missing following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. The building housing the XRF Unit was under 20 feet of water from storm related flooding. The building was gutted in post Katrina restoration without first locating the XRF Unit. The licensee has searched for the unit and declared it missing on 1/30/06. It is believed that the Unit was sent to a landfill with other building wastes.
The XRF Unit was a model TN-927 with a 45 mCi Fe-55 source and a 5 mCi Cd-109 source.
State Report Number: Pending
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.
General Information or Other
Event Number: 42296
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: KUMAR AND ASSOCIATES
Region: 4
City: WESTMINSTER State: CO
County:
License #: 778-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ED STROUD
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Licensee: KUMAR AND ASSOCIATES
Region: 4
City: WESTMINSTER State: CO
County:
License #: 778-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ED STROUD
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 01/31/2006
Notification Time: 09:19 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 15:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 01/31/2006
Notification Time: 09:19 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 15:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 01/31/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
TAS (email)
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
GREG MORELL (NMSS)
TAS (email)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AND RECOVERED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The State provided the following information via facsimile:
"The Department received notification at 3:00 pm on 1/30/06, from the RSO at Kumar and Associates, Colorado License # 778-01, that one of their Troxler Model 3430 moisture/density gauges had been stolen from a construction site in Westminster, Colorado. Apparently the technician, who was using the gauge at the construction site, left it unattended for 5 minutes, and discovered it missing when he returned. Local police were notified and responded to the scene. The gauge was found, undamaged, in a field at the construction site a short time later. No public exposures are expected from this incident. The Department is investigating."
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.
The State provided the following information via facsimile:
"The Department received notification at 3:00 pm on 1/30/06, from the RSO at Kumar and Associates, Colorado License # 778-01, that one of their Troxler Model 3430 moisture/density gauges had been stolen from a construction site in Westminster, Colorado. Apparently the technician, who was using the gauge at the construction site, left it unattended for 5 minutes, and discovered it missing when he returned. Local police were notified and responded to the scene. The gauge was found, undamaged, in a field at the construction site a short time later. No public exposures are expected from this incident. The Department is investigating."
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.
General Information or Other
Event Number: 42307
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee:
Region: 4
City: BREA State: CA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Licensee:
Region: 4
City: BREA State: CA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BARBARA HAMRICK
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 02/03/2006
Notification Time: 19:58 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 12:30 [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/03/2006
Notification Time: 19:58 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 12:30 [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/03/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
GARY JANOSKO (NMSS)
MIKE RUNYAN (R4)
GARY JANOSKO (NMSS)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EIGHT SMOKE DETECTORS FOUND IN A LANDFILL
"At 1230 on Monday, January 30, 2006, RHB received a call from the Brea Landfill that a transfer truck from the South Gate Transfer Station, 9530 Garfield Avenue, South Gate, CA 90280 (562-927-0146) set off their radiation alarm (500 kcpm with a background of 7 kcpm). Using an Inovision, CHP 450, at 1145, survey of the truck found the highest reading on the driver's side of the transfer truck 11'6" from the rear and 1'9" from the bottom. A DOT exemption was issued (CA-CA-06-08) and the truck was returned to the South Gate Transfer Station, which is in the LA County Radiation Management area (LA County will also open their own RH5010 on this incident).
"Later that day, LA County went to South Gate and identified the radionuclides in the load as Ra-226 and Am-241. On January 31, 2006, LA County separated out eight old Ra-226 and Am-241 smoke detectors from the waste. Two of the detectors had identifying information on them. One was a Pyrotonics, Bridgedale Ave, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, 07927, made in Switzerland, Model F-3 s/n 66078 with 20 microcuries of Ra-226 and the other was a Pyr-Alarm Cerberus F-3/5A, s/n 24B1965, with 80 microcuries of Am-241, distributed by Pyrotronics, manufactured in Switzerland. All of the Am-241 devices appear to have an activity of approximately 80 microcuries and the Ra-226 devices appear to have approximately 20 microcuries each. LA County took possession of all eight devices and they were placed in RHB's radioactive materials storage area."
CA NMED #: XCA-854-013006
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.
