Event Notification Report for September 12, 2019

UNPLANNED SURFACE CONTAMINATION

"Heeled 30B UF6 Cylinders arrived at Framatome at approximately 1235 (PDT) on September 12, 2019. The cylinders were inspected/surveyed for loose surface contamination at approximately 1335 (PDT). Two cylinders were identified to have greater than 24 dpm/cm2 alpha contamination limit and the 240 dpm/cm2 beta/gamma contamination limit set by DOT [Department of Transportation] and NRC. Each cylinder contained contamination on and around the valve cover. One cylinder contained 250 dpm/cm2 alpha and 2,500 dpm/cm2 beta/gamma, and another 35-40 dpm/cm2 alpha and 2,000 dpm/cm2 beta/gamma.

"The top of the cylinders have been decontaminated and the valve covers have been removed and bagged.

"[Title] 10 CFR 20.1906 requires immediate notification of the operations center and carrier in the event of contamination in excess of the limits specified in 49 CFR 173.443 during inspections required by 10 CFR 71.87."

There were no exposures to personnel and no contamination was found on the transport vehicle. The licensee is attempting to contact Westinghouse from where the cylinders originated.

DAMAGED DENSITY GAUGE

The following is a synopsis of information received via phone:

On September 12, 2019, at approximately 1130 EDT, a Humboldt gauge (Model 5001C; S/N 3267), containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 and a 40 mCi Am-241/Be source, was damaged during a field inspection. The inspector notified the radiation safety officer (RSO) and informed him that the source was retracted at the time and the source was not damaged. The RSO instructed the inspector to place the device in the carrying case and return it to him at the office. No survey of the device was performed prior to removal from the job site.

Once the device was at the office, the RSO performed a swipe test and will be sending it to Humboldt. The RSO was also going to notify the device manufacturer of the damaged gauge. No exposure is expected but personnel dosimetry badge was sent for processing.

CONCURRENT REPORT FOR FIRE ALARM MAINTENANCE

"At 1640 (EDT) on September 12, 2019, the New Hanover County Deputy Fire Marshall was notified, per State code requirements, that the fire alarm system encompassing the Fuel Manufacturing Operation (FMO) will be taken offline for planned maintenance. The system was taken offline at approximately 0800 on September 13, 2019. Compensatory measures were enacted. The system was returned to service at approximately 1335 on September 13, 2019. Because the New Hanover County Deputy Fire Marshall was notified, a concurrent notification to the NRC Operations Center is being made per 10 CFR 70, Appendix A(c)."

The NRC Region, as well as the North Carolina Radioactive Materials Branch, will be notified.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TRITIUM EXIT SIGN

The following summary was received from the State of Colorado via E-mail:

The licensee is unable to locate two tritium exit signs with an activity of 7.5 Ci each.

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