Event Notification Report for July 11, 2007

RAIN CAUSES OVERFLOW OF RWST WATER BASIN

"The following voluntary report is being made as a result of the Industry Ground Water Protection Initiative NEI-07-07. During a heavy rain downfall on 7/11/2007, the U1 Refueling Water Storage Tank (RWST) water basin overflowed. This overflow was slightly contaminated due to prior contamination of insulation which surrounds the RWST. The rainfall is believed to [have leached] the contamination from the insulation to the basin. In accordance with NEI-07-07 guidance, a voluntary communication has been made to the appropriate State/Local officials. Thus the purpose of this notification is to inform NRC of this voluntary notification to State/Local agency. The release was less than regulatory (ODCM or 10 CFR 20 Appendix B) limits. "

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING IR-192 SOURCE

The licensee provided the following information via facsimile:

"A facility in Twin Falls, Idaho was shipping a 6 Ci Ir-192 HDR source back to Alpha & Omega Services for disposal. The carrier was FedEx. When the package arrived at Alpha & Omega and was opened, it contained a helicopter part and not a source. Will update when information is available."

Event Report ID No: LA070018

See also Event Notification #43484

* * * UPDATE AT 1054 EDT ON 7/16/07 FROM RICHARD PENROD TO S. SANDIN * * *

The following information was received via fax:

"This source was never lost. The facility did not follow their SOPS and log in the shipment from FEDEX. The source was in the facility the entire time."

Notified R4DO (Pick) and FSME (Wastler).

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example, level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging.

Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Category 3 event.

Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 2" is different than the calculated value "Category 3"

AGREEMENT STATE - INADVERTANT DOSE TO PATIENT GALLBLADDER

The State provided the following information via facsimile:

"On July 11 a SIR-Spheres procedure was performed to treat a carcinoma on the liver. After review of the CT images on July 12, the physicist believes that 20% of the dose went to the gallbladder (which sits on top of the liver). The doctor and patient were notified on July 12. Licensee will follow up with patient in future visits to determine if there is any gallbladder damage. This office was notified on July 13. Licensee will submit a written report. Florida is investigating."

Typically, a sphere contains 2270 MBq of Y-90.

A "Medical Event" may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MOISTURE GAUGE SOURCE DISCONNECTED FROM CABLE

The State provided the following information via facsimile:

"This is the initial notification for an incident that occurred on 7/11/07. A broad-scope licensee reported the loss and recovery of a 50 mCi, Am:Be source from a CPN Model 503DR soil moisture gauge. The gauge was being used as part of an irrigation/moisture study in an agricultural field located about 10 miles south of Sterling, CO. The licensee reported that the source/detector assembly became disconnected from the cable during use, and fell to the bottom of a test hole. The gauge users notified their RSO, and he was able to respond to the scene, retrieve the source, and place it back into the shielded position within the gauge using a remote handling tool. There were no radiation exposures to the gauge users or members of the public, and the RSO estimated his exposure to be less than 20 millirem. The licensee has contacted the manufacturer and is investigating the cause of the problem."