Event Notification Report for October 10, 2015
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
10/09/2015 - 10/10/2015
EVENT NUMBERS
51465
Agreement State
Event Number: 51465
Rep Org: KANSAS DEPT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: KAW VALLEY ENGINEERING
Region: 4
City: KANSAS CITY State: KS
County: JOHNSON
License #: Kansas Lic#22
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JASON BARNEY
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Licensee: KAW VALLEY ENGINEERING
Region: 4
City: KANSAS CITY State: KS
County: JOHNSON
License #: Kansas Lic#22
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JASON BARNEY
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER
Notification Date: 10/12/2015
Notification Time: 10:55 [ET]
Event Date: 10/10/2015
Event Time: 08:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/12/2015
Notification Time: 10:55 [ET]
Event Date: 10/10/2015
Event Time: 08:30 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/12/2015
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was received from the state of Kansas via email:
"At 0843 [CDT] hours, on 10/10/15, a call was received by the State of Kansas Staff Duty Officer (SDO), to the SDO line regarding a radiological 'accident'. The caller, [the licensee technician], stated that he had an accident involving a density gauge, and that the radiation sources had been compromised from their cases (Cs-137 less than 9 mCi, Am/Be less than 44 mCi.) [The State] asked him if this involved radiation which had contaminated the highway, and he stated that it had not. [The licensee] further explained that he had isolated the source rods in a cooler. [The licensee technician] stated that he was wearing his nuclear badge, and had not detected a change in the level of radiation.
"In response to this, [the State] made a phone notification to the KDEM [Kansas Department of Environmental Management] Response and Recovery Branch Director, KDHE [Kansas Department of Health and Environment] Radiation Control staff, and Johnson County Emergency Management. [The State] then called [the licensee] back to confirm details regarding the accident. According to [the licensee], he started the equipment, and placed it on his truck to let it 'warm up'. [The licensee technician] stated he then forgot the machine, and drove away. When this happened, the machine fell from the truck, and was broken when it hit the ground. [The licensee technician] stated he had not called any first responders about the incident. [The licensee technician] stated he picked up the pieces, and isolated the sources in the cooler. [The licensee technician] stated he would wait for personnel to respond, if needed. [The State] informed [the licensee] that KDHE was requesting that he make notification to them as well. [The licensee technician] was given the contact information, and stated he would do so.
"Local Response: Johnson County Emergency Management indicated they were planning to coordinate a local response to the scene, to ensure no further action would be needed.
"At 1038 [CDT], the Kansas Radiation Program Director dispatched two KDHE Radiation Control staff, with instrumentation to the scene with an ETA of 1145. Company [licensee] RSO could not be reached . [The licensee technician's] supervisor arrived on scene. [The licensee technician] was advised by [Kansas Radiation Program Director] to fill the cooler with dirt and/or sand to aid in shielding.
"1148, [the licensee technician] reported that Johnson County HazMat surveys were not showing any radiation exposure rate readings above background. As soon as KDHE staff confirm the readings, [the licensee] will transport the device back to their business where it will be stored in a secure location. The licensee already in communication and coordination with Troxler to return the damaged gauge to them. KDHE staff arrived on site.
"1202, KDHE staff verified that radiation sources were secured. Swipes taken and analyzed by KDHE staff showed no contamination on container with surveys confirming Johnson County readings. [The licensee technician] was able to contact the [licensee] RSO. Instructions were provided and arrangements made for storing the device in a secure location at [licensee] headquarters. Licensee transported RAM to their headquarters with a follow up report forthcoming."
The following information was received from the state of Kansas via email:
"At 0843 [CDT] hours, on 10/10/15, a call was received by the State of Kansas Staff Duty Officer (SDO), to the SDO line regarding a radiological 'accident'. The caller, [the licensee technician], stated that he had an accident involving a density gauge, and that the radiation sources had been compromised from their cases (Cs-137 less than 9 mCi, Am/Be less than 44 mCi.) [The State] asked him if this involved radiation which had contaminated the highway, and he stated that it had not. [The licensee] further explained that he had isolated the source rods in a cooler. [The licensee technician] stated that he was wearing his nuclear badge, and had not detected a change in the level of radiation.
"In response to this, [the State] made a phone notification to the KDEM [Kansas Department of Environmental Management] Response and Recovery Branch Director, KDHE [Kansas Department of Health and Environment] Radiation Control staff, and Johnson County Emergency Management. [The State] then called [the licensee] back to confirm details regarding the accident. According to [the licensee], he started the equipment, and placed it on his truck to let it 'warm up'. [The licensee technician] stated he then forgot the machine, and drove away. When this happened, the machine fell from the truck, and was broken when it hit the ground. [The licensee technician] stated he had not called any first responders about the incident. [The licensee technician] stated he picked up the pieces, and isolated the sources in the cooler. [The licensee technician] stated he would wait for personnel to respond, if needed. [The State] informed [the licensee] that KDHE was requesting that he make notification to them as well. [The licensee technician] was given the contact information, and stated he would do so.
"Local Response: Johnson County Emergency Management indicated they were planning to coordinate a local response to the scene, to ensure no further action would be needed.
"At 1038 [CDT], the Kansas Radiation Program Director dispatched two KDHE Radiation Control staff, with instrumentation to the scene with an ETA of 1145. Company [licensee] RSO could not be reached . [The licensee technician's] supervisor arrived on scene. [The licensee technician] was advised by [Kansas Radiation Program Director] to fill the cooler with dirt and/or sand to aid in shielding.
"1148, [the licensee technician] reported that Johnson County HazMat surveys were not showing any radiation exposure rate readings above background. As soon as KDHE staff confirm the readings, [the licensee] will transport the device back to their business where it will be stored in a secure location. The licensee already in communication and coordination with Troxler to return the damaged gauge to them. KDHE staff arrived on site.
"1202, KDHE staff verified that radiation sources were secured. Swipes taken and analyzed by KDHE staff showed no contamination on container with surveys confirming Johnson County readings. [The licensee technician] was able to contact the [licensee] RSO. Instructions were provided and arrangements made for storing the device in a secure location at [licensee] headquarters. Licensee transported RAM to their headquarters with a follow up report forthcoming."