Event Notification Report for April 09, 2019

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following report was received from the State of California via e-mail:

"On April 9, 2019, the [Radiation Safety Officer] RSO for GeoSolutions in San Luis Obispo, CA notified the RHB [Radiologic Health Branch] Brea office that a moisture density gauge had been reported stolen from his employee's vehicle that was parked overnight at a residence in Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, CA. Reporting person states that a Humboldt Scientific Instrument 5001C nuclear moisture density testing device, serial number 1749, was stolen. The device contained 0.37 GBq (10 mCi) Cs-137 and 1.48 GBq (40 mCi) Am-241. The theft has been reported to local law enforcement, Santa Maria Police report number 2019R03937, and to the local service provider Pacific Nuclear Technology.

"The device was in a locked protective case at the time it was stolen; its transport index is 0.2; DOT class 7 type A package. The owner found the chain securing the device to the truck bed was also cut. The operator reported that the Cs-137 source rod was locked in the safe position on the gauge. The device was stolen on 4/9/2019 at an unknown time during the night. RHB will continue to investigate."

California 5010 number: 040919.

* * * UPDATE AT 2003 EDT ON 4/15/19 FROM L. ROBERT GREGER TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *

The following was received via e-mail:

"The moisture density gauge that was reported stolen was reported by the licensee to have been recovered on 4/11/19. The gauge, inside its transportation container (the transportation container lock was missing, but the gauge was locked in the shielded position), was found in a trash dumpster at a local convenience store. Police are currently reviewing security camera tapes in an attempt to determine who placed the gauge in the convenience store trash dumpster."

Notified the R4DO (Pick) and NMSS (via e-mail).

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

SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE - SHUTTER POTENTIALLY STUCK OPEN

The licensee reported that there is a potential for a shutter to be stuck open on a bin level gauge. The licensee specifically noted that the shutter arm moves more freely than normal.

The following was received via e-mail:

"Indiana Harbor's [Radiation Safety Officer] RSO was notified of a problem with a gauge at the IH7 Blast Furnace operations at 1101 CDT on April 9, 2019. This issue has the potential to be a shutter failure. [Source details] Kay Ray model 7064P, serial number 8318, Cs-137, originally 5000 mCi (1978) estimated 2000 mCi remaining. There is no exposure potential. It is installed on the North Lockhopper at the # 7 blast furnace on elevation 13. Upon attempting to unlock the 'North Lockhopper empty' gauge, the shutter arm was moving freely. The position of the shutter is not know, however, the source beam is directed into the hopper if the shutter is open and there are no personnel that can access the beam while the furnace is in operation. The next opportunity to access the gauge will be during the next scheduled outage on June 4 or 5, 2019."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST THEN FOUND Am-241 FILL LEVEL GAUGE SOURCES

The following report was received from the State of Illinois via e-mail:

"The Agency [Illinois Emergency Management Agency] was contacted at approximately 1213 CDT on 4/9/19 by the radiation safety officer (RSO) for Heuft USA to advise that a 0.88 Ci shipment of Am-241 sealed sources enroute to their facility did not arrive as expected by April 8, 2019. The shipment was found as of 1330 CDT by the carrier at their terminal in Illinois.

"The shipment was not a Cat 1 or Cat 2 quantity. The shipment was labeled White-I and packaged in a 28 pound, 5 gallon, Type A drum. [Prior to being found], the package's last known (physically confirmed) location was the [common carrier's] facility in Columbus, OH on 4/5/19. A manifest was present at [the common carrier's] Chicago Heights facility, indicating it may have arrived there. The RSO for the licensee was the individual who personally packaged the sources and offered them for consignment to [the common carrier]. There was no indication of intentional theft or diversion.

"Heuft USA is a licensee of the Agency (IL-01354-22) authorized for the possession, installation and maintenance of Am-241 fill level gauges. This shipment contained (2) QSA Global AMC.17 fill level gauges containing 300 mCi each, (1) XN.240 fill level gauge containing 100 mCi, and (4) AMC.25 fill level gauges containing 45 mCi each. State of Ohio radiation control program staff were notified.

"While writing the report, the carrier located the package on their dock and began to finalize the shipment to the licensee. Pending confirmation of receipt by the licensee, this matter is considered closed."

Illinois item number: IL190011.


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