Event Notification Report for August 08, 2018
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/07/2018 - 08/08/2018
Agreement State
Event Number: 53542
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Region: 4
City: FREEPORT State: TX
County:
License #: LICEN-RAM-L00451
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Licensee: DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Region: 4
City: FREEPORT State: TX
County:
License #: LICEN-RAM-L00451
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 08/09/2018
Notification Time: 16:38 [ET]
Event Date: 08/08/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/09/2018
Notification Time: 16:38 [ET]
Event Date: 08/08/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/09/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEVEL GAUGE STUCK SHUTTER
The following information was received via E-mail:
"On August 9, 2018, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received a notice from the radiation safety officer that a line level gauge was stuck in the open normal operating position. The gauge was found to be stuck during a blow-down operation yesterday afternoon. The gauge is a Ronan SA1-F37 with a Cesium-137 100 milliCurie source (serial number M5513). The gauge is to be serviced by the manufacturer's technician next week.
"The RSO was contacting the licensing section to request an amendment to the permit to operate the gauge in the stuck open position.
"The gauge is fixed at least 20 feet above ground level on a vessel and should not cause any effects to personnel. No exposures were reported upon discovery and the gauge does not present an exposure risk to any individual. The RSO will report the repair or disposal once the gauge is serviced/inspected. The investigation into this event is on-going. Updates to be provided in accordance with SA300."
Texas Incident #: I-9605
The following information was received via E-mail:
"On August 9, 2018, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received a notice from the radiation safety officer that a line level gauge was stuck in the open normal operating position. The gauge was found to be stuck during a blow-down operation yesterday afternoon. The gauge is a Ronan SA1-F37 with a Cesium-137 100 milliCurie source (serial number M5513). The gauge is to be serviced by the manufacturer's technician next week.
"The RSO was contacting the licensing section to request an amendment to the permit to operate the gauge in the stuck open position.
"The gauge is fixed at least 20 feet above ground level on a vessel and should not cause any effects to personnel. No exposures were reported upon discovery and the gauge does not present an exposure risk to any individual. The RSO will report the repair or disposal once the gauge is serviced/inspected. The investigation into this event is on-going. Updates to be provided in accordance with SA300."
Texas Incident #: I-9605
Agreement State
Event Number: 53541
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: BIONOMICS
Region: 1
City: OAK RIDGE State: TN
County:
License #: TN-R-73021-E25
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW HOLCOMB
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Licensee: BIONOMICS
Region: 1
City: OAK RIDGE State: TN
County:
License #: TN-R-73021-E25
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW HOLCOMB
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Notification Date: 08/09/2018
Notification Time: 16:25 [ET]
Event Date: 08/08/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/14/2018
Notification Time: 16:25 [ET]
Event Date: 08/08/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/14/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
CHRISTOPHER CAHILL (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNCONTROLLED SOURCE FOUND
The following was received via email from the State of Tennessee
"Bionomics in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was contracted by a metal recycler in Arkansas to pick up some radioactive material that was rejected by a metals processor. Bionomics made the pickup on August 1st. Upon opening the shipment on August 8th they discovered an orphaned radium source. Current survey information indicates that a contact reading on the device is 22 mRem/hr. The information printed on the device is as follows:
"Manufacturer: MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
Model: BILLION-AIRE ANALYZER
Model #: 706P
Serial #: 52328
Isotope: Ra-226 (150 microCi) (JULY 1966) [Calculated 147 microCi (August 2018)]
"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."
* * * UPDATE FROM ANDREW HOLCOMB TO VINCE KLCO ON 8/14/18 AT 1211 EDT * * *
The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:
"Bionomics in Oak Ridge, TN was contracted by Tenenbaum Recycling Group (TRG) in Harrison, Arkansas, to pick up some radioactive scrap metals. Bionomics made the pick up on August 1st. Prior to leaving the site, the technician discovered a radium source within the pile of scrap metal scheduled for pick-up. On August 8th, Arkansas was notified by Bionomics and in turn notified the State of TN that a radium device had been picked up and was currently in Oak Ridge, TN at the Bionomics facility. Current survey information indicates that a contact reading on the device is 22 mRem/hr. The information printed on the device is as follows:
"Manufacturer: MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
Model: BILLION-AIRE ANALYZER
Model #: 706P
Serial #: 52328
Isotope: Ra-226 (150 microCi)
"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."
Tennessee Event Report ID NO.: TN-18-140
Notified the R1DO (Young) and NMSS Events Notifications via email.
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 was received via email from the State of Tennessee
"Bionomics in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was contracted by a metal recycler in Arkansas to pick up some radioactive material that was rejected by a metals processor. Bionomics made the pickup on August 1st. Upon opening the shipment on August 8th they discovered an orphaned radium source. Current survey information indicates that a contact reading on the device is 22 mRem/hr. The information printed on the device is as follows:
"Manufacturer: MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
Model: BILLION-AIRE ANALYZER
Model #: 706P
Serial #: 52328
Isotope: Ra-226 (150 microCi) (JULY 1966) [Calculated 147 microCi (August 2018)]
"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."
* * * UPDATE FROM ANDREW HOLCOMB TO VINCE KLCO ON 8/14/18 AT 1211 EDT * * *
The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:
"Bionomics in Oak Ridge, TN was contracted by Tenenbaum Recycling Group (TRG) in Harrison, Arkansas, to pick up some radioactive scrap metals. Bionomics made the pick up on August 1st. Prior to leaving the site, the technician discovered a radium source within the pile of scrap metal scheduled for pick-up. On August 8th, Arkansas was notified by Bionomics and in turn notified the State of TN that a radium device had been picked up and was currently in Oak Ridge, TN at the Bionomics facility. Current survey information indicates that a contact reading on the device is 22 mRem/hr. The information printed on the device is as follows:
"Manufacturer: MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
Model: BILLION-AIRE ANALYZER
Model #: 706P
Serial #: 52328
Isotope: Ra-226 (150 microCi)
"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."
Tennessee Event Report ID NO.: TN-18-140
Notified the R1DO (Young) and NMSS Events Notifications via email.
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