Event Notification Report for March 15, 2017
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
03/14/2017 - 03/15/2017
Agreement State
Event Number: 52612
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: FRONT RANGE INSPECTIONS
Region: 4
City: LITTLETON State: CO
County:
License #: G/L
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LINDA BARTISH
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Licensee: FRONT RANGE INSPECTIONS
Region: 4
City: LITTLETON State: CO
County:
License #: G/L
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LINDA BARTISH
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 03/15/2017
Notification Time: 16:22 [ET]
Event Date: 03/15/2017
Event Time: 09:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 03/15/2017
Notification Time: 16:22 [ET]
Event Date: 03/15/2017
Event Time: 09:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 03/15/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
NEIL OKEEFE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
NEIL OKEEFE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
COLORADO AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING CO-57 ANALYZER SOURCE
The following information was obtained from the state of Colorado via email:
"The general license section of the Radioactive Materials Program [at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)] sent out annual notifications requesting response regarding a Cobalt 57, 0.165 mCi, FA4C Analyzer Source serial #C9285 distributed under Edax Portable Products Division back in July 22, 1996. After 10 years of sending a report requesting information to the [business] address with no response, our [CDPHE] general license section is closing out this record."
Colorado Event Report ID No.: CO17-0007
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
The following information was obtained from the state of Colorado via email:
"The general license section of the Radioactive Materials Program [at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)] sent out annual notifications requesting response regarding a Cobalt 57, 0.165 mCi, FA4C Analyzer Source serial #C9285 distributed under Edax Portable Products Division back in July 22, 1996. After 10 years of sending a report requesting information to the [business] address with no response, our [CDPHE] general license section is closing out this record."
Colorado Event Report ID No.: CO17-0007
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
Agreement State
Event Number: 52613
Rep Org: MARYLAND DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Region: 1
City: BALTIMORE State: MD
County:
License #: MD-07-005-05
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ALAN JACOBSON
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Licensee: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Region: 1
City: BALTIMORE State: MD
County:
License #: MD-07-005-05
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ALAN JACOBSON
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA
Notification Date: 03/16/2017
Notification Time: 09:44 [ET]
Event Date: 03/15/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/16/2017
Notification Time: 09:44 [ET]
Event Date: 03/15/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 03/16/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
HAROLD GRAY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
HAROLD GRAY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IRRADIATOR ROD STUCK IN UP POSITION
The following report was received from the Maryland Radioactive Materials Division via email:
"This afternoon [3/15/17], our [Johns Hopkins University (JHU)] JL Shepherd Mark I irradiator malfunctioned. This is a manual model. The source is lifted up into position by a knob that lifts a rod attached to the source. When lifting the knob up, the rod became jammed. The rod is stuck in an up position, slightly past halfway. It will not move up or down.
"JL Shepherd was called for help. One suggestion was to move the knob slightly from side to side while lifting or lowering. This had no effect. Because this is a manual model not much can be done besides a repair by manufacturer. The technician [at JL Shepherd] said the most likely cause was due to some part (bearing, spring, etc.) falling down into transfer tube causing it to jam.
"The irradiator's power supply is controlled by computer and is off now. The door latch on the irradiator is locked. The alarming area radiation monitor on the irradiator door is on and functioning. The key to both the irradiator controller and the door latch have been removed from the irradiator room. The irradiator room is locked and monitored by corporate security and a Remote Monitoring System. The irradiator room is only accessible to approved individuals. Because this unit is a self-shielded irradiator, radiation levels outside the unit are minimal, <0.2 mR/hr) even with the source being partially exposed inside. There is no sample inside the chamber. There is no way to physically open the irradiator door due to an electric interlock. The interlock will not function without power and will not function without the rod in the fully down position. A sign has been put on the irradiator, 'Do Not Use'.
"JL Shepherd was scheduled to visit [the JHU] site to calibrate another irradiator in March. On Thursday we [JHU] will find out when we [JHU] can have a technician here to fix the problem.
"Source Make: J.L. Shepherd and Associates
Source Model: 6810-G
Source Serial #: 81Cs-S14
NSTS Source ID Number: 6729
Isotope: Cs-137
Activity: 5329 Ci
Activity Date: 02/25/2017"
MD Event Report ID No.: 52613
The following report was received from the Maryland Radioactive Materials Division via email:
"This afternoon [3/15/17], our [Johns Hopkins University (JHU)] JL Shepherd Mark I irradiator malfunctioned. This is a manual model. The source is lifted up into position by a knob that lifts a rod attached to the source. When lifting the knob up, the rod became jammed. The rod is stuck in an up position, slightly past halfway. It will not move up or down.
"JL Shepherd was called for help. One suggestion was to move the knob slightly from side to side while lifting or lowering. This had no effect. Because this is a manual model not much can be done besides a repair by manufacturer. The technician [at JL Shepherd] said the most likely cause was due to some part (bearing, spring, etc.) falling down into transfer tube causing it to jam.
"The irradiator's power supply is controlled by computer and is off now. The door latch on the irradiator is locked. The alarming area radiation monitor on the irradiator door is on and functioning. The key to both the irradiator controller and the door latch have been removed from the irradiator room. The irradiator room is locked and monitored by corporate security and a Remote Monitoring System. The irradiator room is only accessible to approved individuals. Because this unit is a self-shielded irradiator, radiation levels outside the unit are minimal, <0.2 mR/hr) even with the source being partially exposed inside. There is no sample inside the chamber. There is no way to physically open the irradiator door due to an electric interlock. The interlock will not function without power and will not function without the rod in the fully down position. A sign has been put on the irradiator, 'Do Not Use'.
"JL Shepherd was scheduled to visit [the JHU] site to calibrate another irradiator in March. On Thursday we [JHU] will find out when we [JHU] can have a technician here to fix the problem.
"Source Make: J.L. Shepherd and Associates
Source Model: 6810-G
Source Serial #: 81Cs-S14
NSTS Source ID Number: 6729
Isotope: Cs-137
Activity: 5329 Ci
Activity Date: 02/25/2017"
MD Event Report ID No.: 52613