| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
10/31/2011 - 11/01/2011 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 47371 | Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: WEATHERFORD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Region: 1
City: MUNCY State: PA
County:
License #: PA-1030
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID J. ALLARD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 10/24/2011
Notification Time: 18:07 [ET]
Event Date: 10/21/2011
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/24/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
ANNE DeFRANCISCO (R1DO)
CHRISTIAN EINBERG (FSME)
DARYL JOHNSON (ILTA)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING APPARENT STOLEN DENSITY GAUGES WITH CS-137 SOURCES
"On October 22, 2011, at approximately 12:05 AM, the [Pennsylvania] Department's Director of the Bureau of Radiation Protection received notification via a phone call and email from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's Duty Officer of two 'densitometers' with radiation symbols that were found on the side of the road. It appears that the devices were stolen. This event is reportable under 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i).
"On Friday, October 21, 2011 evening (time unknown), two 'densitometers,' sealed source make and model currently unknown, each containing approximately 200 millicuries (mCi) of Cs-137, were reported found on the side of the road in Montoursville, PA in Lycoming County. A Fire Department and Emergency Response Team were deployed, and the two devices were isolated - one at or near Fairview Drive & Cherry Street, and the other on Maple Street in the same general area. Radiation measurements in the range of 30 to 40 micro-roentgens per hour at six feet were noted. The licensee was contacted and quickly recovered the two devices (Serial No. 8-7176 and 8-6891) and the Cs-137 sources at around 1:00 AM on October 22, 2011. [The devices] are now back in [the licensee's] possession. The DEP BRP Director spoke to the licensee's representative around this same time and was informed the sources were found in a shielded configuration, and, they could (now) account for all their radioactive sources. From the information known at this time, there were no noteworthy radiation exposures to the general public or any responding personnel.
"A reactive inspection is planned by the Department's Radiation Protection Program along with the PA DEP Bureau of Investigations. More details will be added as they become known.
"Media attention: None at this time
Pennsylvania Event Report ID No: PA110028
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
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47377 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: PETROCHEM INSPECTION SERVICES
Region: 4
City: CORPUS CHRISTI State: TX
County:
License #: 04460
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 10/27/2011
Notification Time: 11:37 [ET]
Event Date: 10/12/2011
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/27/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
CYNTHIA JONES (NSIR)
| Event Text TEXAS AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHER OVEREXPOSURE
The following was received from the state via email:
"On October 17, 2011, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by a licensee that one of its radiographers had climbed a ladder to remove the guide tube from a SA Model 880 radiography camera containing a 49.3 curie Iridium (IR)-192 source that was suspended by a rope. Another employee walked by the area and observed the survey meter needle was pegged high. He yelled at the radiographer who climbed down the ladder and attempted to crank the source back into the camera. The source would not move so he cranked it all the way out and then retracted it successfully. The radiographer's badge was sent for processing. The badge had a whole-body dose reading of 4,192 millirem, bringing his total for the year to 5,196 millirem, exceeding the annual limit. The radiographer was unable to ascertain where the source had been in the guide tube. The radiographer did not carry the dose rate instrument to the camera because the safety rules for the facility he was working at does not allow an individual to climb a ladder with any articles in their hand. On October 27, 2011, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was informed by the licensee that they had completed their investigation and had calculated the dose to the radiographers left hand, which had been on the guide tube, to be between 51 and 58 rem for the event exceeding the annual limit. The licensee stated that they had not observed any changes in appearance in the radiographer's hand. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident # I-8894 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47378 | Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: AGRI INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS CO
Region: 3
City: FAIRFIELD State: IA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MELANIE RASMUSSON
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 10/27/2011
Notification Time: 12:12 [ET]
Event Date: 10/27/2011
Event Time: 10:27 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/27/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
PATTY PELKE (R3DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
ILTAB VIA EMAIL ()
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST STATIC ELIMINATOR CONTAINING 10 MILLICURIES POLONIUM 210
The state's licensee reported that they lost a NRD Nuclecel Device Model P-2021-8201, serial number A2HH880, which was shipped to the company on 09/01/10. The company noticed the device was missing on October 4th. However, the company also believes it could be installed somewhere in the facility in a location where it cannot be seen.
The State's licensee has implemented the following corrective actions:
"1) We will assign 1 device to its own machine cell and it will not be moved. 2) We have stopped the use of quick push/pull connections and replaced with threaded connections. 3) All Nuclecel devices are attached with yellow air hose ... and we don't use yellow air hoses on anything else. 4) We have added the devices to our month end inventory count."
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 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 47381 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TICONA POLYMERS INC
Region: 4
City: BISHOP State: TX
County:
License #: 02441
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA | Notification Date: 10/27/2011
Notification Time: 15:26 [ET]
Event Date: 10/13/2011
Event Time: 07:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/27/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4DO)
LYDIA CHANG (FSME)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN HANDLE ON BERTHOLD NUCLEAR GAUGE
The following was received from the state via e-mail:
"On October 13, 2011, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee that while exercising the shutter handle on a Berthold nuclear gauge containing 20 milliCuries of cesium - 137 the handle broke off flush with the gauge housing. The gauge shutter is in the open position, which is the normal operating position of the shutter. No individual will receive any additional exposure due to the failure. The manufacture has been contacted to repair the gauge. The licensee stated that no entry to the vessel will be allowed until the gauge has been repaired. The cause for the failure is unknown at this time. Additional information will be supplied as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident Number: I-8895 |
| Non-Agreement State | Event Number: 47392 | Rep Org: INGHAM REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Licensee: INGHAM REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Region: 3
City: LANSING State: MI
County:
License #: 21-04073-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BRYAN TOLLENAAR
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 10/31/2011
Notification Time: 15:30 [ET]
Event Date: 10/31/2011
Event Time: 11:20 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 10/31/2011 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.1906(d)(1) - SURFACE CONTAM LEVELS > LIMITS
| Person (Organization):
NICK VALOS (R3DO)
LYDIA CHANG (FSME)
| Event Text PACKAGE RECEIVED WITH SURFACE CONTAMINATION ABOVE LIMITS
"Package marked container 1 from Hot Shots Nuclear Medicine (license #21-26597-01md) had a wipe test of 4700 dpm. Background was re-measured and the second wipe was 5900 dpm. The package was thoroughly wiped with alcohol. The third wipe revealed a count of 510.0 dpm. The package was then opened. An inside wipe of the package was 678 dpm. The package was considered safe for use. The doses were used. Notifications were made to personnel from Medical Physics Consultants and Hot Shots Nuclear Medicine. The Ingham Regional Medical Center Radiation Safety Officer was also notified."
The package contained Technetium-99m, a gamma emitter. The licensee believes that the package was transported via a Hot Shots Nuclear Medicine courier. | |