Event Notification Report for March 11, 2010

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

A Troxler moisture density gauge was stolen from an open bed truck at the employee's residence. The gauge was chained in the back of the truck. The theft was discovered at 0545 PST on 3/11/2010. "RSO was notified at 0550 PST, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) at 0555 PST and the Nevada State Health Division at 0556 PST. The State is following the incident and working with LVMPD. Follow-up information will be provided to the NRC on the situation and entered into NMED. LVMPD Event No.: 100311-0802."

Troxler model 3440
Serial Number: 17916
Sources: Am-241:Be 40 mCi Be (Model No.47- Serial No.13357) and Cs-137 8 mCi 137 (Model No. 50,Serial No. 7401)

Nevada Incident Number: NV100003

* * * UPDATE FROM SNEHA RAVIKUMAR TO PETE SNYDER ON 3/26/10 AT 1303 EDT * * *

At 0900 PDT on 3/25/10, the RSO reported that the gauge had been found by local police. When the RSO examined the gauge on 3/26/10, he found that the gauge was undamaged, intact and in good condition with only the outer lock of the case broken.

Notified FSME EO (McIntosh), R4DO (Deese) and ILTAB (Hahn).


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

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.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED PACKAGE

The following information was obtained from the State of New Jersey via facsimile:

"The licensee reported that a package containing 810 mCi of bulk F-18 was shipped in a Yellow II, Type 7A container (this was an ammo can) from Cardinal Health's East Rutherford, NJ facility at 0500 EST on March 11th (last Thursday) to their Plainview, NY facility. Licensee stated that when the shipment was received at 0615 EST, the package surface reading was 100 mR/hr, exceeding the limit of 50 mR/hr for a Yellow II labeled package. Licensee indicated that removable contamination of 300,000 cpm (estimated 1,500,000 dpm with 20% instrument efficiency) was identified on the outer handle of the package.

"The driver (who is employed by the Plainview, NY facility) was found to have a contaminated left hand and some contamination in the vehicle. The licensee estimated the employee's highest exposure to be 4 rem to the left hand."

New York State Department of Health was notified by the licensee. New Jersey will be conducting an investigation of this incident to validate the contamination and exposure levels.

NJDEP Incident ID #343512

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL MEDICAL OVERDOSE

The following report was received via e-mail:

"Patient was receiving the 2nd of 14 fractions of 250 centiGray treatments to the ear. The therapist accidently pushed the 'auto radiography' button rather than the 'treatment' button which delivered approximately 9 times the intended dose. The patient and doctor have been notified. No health effects are expected. Licensee will send a written report. Florida is investigating."

Isotope: Ir-192, 5.7 Ci
Maximum dose received: 2250 centiGray
Device: HDR Surface Applicator manufactured by Nucletron
Model V2 MicroSelectron

Florida Incident Number: FL10-035

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.

PRESS RELEASE CONCERNING A FORMER PLANT EMPLOYEE

"This notification is being made pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) due to the issuance of a press release concerning an individual that previously performed work at Salem Generating Station.

"PSEG Nuclear provided the following statement to Channel 6 News, the ABC-TV affiliate out of Philadelphia, which read as follows:

'Sharif Mobley previously worked as a laborer at PSEG Nuclear for a variety of contractors from 2002 to 2008 mainly during refueling outages for several weeks at a time. This individual satisfied federal security background checks required to work in the US nuclear industry as recently as 2008. While working here, he did routine labor work carrying supplies and assisting maintenance activities. He also worked at other nuclear plants in the region. We are cooperating with law enforcement as part of their investigation as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other nuclear plant operators.'

"Sharif Mobley has been the focus of recent news stories due to his activities in the country of Yemen."

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified and the Lower Alloways Creek Township will be notified.

PRESS RELEASE CONCERNING A FORMER PLANT EMPLOYEE

"This notification is being made pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) due to the issuance of a press release concerning an individual that previously performed work at Hope Creek Generating Station.

"PSEG Nuclear provided the following statement to Channel 6 News, the ABC-TV affiliate out of Philadelphia, which read as follows:

'Sharif Mobley previously worked as a laborer at PSEG Nuclear for a variety of contractors from 2002 to 2008 mainly during refueling outages for several weeks at a time. This individual satisfied federal security background checks required to work in the US nuclear industry as recently as 2008. While working here, he did routine labor work carrying supplies and assisting maintenance activities. He also worked at other nuclear plants in the region. We are cooperating with law enforcement as part of their investigation as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other nuclear plant operators.'

"Sharif Mobley has been the focus of recent news stories due to his activities in the country of Yemen.

"Hope Creek Generating Station is currently operating at 100%. There is no indication that the individual compromised the security of the station."

The licensee will inform the State of Delaware and New Jersey, the Lower Alloways Creek Township and the NRC Resident Inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA SOURCE FAILED TO RETRACT

"On June 9, 2010 the Incident Investigation Program was notified via email by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the licensee had experienced a failure to retract a radiography source that had occurred on March 11, 2010 somewhere in Texas. A radiography crew out of Sulphur, Louisiana was working in Beaumont, Texas, when the 96 Curie, Iridium 192 radiography source became stuck during the crew's 6th exposure (approximately 1250 Central Daylight Time). The two person radiography team then extended their barricade to about 350 feet from the source. The crew notified their sight representative, as well as the Site Radiation Safety Officer of the Sulphur, Louisiana office. While one of the radiographers verified the 2mR/hr boundary with a survey meter, the other stood behind a large pump at the plant and repeatedly tried to crank the source back into the camera. After approximately 7 minutes, the radiographer was able to return the source to the camera. The radiography crew verified the source local in the shielded position with their survey meter. According to the report submitted by the Louisiana Site RSO (LARSO), no members of the public or workers were overexposed. Later that same day, the LARSO met with the radiographers. The LARSO subsequently sent the radiographers' TLD badges to be read on Friday March 12, 2010. The results were returned on Monday, March 15, 2010. According to the report by the LARSO, it was determined that one of the radiographers received 55mR and the other 210 mR as a result of this event.

"On March 15, 2010 the crank out assembly was sent to the manufacturer (QSA Global) for inspection and repair. QSA determined that the bearing assembly in the pistol control crank had come apart. Part of the bearing assembly had worked its way into and lodged into the drive gear assembly. The piece of the bearing assembly then caused a tooth of the drive gear assembly to break off. The tooth was large enough to become jammed between the drive gear and the drive cable in the pistol control. This caused the pistol to malfunction. QSA repaired the assembly and all defective parts were replaced, and the assembly passed all tests.

"On June 9, 2010 the Texas Department of State Health Services contacted the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for the Texas licensee. The RSO stated that she would submit a report to the State of Texas as soon as possible."

Texas Incident Number I-8752.