Event Notification Report for August 28, 2020
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/27/2020 - 08/28/2020
Agreement State
Event Number: 54871
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: Southern Recycling LLC
Region: 4
City: New Orleans State: LA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: James Pate
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Licensee: Southern Recycling LLC
Region: 4
City: New Orleans State: LA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: James Pate
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 08/31/2020
Notification Time: 15:06 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Notification Time: 15:06 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
RICK DEESE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
RICK DEESE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOACTIVITY FOUND IN RECYCLED MATERIAL
The following was received from the state of Louisiana:
"On August 28, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) / Emergency Response Services Division / Radiation Section was contacted to report radioactive material was discovered being brought into the facility in a roll-off box to Southern Recycling LLC. The roll-off box came from Monsanto Company, Luling, Louisiana 70070. The roll-off box contained scrap metal from a new construction site at Monsanto Company. American Radiation Services (ARS), Port Allen, LA was brought in to survey the box and make determination of the radioactive material. ARS determined that the radioactive material was Se-75. The survey reading was two mR/hr at surface contact. The survey reading was taken from a corrugated paper box with no removable contamination. At this time, no radiation sealed source has been found or indication to make determination of the potential source.
"LDEQ is sending an inspector to the facility to make further determination if possible with ARS. The radioactive material is secured on site at Southern Recycling."
Louisiana Incident No.: LA20200008
The following was received from the state of Louisiana:
"On August 28, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) / Emergency Response Services Division / Radiation Section was contacted to report radioactive material was discovered being brought into the facility in a roll-off box to Southern Recycling LLC. The roll-off box came from Monsanto Company, Luling, Louisiana 70070. The roll-off box contained scrap metal from a new construction site at Monsanto Company. American Radiation Services (ARS), Port Allen, LA was brought in to survey the box and make determination of the radioactive material. ARS determined that the radioactive material was Se-75. The survey reading was two mR/hr at surface contact. The survey reading was taken from a corrugated paper box with no removable contamination. At this time, no radiation sealed source has been found or indication to make determination of the potential source.
"LDEQ is sending an inspector to the facility to make further determination if possible with ARS. The radioactive material is secured on site at Southern Recycling."
Louisiana Incident No.: LA20200008
Agreement State
Event Number: 54873
Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: Cincinnati Papperboard
Region: 3
City: Cininnati State: OH
County:
License #: N/A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Micheal Snee
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Licensee: Cincinnati Papperboard
Region: 3
City: Cininnati State: OH
County:
License #: N/A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Micheal Snee
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 09/01/2020
Notification Time: 13:53 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/01/2020
Notification Time: 13:53 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/01/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
DAVID HILLS (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
DAVID HILLS (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHUTTER MECHANISM MALFUNCTION
The following was received from the Ohio Dept. of Health via e-mail:
"During a routine inspection of a generally licensed device a broken spring on the basis weight shutter was discovered. This spring is a fail-safe that closes the shutter in the event of the loss of air pressure. A temporary repair to the spring was made and the shutter was tested. The shutter is now working properly and a replacement spring is on order with a plan to install the spring as soon as possible after it arrives.
"Until the spring is replaced, the scanner will be taken off-line daily and observations made that the shutter closes.
"The device contains a 400 mCi, Kr-85 source. No personnel were exposed due to the spring failure."
Ohio Item Number: OH200005
Ohio Reference Number: OH2020-037
The following was received from the Ohio Dept. of Health via e-mail:
"During a routine inspection of a generally licensed device a broken spring on the basis weight shutter was discovered. This spring is a fail-safe that closes the shutter in the event of the loss of air pressure. A temporary repair to the spring was made and the shutter was tested. The shutter is now working properly and a replacement spring is on order with a plan to install the spring as soon as possible after it arrives.
"Until the spring is replaced, the scanner will be taken off-line daily and observations made that the shutter closes.
"The device contains a 400 mCi, Kr-85 source. No personnel were exposed due to the spring failure."
Ohio Item Number: OH200005
Ohio Reference Number: OH2020-037
Agreement State
Event Number: 54865
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: Wiedenbach Brown
Region: 4
City: Duluth State: TX
County:
License #: N/A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font
Licensee: Wiedenbach Brown
Region: 4
City: Duluth State: TX
County:
License #: N/A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Ossy Font
Notification Date: 08/28/2020
Notification Time: 18:58 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Notification Time: 18:58 [ET]
Event Date: 08/28/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/31/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
RAY KELLAR (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
- CNSC (CANADA) (EMAIL)
- CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)
RAY KELLAR (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
- CNSC (CANADA) (EMAIL)
- CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date : 9/1/2020
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SHIPMENT OF TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS
The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:
"On August 28, 2020, the Agency was contacted by an individual to notify it that they had shipped seven Forever Lite tritium exit signs to a manufacturer in May of 2020 and they have been informed by the transportation company that they do not know where the signs are. The signs are Forever Lite signs, each containing 7.03 curies (original activity) of tritium, manufactured in May 2011.
"The package was last scanned in Fort Worth, Texas, in May of 2020. The shipper stated that they were told on May 19, 2020 it was to be delivered in Canada. The next update when they followed up they were advised the package was lost and they were trying to locate the shipment and opened a claim. The location where the signs were lost is unknown at this time; therefore, the Agency is making this report for your information.
"The Agency has requested additional information and clarifications from the shipper. Additional information will be provided as it is received."
Texas Incident #: I - 9789
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
* * * UPDATE ON AUGUST 31, 2020 AT 1126 EDT FROM ART TUCKER TO BRIAN LIN * * *
The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:
"After reviewing documents provided by the licensee, the Agency contacted the licensee and confirmed that eight signs were lost and not seven as previously reported. The transportation company's radiation safety officer (RSO) was contacted by the Agency and the RSO stated they do not store the tracking records of shipments in their computer system for very long, therefore they would not be able to review the tracking information for this shipment. The Agency will provide additional information as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Notified R4DO (Deese), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, CNSC (Canada), and CNSNS (Mexico) via email.