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source
"At 1230 on Monday, January 30, 2006, RHB received a call from the Brea Landfill that a transfer truck from the South Gate Transfer Station, 9530 Garfield Avenue, South Gate, CA 90280 (562-927-0146) set off their radiation alarm (500 kcpm with a background of 7 kcpm). Using an Inovision, CHP 450, at 1145, survey of the truck found the highest reading on the driver's side of the transfer truck 11'6" from the rear and 1'9" from the bottom. A DOT exemption was issued (CA-CA-06-08) and the truck was returned to the South Gate Transfer Station, which is in the LA County Radiation Management area (LA County will also open their own RH5010 on this incident).
"Later that day, LA County went to South Gate and identified the radionuclides in the load as Ra-226 and Am-241. On January 31, 2006, LA County separated out eight old Ra-226 and Am-241 smoke detectors from the waste. Two of the detectors had identifying information on them. One was a Pyrotonics, Bridgedale Ave, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, 07927, made in Switzerland, Model F-3 s/n 66078 with 20 microcuries of Ra-226 and the other was a Pyr-Alarm Cerberus F-3/5A, s/n 24B1965, with 80 microcuries of Am-241, distributed by Pyrotronics, manufactured in Switzerland. All of the Am-241 devices appear to have an activity of approximately 80 microcuries and the Ra-226 devices appear to have approximately 20 microcuries each. LA County took possession of all eight devices and they were placed in RHB's radioactive materials storage area."
CA NMED #: XCA-854-013006
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.
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source
General Information or Other
Event Number: 42773
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: PERKINELMER LIFE SCIENCES
Region: 1
City: BOSTON State: MA
County:
License #: 00-3200
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE WHALEN
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Licensee: PERKINELMER LIFE SCIENCES
Region: 1
City: BOSTON State: MA
County:
License #: 00-3200
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE WHALEN
HQ OPS Officer: BILL GOTT
Notification Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 13:24 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Notification Time: 13:24 [ET]
Event Date: 01/30/2006
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/15/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RAYMOND LORSON (R1)
CINDY FLANNERY (NMSS)
ILTAB (email)
RAYMOND LORSON (R1)
CINDY FLANNERY (NMSS)
ILTAB (email)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SULFUR - 35 SHIPMENT
The State provided the following information regarding a previously unreported event via facsimile:
"S-35 (7 mCi) package was shipped via FedEx, from PerkinElmer in Boston, MA on 1/30/06.
"FedEx tracking indicates 1) the package was picked up from PerkinElmer in Boston, MA; 2) the package left the FedEx South Boston station; 3) the package arrived at FedEx Hub in Memphis, TN; 4) the package had an In-transit scan to Montreal on 1/31/06. There were no package scans after that.
"PerkinElmer Canadian Customer Service reported the customer did not receive the package. PerkinElmer asked FedEx several times to locate the package. PerkinElmer receiving department did not receive the package as a return and verified with the customer, again, that the package was not received. FedEx was unable to locate the package.
"PerkinElmer declared the package as lost on February 12, 2006, and reported to the Agency [MA Radiation Control Program] by phone on March 10, 2006. A written report was received to the Agency on April 10, 2006.
"Corrective action: PerkinElmer advised FedEx that all radioactive shipments require a Proof of Delivery; this issue has been escalated to FedEx Dangerous Goods Administrator; and a letter was sent to FedEx explaining the requirements of delivering radioactive packages."
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.
The State provided the following information regarding a previously unreported event via facsimile:
"S-35 (7 mCi) package was shipped via FedEx, from PerkinElmer in Boston, MA on 1/30/06.
"FedEx tracking indicates 1) the package was picked up from PerkinElmer in Boston, MA; 2) the package left the FedEx South Boston station; 3) the package arrived at FedEx Hub in Memphis, TN; 4) the package had an In-transit scan to Montreal on 1/31/06. There were no package scans after that.
"PerkinElmer Canadian Customer Service reported the customer did not receive the package. PerkinElmer asked FedEx several times to locate the package. PerkinElmer receiving department did not receive the package as a return and verified with the customer, again, that the package was not received. FedEx was unable to locate the package.
"PerkinElmer declared the package as lost on February 12, 2006, and reported to the Agency [MA Radiation Control Program] by phone on March 10, 2006. A written report was received to the Agency on April 10, 2006.
"Corrective action: PerkinElmer advised FedEx that all radioactive shipments require a Proof of Delivery; this issue has been escalated to FedEx Dangerous Goods Administrator; and a letter was sent to FedEx explaining the requirements of delivering radioactive packages."
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.