Event Notification Report for April 24, 2019
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/23/2019 - 04/24/2019
Agreement State
Event Number: 54026
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: WEEKS MARINE, INC.
Region: 4
City: HOUMA State: LA
County:
License #: LA-2770-L01, AI # 2380
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH
Licensee: WEEKS MARINE, INC.
Region: 4
City: HOUMA State: LA
County:
License #: LA-2770-L01, AI # 2380
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: ANDREW WAUGH
Notification Date: 04/25/2019
Notification Time: 11:04 [ET]
Event Date: 04/24/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/26/2019
Notification Time: 11:04 [ET]
Event Date: 04/24/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/26/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
CALE YOUNG (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
CALE YOUNG (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - GAUGE STUCK SHUTTER
The following was received via email from the State of Louisiana:
"On 04/24/2019, Weeks Marine, Inc. was performing their routine operations with their licensed device. During their dredging operations, work ceased and the gauge shutter would not close when not in operation. The gauge shutter would not close due to dirt and grime residue in the shutter mechanism. Weeks Marine, Inc. called a service contractor, Applied Health Physics, to evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action to correct the problem (clean and lubricate).
"The sources and device with the stuck open shutter will remain installed on the process until the repairs are made. This is not a radiation exposure hazard and does not pose a health and safety situation for the Weeks Marine, Inc. employees or the general public.
"The density/level gauge is a Berthold Model 7400D series device/source holder, loaded with an approximately 1500 mCi Cs-137 source, s/n 372-1-85. Initial activity was 3000 mCi in 1985 [manufacture] date.
"This event is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as required by Regulatory Requirement 10 CFR Part 30.50(b)(2) and LAC 33:XV 340.B."
Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA-190006
* * * UPDATE AT 0933 EDT ON 4/26/2019 FROM JOSEPH NOBLE TO JEFF HERRERA * * *
The following update was received from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality via email:
"[On] 04/25/2019, at [1440 CDT] Weeks Marine reported that Applied Technical Services had completed the maintenance on this fixed density gauge and that Hopper Dredge # 456 is back in operation. This event is considered completed and closed."
Notified the R4DO (Young) and NMSS (via email).
The following was received via email from the State of Louisiana:
"On 04/24/2019, Weeks Marine, Inc. was performing their routine operations with their licensed device. During their dredging operations, work ceased and the gauge shutter would not close when not in operation. The gauge shutter would not close due to dirt and grime residue in the shutter mechanism. Weeks Marine, Inc. called a service contractor, Applied Health Physics, to evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action to correct the problem (clean and lubricate).
"The sources and device with the stuck open shutter will remain installed on the process until the repairs are made. This is not a radiation exposure hazard and does not pose a health and safety situation for the Weeks Marine, Inc. employees or the general public.
"The density/level gauge is a Berthold Model 7400D series device/source holder, loaded with an approximately 1500 mCi Cs-137 source, s/n 372-1-85. Initial activity was 3000 mCi in 1985 [manufacture] date.
"This event is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as required by Regulatory Requirement 10 CFR Part 30.50(b)(2) and LAC 33:XV 340.B."
Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA-190006
* * * UPDATE AT 0933 EDT ON 4/26/2019 FROM JOSEPH NOBLE TO JEFF HERRERA * * *
The following update was received from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality via email:
"[On] 04/25/2019, at [1440 CDT] Weeks Marine reported that Applied Technical Services had completed the maintenance on this fixed density gauge and that Hopper Dredge # 456 is back in operation. This event is considered completed and closed."
Notified the R4DO (Young) and NMSS (via email).
