Alert

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Event Notification Report for August 23, 2006

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
08/22/2006 - 08/23/2006

** EVENT NUMBERS **

42784

42785

General Information or Other	Event Number: 42784
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM Licensee: HCA/GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL Region: 4 City: LOS GATOS State: CA County: License #: CA1731-43 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KENT PRENDERGAST HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 08/18/2006 Notification Time: 15:17 [ET] Event Date: 08/14/2006 Event Time: [PDT] Last Update Date: 08/18/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4) GREG MORELL (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK SOURCE

The State provided the following information via email:

"Problems were encountered during a Varian HDR source exchange during the evening of 8/14/06. While attempting to replace the source on a Varian Medical System's VariSource HDR unit, the new active source (Ir-192, 9 curies) got stuck in a transfer tube. Following placement of shielding, the source was freed and placed in the transport pig by noon on 8/15/06. A new source was delivered, and was successfully installed during the evening of 8/16/06."

General Information or Other	Event Number: 42785
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM Licensee: RANEY GEOTECHNICAL Region: 4 City: OROVILLE State: CA County: License #: 3497-57 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KEN FUREY HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 08/18/2006 Notification Time: 15:40 [ET] Event Date: 08/17/2006 Event Time: [PDT] Last Update Date: 08/18/2006
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): BLAIR SPITZBERG (R4) GREG MORELL (NMSS) ILTAB (VIA EMAIL) () MEXICO (FAX) ()

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The State provided the following information via facsimile:

"A Troxler 3430, serial # 35800 was stolen out of the back of a pickup truck parked at the RSO's residence on the evening of 8/17/06. The lock securing the gauge was cut. The gauge was found three blocks away from the RSO's residence on the morning of 8/18/06 in a ditch. A leak test of the gauge is being performed this same date. An inspection of Raney Geotechnical will be performed on 8/22/06."

A Troxler 3430 typically contains:
8 mCuries Cs-137
40 mCuries Am-241:Be

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.

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