Event Notification Report for April 13, 2017
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/12/2017 - 04/13/2017
EVENT NUMBERS
52676
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 52676
Rep Org: QAL-TEK ASSOCIATES, LLC
Licensee: QAL-TEK ASSOCIATES, LLC
Region: 4
City: IDAHO FALLS State: ID
County:
License #: 11-27610-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL ALBANESE
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Licensee: QAL-TEK ASSOCIATES, LLC
Region: 4
City: IDAHO FALLS State: ID
County:
License #: 11-27610-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MICHAEL ALBANESE
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 04/13/2017
Notification Time: 13:51 [ET]
Event Date: 04/13/2017
Event Time: 09:40 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/13/2017
Notification Time: 13:51 [ET]
Event Date: 04/13/2017
Event Time: 09:40 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/13/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.1906(d)(2) - EXTERNAL RAD LEVELS > LIMITS
10 CFR Section:
20.1906(d)(2) - EXTERNAL RAD LEVELS > LIMITS
Person (Organization):
JOHN KRAMER (R4DO)
DANIEL COLLINS (NMSS)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
JOHN KRAMER (R4DO)
DANIEL COLLINS (NMSS)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
SHIPMENT EXCEEDING PACKAGE DOSE RATE LIMITS
The following was received via email from the Licensee:
"At 0940 [MDT] on April 13th, 2017 [the common carrier] dropped off a 20 gallon drum (37.8 Kg) at Qal-Tek Associates (QTA) Idaho [ID] facility with an on-contact reading of 1.45 R/hr and a TI [Transport Index] of 15, both in excess of 10CFR20.1906(d)(2). No contamination existed on the inside or outside of the package. Upon further investigation, all three sources (Cs-137, 19.4 mCi; Cs-137, 23 mCi; and Co-60, 2.5 mCi) shipped in a gray lead pig were outside their gray lead pig and in the Type 7A drum. The gray lead pig was found packaged upright in the drum with a slight tilt. The pig lid was intact and properly seated on the pig base. Apparently, the lid was displaced enough during shipment that all three sources came out of the pig by the time they arrive[d] at QTA ID. The root cause appears to be from improper sealing of the gray pig. The pig wasn't taped or strapped shut to prevent displacement of the pig and lid resulting in the release of the sources.
"The shipper confirmed the sources where originally placed in the gray pig around 1100 [MDT].
"The [common] carrier was contact[ed] at 1140 [MDT]. Assuming the maximally exposed member of the public was [the common carrier] transport employee, and they were on-contact with the drum at the highest reading, they could have potentially received 100 mrem in a little over 4 minutes. Likewise, they could have received 2 mrem in 5 seconds. Considering the TI of 15 mrem/hour, the MEI [maximally exposed individual] could potentially receive 100 mrem in 6.67 hours and 2 mrem in 0.13 hours."
The following was received via email from the Licensee:
"At 0940 [MDT] on April 13th, 2017 [the common carrier] dropped off a 20 gallon drum (37.8 Kg) at Qal-Tek Associates (QTA) Idaho [ID] facility with an on-contact reading of 1.45 R/hr and a TI [Transport Index] of 15, both in excess of 10CFR20.1906(d)(2). No contamination existed on the inside or outside of the package. Upon further investigation, all three sources (Cs-137, 19.4 mCi; Cs-137, 23 mCi; and Co-60, 2.5 mCi) shipped in a gray lead pig were outside their gray lead pig and in the Type 7A drum. The gray lead pig was found packaged upright in the drum with a slight tilt. The pig lid was intact and properly seated on the pig base. Apparently, the lid was displaced enough during shipment that all three sources came out of the pig by the time they arrive[d] at QTA ID. The root cause appears to be from improper sealing of the gray pig. The pig wasn't taped or strapped shut to prevent displacement of the pig and lid resulting in the release of the sources.
"The shipper confirmed the sources where originally placed in the gray pig around 1100 [MDT].
"The [common] carrier was contact[ed] at 1140 [MDT]. Assuming the maximally exposed member of the public was [the common carrier] transport employee, and they were on-contact with the drum at the highest reading, they could have potentially received 100 mrem in a little over 4 minutes. Likewise, they could have received 2 mrem in 5 seconds. Considering the TI of 15 mrem/hour, the MEI [maximally exposed individual] could potentially receive 100 mrem in 6.67 hours and 2 mrem in 0.13 hours."