Event Notification Report for June 11, 2010

UNANALYZED ACCUMULATION OF MATERIAL IN THE URANIUM RECOVERY AREA

"Maintenance was being performed on a dissolver enclosure in the Uranium Recovery Facility. Part of the maintenance activities included the spraying of water on the interior surfaces of the enclosure to reduce contamination. A small quantity of this water leaked into an adjoining pass-through glove box, which also had loose contamination on its interior surfaces. As a result, approximately 1 liter of solution with a concentration of approximately 26 grams 235U per liter accumulated on the floor of the pass-through glove box. The amount of uranium mass within the accumulated solution was much less than the minimum amount required for criticality. There was no immediate risk or threat to the safety of workers or the public as a result of this event.

"An evaluation is currently being performed on this event.

"BWXT is making this 24 hour report in accordance with 10 CFR 70.61, Appendix A, (b)(1) - Any event or condition that results in the facility being in a state that was not analyzed, was improperly analyzed, or is different from that analyzed in the Integrated Safety Analysis, and which results in failure to meet the performance requirements of [10 CFR] 70.61.

"The dissolver system is shutdown pending further investigation."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA SOURCE

At approximately 1600 CDT local time, a Kansas Licensee, Team Industrial Services Inc., reported that they had a radiography camera source become stuck during source retraction. While they were retracting the source, the stand tipped and resulted in the guide tube being bent such that the source could not be fully retracted. The licensee was able to secure the area easily since the shot was being conducted in a vault. Personnel exited the area and the licensee contacted their corporate RSO in Hammond, Indiana. There is no concern by the licensee of any over-exposure.

The State, after talking with the licensee's corporate RSO, authorized recovery by a person on-site who is listed under the NRC license in Indiana.

The State is expediting reciprocity paperwork to recognize the source recovery.

Kansas # KS-100005.

* * * UPDATE FROM DAVE WHITFILL TO STEVE SANDIN AT 1848 EDT ON 6/11/10 * * *

At 1725 CDT the source was successfully retracted. Notified R4DO (Powers) and FSME (Mauer).

* * * UPDATE FROM DAVE WHITFILL TO BILL HUFFMAN AT 1716 EDT ON 6/14/10 * * *

The State of Kansas provided the following additional details on this event via facsimile:

"Equipment involved: QSA Global model 880D exposure device s/n D3027, Iridium 192 s/n 59219B, 26.6 curies, with associated equipment including drive mechanism, guide tube. And a tungsten collimator.

"Description of incident: At approximately 3:15 pm, the magnetic stand used during the exposure set up fell at the conclusion of a radiographic exposure and impacted the source guide tube causing it to crimp and preventing the source assembly from returning to the fully shielded position within the exposure device.

"Actions taken to resolve: The exposures were conducted within a shielded room thereby providing radiation attenuation and enhancing control of the area during incident remediation activities. There were no exposures to unmonitored persons or members of the general public. The Radiographer immediately contacted emergency response personnel within Team Industrial Services, Inc. including the Corporate Radiation Safety Officer. The CRSO performed a preliminary assessment of the event and contacted Kansas Department of Health and Environment. A retrieval plan was developed and discussed with on site personnel. The plan used involved the placement of additional shielding (including available steel and bags of welding flux) at the source location using an overhead crane. This reduced the radiation levels to the point that the radiographer could approach the location of the crimp and remove the crimp by applying pressure using large adjustable pliers (i.e. channel-lock type). He then retracted the source into the fully shielded position within the exposure device, surveyed, and locked the device. The exposure for the complete activity including the radiographic operations was 120 mrem for the radiographer and 75 mrem for the assistant radiographer as registered on their assigned direct reading dosimeters.

"Corrective Actions taken: The damaged guide tube was immediately removed from service. An inspection of the device and drive assembly, including the drive cable and source assembly, will be conducted to determine if any damage occurred before releasing for continued use. An investigation into the use of the magnetic stand will be conducted to try to determine the problems associated with the use of this type of source positioning device."

Notified R4DO (Powers), R3DO (Kunowski), and FSME (Mauer).

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE RECOVERY INCIDENT

The following information was received from the State of Colorado via fax:

"[A Midwest Inspection Services representative] contacted [the State of Colorado] by phone today (6/15/10) and notified [the State of Colorado] that they had an incident at a temp site Friday the 11th of June.

"The radiography crew was doing an elevated (18 ft. aprox.) shot and the rope holding up the camera broke and the camera fell (18 ft. aprox.) leaving the source in an exposed position. The radiographer was unable to retract the source back into the camera. The crew roped off the area, and contacted the (RSO) who responded and covered the source with lead shot bags, using a remote device he was able to straighten the guide tube and retract the source. He [RSO] was wearing dual dosimeters, (chest and on shirt sleeve of the hand that he used to straighten the guide tube). The exposure dosimeter on the chest read 20mr/hr and the shirt sleeve dosimeter read 487mr/hr.

[The Midwest Inspection Services representative] is gathering final information from interviews with everybody involved and will submit a written report detailing the incident.

Guide tube was kinked with the source in an exposed position.
Cause was the camera fell aprox. 18 feet when rope broke or came untied.
Camera: INC model IR-I00 Source: INC model 32 s/n P264 (Ir-192, 56.74 Ci)
Location: DCP Lucerne gas plant, Greeley, Co. Time: 6/11/10 at aprox. 1:20pm