Agreement State
Event Number: 54056
Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: State: UT
County: SALT LAKE COUNTY
License #: 1800289
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GWYN GALLOW
HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA
Licensee: KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: State: UT
County: SALT LAKE COUNTY
License #: 1800289
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GWYN GALLOW
HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA
Notification Date: 05/09/2019
Notification Time: 15:19 [ET]
Event Date: 04/24/2019
Event Time: 16:30 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 05/09/2019
Notification Time: 15:19 [ET]
Event Date: 04/24/2019
Event Time: 16:30 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 05/09/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
RYAN ALEXANDER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIXED GAUGE SHUTTER FAILED CLOSED
The following was received via e-mail:
"On April 24, 2019 at about 4:30 PM [MDT], the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for Kennecott Copper Corporation called and notified a DWMRC [Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control] staff member that one of their gauges was not working properly. The licensee reported that the shutter on a fixed gauge, an Ohmart Vega, model number SH-F2, serial number 68852, containing 800 mCi of Cs-137 in a sealed source did not open when a shutter test was conducted. The licensee stated that the gauge would be left in place for now and removed and cleaned the next week, to see if that resolved the problem. The RSO reported that he would engage a licensed provider if disassembly is required to fix the problem.
"Another [DWMRC] staff member spoke to the licensee's RSO at about 5:00 PM that evening. The licensee's RSO indicated that they did not have the information regarding the gauge with them at the time but that they believed the gauge just needed to be cleaned. The licensee indicated that the gauge had not been in use for a while and that they were testing the device prior to putting the device back into operation when the issue was discovered. The gauge is located in an area difficult to access. The licensee would need to use certain equipment to safely reach and remove the gauge. The RSO had tried to contact their regular gauge service licensee and determined that the service licensee would not be available until after May 1, 2019. The RSO indicated that they would remove and clean the gauge the following week.
"Specific individuals on the licensee's radioactive materials license are authorized to install and remove gauges and the extra time would allow the RSO to ensure that the appropriate individuals were available. On April 30, 2019, the licensee's authorized personnel removed the gauge from its location at the pebble crusher. After a thorough cleaning of the exterior of the source housing, the shutter was still showing no movement.
"The RSO realized the gauge needed to be taken apart and cleaned in order to allow the shutter to work properly. The service licensee was contacted and arrangements were made for the service licensee to work with the gauge on May 2, 2019. The device was stored in a properly secured area at any time it was not under the licensee's constant surveillance until the service licensee took possession of the device. The licensee informed the DWMRC that they would provide a report regarding the outcome."
Event Report No.: UT190002
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 e-mail:
"On April 24, 2019 at about 4:30 PM [MDT], the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for Kennecott Copper Corporation called and notified a DWMRC [Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control] staff member that one of their gauges was not working properly. The licensee reported that the shutter on a fixed gauge, an Ohmart Vega, model number SH-F2, serial number 68852, containing 800 mCi of Cs-137 in a sealed source did not open when a shutter test was conducted. The licensee stated that the gauge would be left in place for now and removed and cleaned the next week, to see if that resolved the problem. The RSO reported that he would engage a licensed provider if disassembly is required to fix the problem.
"Another [DWMRC] staff member spoke to the licensee's RSO at about 5:00 PM that evening. The licensee's RSO indicated that they did not have the information regarding the gauge with them at the time but that they believed the gauge just needed to be cleaned. The licensee indicated that the gauge had not been in use for a while and that they were testing the device prior to putting the device back into operation when the issue was discovered. The gauge is located in an area difficult to access. The licensee would need to use certain equipment to safely reach and remove the gauge. The RSO had tried to contact their regular gauge service licensee and determined that the service licensee would not be available until after May 1, 2019. The RSO indicated that they would remove and clean the gauge the following week.
"Specific individuals on the licensee's radioactive materials license are authorized to install and remove gauges and the extra time would allow the RSO to ensure that the appropriate individuals were available. On April 30, 2019, the licensee's authorized personnel removed the gauge from its location at the pebble crusher. After a thorough cleaning of the exterior of the source housing, the shutter was still showing no movement.
"The RSO realized the gauge needed to be taken apart and cleaned in order to allow the shutter to work properly. The service licensee was contacted and arrangements were made for the service licensee to work with the gauge on May 2, 2019. The device was stored in a properly secured area at any time it was not under the licensee's constant surveillance until the service licensee took possession of the device. The licensee informed the DWMRC that they would provide a report regarding the outcome."
Event Report No.: UT190002
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