Event Notification Report for December 07, 2000
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/06/2000 - 12/07/2000
General Information or Other
Event Number: 37577
Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: PACIFIC TECHNICAL INDUSTRIES
Region: 4
City: Bellevue State: WA
County:
License #: WN-IR053-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TERRY C. FRAZEE (Fax)
HQ OPS Officer: LEIGH TROCINE
Licensee: PACIFIC TECHNICAL INDUSTRIES
Region: 4
City: Bellevue State: WA
County:
License #: WN-IR053-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TERRY C. FRAZEE (Fax)
HQ OPS Officer: LEIGH TROCINE
Notification Date: 12/07/2000
Notification Time: 20:10 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2000
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2000
Notification Time: 20:10 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2000
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2000
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
THOMAS ESSIG (NMSS)
CHARLES MILLER (IRO)
BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4)
THOMAS ESSIG (NMSS)
CHARLES MILLER (IRO)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT REGARDING THE DISCOVERY THAT A PACIFIC TECHNICAL INDUSTRIES RADIOGRAPHER'S EXPOSURE EXCEEDED 5 REM ANNUAL LIMIT
The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from WA Department of Health (DOH), Division of Radiation Protection:
"This is notification of an event in Washington state as reported to the WA Department of Health, Division of Radiation Protection."
"STATUS: new"
"Licensee: Pacific Technical Industries"
"City and state: Bellevue, WA"
"License number: WN-1R053-1"
"Type of license: Industrial radiography"
"Date of event: November 2000"
"Location of Event: Bellevue, WA"
"ABSTRACT (where, when, how, why; cause, contributing factors, corrective actions, consequences, DOH on-site investigation; media attention)[:] An industrial radiographer has exceeded the annual exposure limit of 5 rem. The licensee was notified by the dosimetry service on September 27 that the radiographer had received 4.3 rem through August 2000. The Department mailed a copy of [Information Notice] IN 2000-15 to all radiography licensees on October 26. Upon receipt of the Information Notice, the licensee was prompted to review the radiographer's daily pocket dosimeter records and at that time determined that the total dose was already likely to be 5.1 rem. The radiographer was immediately reassigned to non-radiation work, the dosimeter was sent for processing, and the Department was notified. On December 7, the licensee reported the results of the dosimetry as received from the dosimetry service. The radiographer had received 5.217 rem. The licensee indicated that the radiographer had received more exposure than usual due to a heavy workload in confined spaces such as tanks and other vessels where getting in and out was difficult or even hazardous. The relatively short exposure times involved led the radiographer to remain in the confined space hut as far as practical from the source and crank handle. The licensee is being cited for failure to control the exposure of the radiographer."
"What is the notification or reporting criteria involved? WAC 246-22l-010 Occupational limits for adults."
"Activity and Isotope(s) involved: Curie amounts of Ir-192"
"Overexposure? (Number of workers/members of public; dose estimate; body part receiving dose; consequence)[:] One radiographer received 5.217 rem whole body exposure; 5.210 rem to the lens; and 5.248 rem shallow dose."
(Call the NRC operations officer for contact information.)
The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from WA Department of Health (DOH), Division of Radiation Protection:
"This is notification of an event in Washington state as reported to the WA Department of Health, Division of Radiation Protection."
"STATUS: new"
"Licensee: Pacific Technical Industries"
"City and state: Bellevue, WA"
"License number: WN-1R053-1"
"Type of license: Industrial radiography"
"Date of event: November 2000"
"Location of Event: Bellevue, WA"
"ABSTRACT (where, when, how, why; cause, contributing factors, corrective actions, consequences, DOH on-site investigation; media attention)[:] An industrial radiographer has exceeded the annual exposure limit of 5 rem. The licensee was notified by the dosimetry service on September 27 that the radiographer had received 4.3 rem through August 2000. The Department mailed a copy of [Information Notice] IN 2000-15 to all radiography licensees on October 26. Upon receipt of the Information Notice, the licensee was prompted to review the radiographer's daily pocket dosimeter records and at that time determined that the total dose was already likely to be 5.1 rem. The radiographer was immediately reassigned to non-radiation work, the dosimeter was sent for processing, and the Department was notified. On December 7, the licensee reported the results of the dosimetry as received from the dosimetry service. The radiographer had received 5.217 rem. The licensee indicated that the radiographer had received more exposure than usual due to a heavy workload in confined spaces such as tanks and other vessels where getting in and out was difficult or even hazardous. The relatively short exposure times involved led the radiographer to remain in the confined space hut as far as practical from the source and crank handle. The licensee is being cited for failure to control the exposure of the radiographer."
