Event Notification Report for January 18, 2012
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
01/17/2012 - 01/18/2012
EVENT NUMBERS
47606476074803547675
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 47606
Rep Org: U.S.ARMY TACOM LIFE CYCLE COMMAND
Licensee: U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Region: 3
City: WARREN State: MI
County:
License #: 21-32838-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN MCGUIRE
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA
Licensee: U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Region: 3
City: WARREN State: MI
County:
License #: 21-32838-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN MCGUIRE
HQ OPS Officer: JOE O'HARA
Notification Date: 01/18/2012
Notification Time: 15:41 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 13:24 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/19/2012
Notification Time: 15:41 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 13:24 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/19/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(1) - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION
Person (Organization):
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
BRUCE WATSON (FSME)
HIRONORI PETERSON (R3DO)
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
BRUCE WATSON (FSME)
POTENTIALLY DAMAGED RANGE INDICATOR CONTAINING 3.2 CURIES TRITIUM
The U.S. Army Life Cycle Command was informed by the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Richmond, Virginia that a range indicator containing 4 sources of 0.8 Curies each of Tritium may be damaged. Apparently, the range indicators appear cracked and are not illuminating properly. The range indicator is locked inside a secured area with no access allowed. The U.S. Army is waiting for results of swipe surveys to determine if there is an actual spread of contamination.
* * * RETRACTION FROM THOMAS GIZICKI TO JOE O'HARA AT 1302 EST ON 1/19/12 * * *
The licensee is retracting the event based upon swipe survey results being less than the lower limit of detectability. There was no spread of contamination and the device will be disposed of in the future.
The licensee notified Bill Lin (Region 3).
Notified R3DO(Peterson), R1DO(Bellamy) and FSME(McIntosh).
The U.S. Army Life Cycle Command was informed by the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Richmond, Virginia that a range indicator containing 4 sources of 0.8 Curies each of Tritium may be damaged. Apparently, the range indicators appear cracked and are not illuminating properly. The range indicator is locked inside a secured area with no access allowed. The U.S. Army is waiting for results of swipe surveys to determine if there is an actual spread of contamination.
* * * RETRACTION FROM THOMAS GIZICKI TO JOE O'HARA AT 1302 EST ON 1/19/12 * * *
The licensee is retracting the event based upon swipe survey results being less than the lower limit of detectability. There was no spread of contamination and the device will be disposed of in the future.
The licensee notified Bill Lin (Region 3).
Notified R3DO(Peterson), R1DO(Bellamy) and FSME(McIntosh).
Agreement State
Event Number: 47607
Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES, INC.
Region: 1
City: ORLANDO State: FL
County:
License #: 1136-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK SEIDENSTICKER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES, INC.
Region: 1
City: ORLANDO State: FL
County:
License #: 1136-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARK SEIDENSTICKER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 01/18/2012
Notification Time: 16:37 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/18/2012
Notification Time: 16:37 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/18/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
BRUCE WATSON (FSME)
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
BRUCE WATSON (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A DAMAGED TROXLER GAUGE
The following report was received from the State of Florida via fax:
A Troxler gauge, Model 3440, was run over and the housing cracked. The source was retracted at the time. The incident is currently under investigation.
FL Incident Number: FL12-005
The following report was received from the State of Florida via fax:
A Troxler gauge, Model 3440, was run over and the housing cracked. The source was retracted at the time. The incident is currently under investigation.
