Event Notification Report for December 17, 2009

UNABLE TO SHUTTER OR SHIELD FIXED NUCLEAR DENSITY DEVICE DURING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES

"At approximately 1:00 PM MST today (12/17/09), . . .FMC personnel notified Mr. Richard Leonardi at the NRC Region 4 Office of the following incident. Mr. Leonardi requested that we report the incident to the Operations Center . . ..

"Incident: At approximately 8:30 AM MST, on 12/17/09, the FMC radiation worker was approaching the location of a Berthold fixed source device, for the purpose of performing some maintenance functions. The Berthold device is mounted approximately 12 ft. above the floor, and meters flow of a sodium-based slurry @ 98 degree Centigrade through an 8 [inch] diameter Stainless Steel pipe. The radiation worker approached the device to see if they could close the shutter and upon nearing the device (via ladder), the meter pegged at 200 millirems. The radiation worker could not get the reading to change by moving the shutter actuator, and retreated from the device within [approximately] 2 minutes.

"The RSO and assistant then flagged the area to establish a perimeter at which readings of 2 millirems or less are detected.

"Pertinent Facts: This Device, Berthold Model LB-7440, S/N 226-1-91, containing a 150 millicurie source, Cesium 137, was subjected to routine shutter test in September 2009, per standard license protocol. The device passed that shutter test without issue.

"This same device was subjected to routine 'leak test' per standard license protocol in June of 2009, without issue.

"The Manufacturer of the device, Berthold, has been notified . . . , and a qualified Berthold technician has been dispatched via automobile from Tennessee, with a replacement shield, to address and contain the device, such that the unit is rendered safe for appropriate repair/replacement.

"We have committed to update Mr. Leonardi of Region 4, as soon as the Berthold technician has inspected the unit. We have also understand that FMC has an obligation to tender a written report of this incident and its resolution to Mr. James Thompson of the Region 4 NRC Office.

"FMC's RSO and Radiation Worker verified the readings, using two other metering devices."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following report was received via facsimile:

"[A] technician contacted this office at approximately 0810 [EST] to report that a Troxler gauge was stolen. The gauge was stored in the truck bed inside the case. The case with locked gauge inside was chained to the truck. The office compound has a locked gate and fence. The gate was found to be open upon his arrival, the supervisor was there but was not aware of the missing gauge until informed by [the technician]. The truck that had the gauge was parked in the back parking lot. [The] Miami office will investigate."

Florida Incident Number: FL09-086.
Troxler Model Number: 3411-B
Serial Number: 7648

* * * UPDATE FROM STEVE FURNACE TO HOWIE CROUCH @ 1419 EDT ON 6/2/10 * * *

The missing Troxler gauge has been recovered and returned to the owner. The owner is conducting a leak test and will be sending the gauge to the vendor for an operational check.

Notified R1DO (Dentel), FSME EO (McIntosh) and ILTAB (English) via email.

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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf