Event Notification Report for May 03, 2010
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
05/02/2010 - 05/03/2010
General Information or Other
Event Number: 45897
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP
Region: 4
City: BORGER State: TX
County:
License #: 05181
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Licensee: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP
Region: 4
City: BORGER State: TX
County:
License #: 05181
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 05/04/2010
Notification Time: 09:43 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2010
Event Time: 15:55 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/04/2010
Notification Time: 09:43 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2010
Event Time: 15:55 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/04/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
THOMAS FARNHOLTZ (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
THOMAS FARNHOLTZ (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER
The State of Texas provided this information via email:
"On May 3, 2010, the licensee discovered that the shutter of a nuclear gauge mounted on the Ryton Quench Salt Solution Tank was stuck in the 'Open' position. The gauge is an Ohmart-Vega Model SH-F1 serial #6966CN, with a 20 mCi Cesium (Cs)-137 source. Initial efforts were made to free the shutter mechanism with penetrating oil and hand pressure, with no results. The shutter mechanism has been tagged out and the manufacturer has been contacted. The gauge is stuck in the open position which is its normal operating position. The source does not present an increased exposure risk to personnel as there are no identified needs for entry/opening of the vessel which would require lockout of the gauge.
"The licensee is working with the manufacturer to arrange for a field service engineer to evaluate/repair/replace the stuck shutter. This shutter had previously failed in October 2009 (EN45399, I-8675.) Repairs had been made and a protective cover for the gauge was installed at that time."
Texas Incident Report # I-8737
The State of Texas provided this information via email:
"On May 3, 2010, the licensee discovered that the shutter of a nuclear gauge mounted on the Ryton Quench Salt Solution Tank was stuck in the 'Open' position. The gauge is an Ohmart-Vega Model SH-F1 serial #6966CN, with a 20 mCi Cesium (Cs)-137 source. Initial efforts were made to free the shutter mechanism with penetrating oil and hand pressure, with no results. The shutter mechanism has been tagged out and the manufacturer has been contacted. The gauge is stuck in the open position which is its normal operating position. The source does not present an increased exposure risk to personnel as there are no identified needs for entry/opening of the vessel which would require lockout of the gauge.
"The licensee is working with the manufacturer to arrange for a field service engineer to evaluate/repair/replace the stuck shutter. This shutter had previously failed in October 2009 (EN45399, I-8675.) Repairs had been made and a protective cover for the gauge was installed at that time."
Texas Incident Report # I-8737
General Information or Other
Event Number: 45895
Rep Org: NC DIV OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: ST AUGUSTINE COLLEGE
Region: 1
City: RALEIGH State: NC
County:
License #: 092-0438-0G
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: WILLIAM JOHNSON
HQ OPS Officer: ERIC SIMPSON
Licensee: ST AUGUSTINE COLLEGE
Region: 1
City: RALEIGH State: NC
County:
License #: 092-0438-0G
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: WILLIAM JOHNSON
HQ OPS Officer: ERIC SIMPSON
Notification Date: 05/03/2010
Notification Time: 11:53 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/03/2010
Notification Time: 11:53 [ET]
Event Date: 05/03/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/03/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOSS OF RADIUM CHECK SOURCE
The following information is a summary of a report provided by the State of North Carolina via facsimile:
A state inspector performed an inspection on April 20, 2010, and learned that a radiation source (Ra-226, 20 microCuries) used in the facility's liquid scintillation counter, Packard Tri-Carb Model, was lost or missing. The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] and inspector performed a survey of all the labs with a Ludlum Model 19 and were not able to find the source. In addition, it was found that no paperwork was available indicating proper source tracking, leak testing, or disposal of the source. A violation letter has been mailed to the RSO allowing the licensee thirty days to respond to the violation.
NC Incident No. 10-22.
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
The following information is a summary of a report provided by the State of North Carolina via facsimile:
A state inspector performed an inspection on April 20, 2010, and learned that a radiation source (Ra-226, 20 microCuries) used in the facility's liquid scintillation counter, Packard Tri-Carb Model, was lost or missing. The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] and inspector performed a survey of all the labs with a Ludlum Model 19 and were not able to find the source. In addition, it was found that no paperwork was available indicating proper source tracking, leak testing, or disposal of the source. A violation letter has been mailed to the RSO allowing the licensee thirty days to respond to the violation.
NC Incident No. 10-22.
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