"What is the notification or reporting criteria involved? WAC 246-22l-010 Occupational limits for adults."
"Activity and Isotope(s) involved: Curie amounts of Ir-192"
"Overexposure? (Number of workers/members of public; dose estimate; body part receiving dose; consequence)[:] One radiographer received 5.217 rem whole body exposure; 5.210 rem to the lens; and 5.248 rem shallow dose."
(Call the NRC operations officer for contact information.)
Power Reactor
Event Number: 37578
Facility: HATCH
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: GUY GRIFFIS
HQ OPS Officer: LEIGH TROCINE
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: GUY GRIFFIS
HQ OPS Officer: LEIGH TROCINE
Notification Date: 12/07/2000
Notification Time: 23:35 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2000
Event Time: 22:55 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2000
Notification Time: 23:35 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2000
Event Time: 22:55 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/07/2000
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(1)(v) - OTHER ASMT/COMM INOP
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(1)(v) - OTHER ASMT/COMM INOP
Person (Organization):
PAUL FREDRICKSON (R2)
PAUL FREDRICKSON (R2)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
| 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
LOSS OF THE PROMPT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:
"A complete loss of the prompt notification system has occurred [at 2255], which [is] considered to be a major loss of offsite notification capability. The prompt notification system is a NOAA weather radio system [out of Jacksonville, Florida]."
The licensee stated that people are currently being dispatched to work on the problem and that the system was returned to service at 2335.
The licensee notified applicable state and local officials and plans to notify the NRC resident inspector.
The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:
"A complete loss of the prompt notification system has occurred [at 2255], which [is] considered to be a major loss of offsite notification capability. The prompt notification system is a NOAA weather radio system [out of Jacksonville, Florida]."
The licensee stated that people are currently being dispatched to work on the problem and that the system was returned to service at 2335.
The licensee notified applicable state and local officials and plans to notify the NRC resident inspector.
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 37588
Rep Org: USAF RADIOISOTOPE COMMITTEE
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 2
City: FT. EUSTIS State: VA
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID PUGH
HQ OPS Officer: DOUG WEAVER
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 2
City: FT. EUSTIS State: VA
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID PUGH
HQ OPS Officer: DOUG WEAVER
Notification Date: 12/12/2000
Notification Time: 12:13 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2000
Event Time: 15:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/12/2000
Notification Time: 12:13 [ET]
Event Date: 12/07/2000
Event Time: 15:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/12/2000
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
ANNE BOLAND (R2)
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
BRIAN SMITH (NMSS)
ANNE BOLAND (R2)
CHUCK CAIN (R4)
BRIAN SMITH (NMSS)
UNACCOUNTED FOR STRONTIUM 90 SOURCE
A 500 µCi Sr-90 source used in a helicopter was unaccounted for by the Air Force. The source was discovered on a helicopter with Air Force markings located at Ft. Eustis, Virginia. Although the aircraft had Air Force marking, the Air Force could not immediately account for the source involved or state whether or not the aircraft still belonged to the Air Force.
An instructor was showing some students the helicopter when he noticed the source was in the exposed position. The source is part of a device used to look for failures or fractures on the helicopter's blades. A contractor was called and the source was properly stowed. A swipe survey was performed but the results were not known by the caller. The students are believed to be military personnel. The time spent around the aircraft was approximately 50 minutes, however because the source is located near the rotors, exposure is believed to be minimal. This device has an expected dose rate of 75 mr/hr at one foot according to the sealed source device registry.
A 500 µCi Sr-90 source used in a helicopter was unaccounted for by the Air Force. The source was discovered on a helicopter with Air Force markings located at Ft. Eustis, Virginia. Although the aircraft had Air Force marking, the Air Force could not immediately account for the source involved or state whether or not the aircraft still belonged to the Air Force.
An instructor was showing some students the helicopter when he noticed the source was in the exposed position. The source is part of a device used to look for failures or fractures on the helicopter's blades. A contractor was called and the source was properly stowed. A swipe survey was performed but the results were not known by the caller. The students are believed to be military personnel. The time spent around the aircraft was approximately 50 minutes, however because the source is located near the rotors, exposure is believed to be minimal. This device has an expected dose rate of 75 mr/hr at one foot according to the sealed source device registry.