Event Notification Report for June 18, 2009

MINNESOTA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNABLE TO RETRACT RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA SOURCE

The following information was obtained from the State of Minnesota via email:

"[On June 18, 2009, at a temporary job site,] the licensee was conducting radiography of circumferential welds. At approximately 1220 hrs, the radiographers heard a 'bang' from inside the horizontal heavy wall vessel. The licensee was using a 42 Curie Cobalt-60 source in an AEA 680 exposure device. The lead radiographer immediately attempted to retract the source but could not move the control handle. Thinking that the problem was the result of a tight radius, the radiographer attempted to withdraw the guide tube from the tank. That effort was abandoned when the guide tube began to slide out of the vessel. However, the radiographer identified a dent in the guide tube that was approximately 18 inches from the far end. The source was shielded with 3/8 inch lead plates.

"The radiographer conducted a survey and calculated the exposure to hammer out the crimp in the guide tube. After consultation with the Radiation Safety Officer, a radiographer approached the guide tube, turned it 1/4 of a turn, and hit it once with a hammer. The source was then successfully retracted.

"Total doses for the retrieval were 190 mrem to the lead radiographer and 20 mrem to the second radiographer. The damaged guide tube has been removed from service.

"The root cause of the problem has been determined to be that the guide tube was extended to its fullest length; therefore, the tension and/or weight of the tube caused the stand to fall over and crimp the guide tube. The corrective action was to add an additional guide tube and to secure the stand with weights to prevent tipping."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIVE INDUSTRIAL SMOKE DETECTORS CONTAINING RADIUM 226 DISCOVERED INSIDE DUMPSTER

The following information was received via fax:

"On June 16,2009, Allied Waste - Howard Transfer Station located at 68 Norfolk Ave. Roxbury, Massachusetts responded to a radiation alarm at its facility and notified the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Radiation Control Program. Radiation levels of about four (4) times background, measured at 18.8 microrem per hour, were reported coming from a roll off container dumpster attached to a truck operated by Casella Waste Systems, Inc. and a DOTÀE 11406 exemption was issued to Casella for proper transport of the unknown radioactive materials to its Peabody, Massachusetts facility located at 295 Forest Street. The roll off container originated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) at 400 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts and M.I.T. responded to this incident and recovered the radioactive materials.

"On June 17, 2009, M.I.T reported the radioactive material was five (5) industrial smoke detectors, each containing 40 micrograms of radium-226. M.I.T. reported that the detectors are now in their possession and will be disposed of as low level radioactive waste.

"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts continues to investigate this incident.

INCOMPLETE TESTING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE SHIPMENT CONTAINERS

"On June 17, 2009, Catawba prepared a radioactive waste shipment cask for transportation to the Barnwell low level waste disposal facility. The shipment consisted of miscellaneous spent filters and the shipment was made on the same day. On June 18, 2009, Catawba discovered that all of the required conditions of approval in the Certificate of Compliance for the shipping container were not observed in making the shipment. Specifically, Catawba failed to conduct all of the required leak rate tests for the container prior to shipment. According to procedure, leak rate tests of the container's primary lid, secondary lid, and vent line are required to be performed. Contrary to this requirement, leak rate tests of the secondary lid and vent line were not performed. This event will require a written report to the NRC within 60 days pursuant to 10 CFR 71.95(c).

"Catawba is making this ENS notification as a courtesy notification. There is no requirement for Catawba to notify any government agency of this event. However, the State of South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) will ultimately be made aware of this event by Energy Solutions at Barnwell. There is no evidence that the affected shipping container has actually leaked or is leaking. The secondary lid and vent line were successfully leak rate tested at Barnwell following notification and a request by Catawba management on June 18, 2009.

"Catawba has notified the NRC Senior Resident Inspector of this event."

* * * UPDATE FROM WAYNE JARMAN TO JOE O'HARA AT 1442 ON 6/19/09 * * *

The licensee intends to notify the state warning point as well as York, Gaston, and Mecklenburg Counties.

Notified the R2DO(Bartley).

EMERGENCY DECLARED DUE TO INDICATED FIRE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE FACILITY SUBSTATION

At 2139, the licensee declared a Notification of Unusual Event in response to a fire alarm and CO2 activation in the emergency response facility (ERF) substation. The licensee entered emergency action level (EAL) 4.1. The fire brigade responded to assess for damage. No damage was found. The incident was attributed to a spurious activation of the CO2 system. The licensee terminated the unusual event at 2236.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. The NRC did not change agency response mode for this event.

* * * UPDATE FROM JAMES DAUGHTERY TO HOWIE CROUCH @ 0135 EDT ON 6/19/08 * * *

The CO2 discharge was isolated to the Emergency Response Facility Substation Building, and the building has been ventilated. Investigation into the cause of the spurious CO2 actuation is ongoing.

Notified the R1DO (Burritt) via email.