Event Notification Report for January 19, 2012
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
01/18/2012 - 01/19/2012
Agreement State
Event Number: 47613
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: NORRISTOWN State: PA
County:
License #: UNKNOWN
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID ALLARD
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 1
City: NORRISTOWN State: PA
County:
License #: UNKNOWN
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID ALLARD
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 01/20/2012
Notification Time: 20:00 [ET]
Event Date: 01/19/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/20/2012
Notification Time: 20:00 [ET]
Event Date: 01/19/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/20/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
BRUCE WATSON (FSME)
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
BRUCE WATSON (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIUM-226 SOURCES DISCOVERED AT WASTE TRANSFER STATION
The following event was received via facsimile from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection [DEP], Bureau of Radiation Protection:
"Event Description: On Thursday, January 19, 2012, DEP's southeast regional office received a call from the Waste Management, Inc. Norristown solid waste transfer station stating that a roll-off container of waste had set off their radiation alarm. The facility's consulting health physicist investigated, along with representatives of the Department's Bureau of Radiation Protection. The radioactive material recovered from the roll-off was four (4) small cylinders identified as approximately one (1) curie [total] of radium-226 contained in what appeared to be a lead-lined box. The lead-lined box (with shiny exterior) was inside an old metal locking box that contained various other source holders, instruments and applicators, some containing the name 'Standard Chemical.' It is believed these Ra-226 sources are vintage circa 1920 medical radiation therapy capsules. Preliminary wipes revealed no significant removable contamination, thus, no leaking sources. The consultant HP was given a DOT Special Permit for transport, and [took] possession of the Ra-226 for safe and secure storage. Contact dose rates outside the closed shiny metal lead-lined box were as high as 2.0 R/hr. In an open configuration, dose rates were about 100 R/h in near contact with the sources.
"The unlocked roll-off container was located for several weeks in a parking lot of an adult-only living community in West Chester, PA while a contractor performed work on townhomes in the development. Department personnel have been in touch with the contractor and will be interviewing workers, as well as nearby homeowners to determine if any people were significantly exposed to these sources. Local outreach is also planned to ensure similar sources are not in the public sector.
"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Suspected intentional abandonment of old medical radium sources in an open construction waste dumpster.
"ACTIONS: The Department is in contact with DOE and a LLRW vendor for transfer or disposal of Ra-226 sources. Further investigations will be performed, as well as any needed dose reconstruction."
Pennsylvania Report: PA120004
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 event was received via facsimile from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection [DEP], Bureau of Radiation Protection:
"Event Description: On Thursday, January 19, 2012, DEP's southeast regional office received a call from the Waste Management, Inc. Norristown solid waste transfer station stating that a roll-off container of waste had set off their radiation alarm. The facility's consulting health physicist investigated, along with representatives of the Department's Bureau of Radiation Protection. The radioactive material recovered from the roll-off was four (4) small cylinders identified as approximately one (1) curie [total] of radium-226 contained in what appeared to be a lead-lined box. The lead-lined box (with shiny exterior) was inside an old metal locking box that contained various other source holders, instruments and applicators, some containing the name 'Standard Chemical.' It is believed these Ra-226 sources are vintage circa 1920 medical radiation therapy capsules. Preliminary wipes revealed no significant removable contamination, thus, no leaking sources. The consultant HP was given a DOT Special Permit for transport, and [took] possession of the Ra-226 for safe and secure storage. Contact dose rates outside the closed shiny metal lead-lined box were as high as 2.0 R/hr. In an open configuration, dose rates were about 100 R/h in near contact with the sources.
"The unlocked roll-off container was located for several weeks in a parking lot of an adult-only living community in West Chester, PA while a contractor performed work on townhomes in the development. Department personnel have been in touch with the contractor and will be interviewing workers, as well as nearby homeowners to determine if any people were significantly exposed to these sources. Local outreach is also planned to ensure similar sources are not in the public sector.
"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Suspected intentional abandonment of old medical radium sources in an open construction waste dumpster.
"ACTIONS: The Department is in contact with DOE and a LLRW vendor for transfer or disposal of Ra-226 sources. Further investigations will be performed, as well as any needed dose reconstruction."
Pennsylvania Report: PA120004
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
Event Number: 47610
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: SUNBURY GENERATION
Region: 1
City: SHAMOKIN DAM State: PA
County:
License #: PA-G0283
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOE MELNIC
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Licensee: SUNBURY GENERATION
Region: 1
City: SHAMOKIN DAM State: PA
County:
License #: PA-G0283
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOE MELNIC
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 01/20/2012
Notification Time: 13:59 [ET]
Event Date: 01/19/2012
Event Time: 13:15 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/20/2012
Notification Time: 13:59 [ET]
Event Date: 01/19/2012
Event Time: 13:15 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/20/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FOUR NUCLEAR GAUGES FAILED SEMIANNUAL SHUTTER CHECK
The following information was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via email:
"The Department's [PA Bureau of Radiation Protection] central office received an email on January 19, 2012. This event is reportable within 24-hours under 10CFR 30.50(b)(2).
"EVENT DESCRIPTION: It was determined on January 19, 2012 during the six month shutter check that the remote actuator cables and one handle on four devices are inoperable.
"The devices are identified as:
Manufacturer Model Serial Isotope Activity
Texas Nuclear 5197 81624 Cs-137 100 mCi
Texas Nuclear 5197 81631 Cs-137 100 mCi
Texas Nuclear 5197 81634 Cs-137 100 mCi
Texas Nuclear 5197 81635 Cs-137 100 mCi
"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Normal wear and tear (30+ year old gauges)
"ACTIONS: The shutters are in the locked and closed position and shall remain so until qualified repairs can be made. The gauges are planned to be removed and returned to the manufacturer. No employees were exposed to excess levels of radiation as a result of these failures. The Department plans to conduct a reactive inspection."
Event Report ID No: PA120003
The following information was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via email:
"The Department's [PA Bureau of Radiation Protection] central office received an email on January 19, 2012. This event is reportable within 24-hours under 10CFR 30.50(b)(2).
"EVENT DESCRIPTION: It was determined on January 19, 2012 during the six month shutter check that the remote actuator cables and one handle on four devices are inoperable.
"The devices are identified as:
Manufacturer Model Serial Isotope Activity
Texas Nuclear 5197 81624 Cs-137 100 mCi
Texas Nuclear 5197 81631 Cs-137 100 mCi
Texas Nuclear 5197 81634 Cs-137 100 mCi
Texas Nuclear 5197 81635 Cs-137 100 mCi
"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Normal wear and tear (30+ year old gauges)
"ACTIONS: The shutters are in the locked and closed position and shall remain so until qualified repairs can be made. The gauges are planned to be removed and returned to the manufacturer. No employees were exposed to excess levels of radiation as a result of these failures. The Department plans to conduct a reactive inspection."
Event Report ID No: PA120003