FL Incident Number: FL12-005
Agreement State
Event Number: 48035
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: THERMO EGS GAUGING, INC
Region: 1
City: WILMINGTON State: MA
County:
License #: 20-6751
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENATH TRAEGDE
HQ OPS Officer: ERIC SIMPSON
Licensee: THERMO EGS GAUGING, INC
Region: 1
City: WILMINGTON State: MA
County:
License #: 20-6751
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KENATH TRAEGDE
HQ OPS Officer: ERIC SIMPSON
Notification Date: 06/19/2012
Notification Time: 15:19 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 12:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 06/19/2012
Notification Time: 15:19 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 12:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 06/19/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
DANIEL HOLODY (R1DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
DANIEL HOLODY (R1DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
HISTORICAL DISCOVERY OF LEAKING SOURCES
The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email:
"The licensee is a manufacturer of beta gauges used to measure the thickness and weight of materials. This event was discovered when a hired decommissioning consultant found evidence of contamination in the source storage room of the facility. Their intention was to decontaminate the storage room and release it as part of an office relocation project within the same building.
"The leaking sources in this event were apparently caused by the licensee by the improper application of PVC tape to the source window upon packaging. The licensee claims that this is not a current practice, but is the likely cause of source leakage prior to November of 2009. One or more historical sources could have been involved. The licensee claims that they were sent to Thermo Fisher Scientific in Germany in 2009. The sealed sources installed in the licensee's devices contain Strontium-90, Krypton-85, and Americium-241 (1.85E-10 TBq each).
"Wipe tests were conducted on all available sources on January 19, 2012 by the licensee. None were found to be leaking.
"The Massachusetts Radiation Control Program has initiated an investigation of this incident and will subsequently provide a report of the findings."
The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email:
"The licensee is a manufacturer of beta gauges used to measure the thickness and weight of materials. This event was discovered when a hired decommissioning consultant found evidence of contamination in the source storage room of the facility. Their intention was to decontaminate the storage room and release it as part of an office relocation project within the same building.
"The leaking sources in this event were apparently caused by the licensee by the improper application of PVC tape to the source window upon packaging. The licensee claims that this is not a current practice, but is the likely cause of source leakage prior to November of 2009. One or more historical sources could have been involved. The licensee claims that they were sent to Thermo Fisher Scientific in Germany in 2009. The sealed sources installed in the licensee's devices contain Strontium-90, Krypton-85, and Americium-241 (1.85E-10 TBq each).
"Wipe tests were conducted on all available sources on January 19, 2012 by the licensee. None were found to be leaking.
"The Massachusetts Radiation Control Program has initiated an investigation of this incident and will subsequently provide a report of the findings."
Agreement State
Event Number: 47675
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: SUNOCO PHILADELPHIA REFINERY
Region: 1
City: PHILADELPHIA State: PA
County:
License #: PA-0853
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID J. ALLARD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Licensee: SUNOCO PHILADELPHIA REFINERY
Region: 1
City: PHILADELPHIA State: PA
County:
License #: PA-0853
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID J. ALLARD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 02/17/2012
Notification Time: 14:11 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/17/2012
Notification Time: 14:11 [ET]
Event Date: 01/18/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/17/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RAY POWELL (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
RAY POWELL (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING SHUTTER TEST FAILURES ON FIXED GAUGES
The following information was received from the State of Pennsylvania via fax:
"Notifications: On Wednesday February 15, 2012, the licensee left a voice message to the Central Office and followed with a phone conversation on February 16th regarding an event that took place on January 18, 2012. Additional information was then sent to Central Office via email on Friday, February 17, 2012. This event is reportable within 24-hours under 10CFR30.50(b)(2).
"Event Description: Shutter test failures occurred on 3 fixed gauge devices at the Sunoco Philadelphia Refinery. Air actuators are used as the primary testing means to close the shutters. All three actuators failed to close the shutters on the devices and the instrument technicians were unable to manually close the shutters. The instrument technician foreman was unaware of any reporting requirements to the State and did not communicate this event to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) until February 14, 2012.
"The 3 devices are identified as:
Manufacturer: Ohmart Vega
Model: SH-F1
Serial #: OVO125; OVO129; OVO131
Isotope: Cs-137
Activity: 10 mCi (each)
"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Air actuator malfunction
"ACTIONS: The manufacturer has been contacted and the parts have been ordered to repair the shutter mechanisms. The RSO reported that the failures of the shutter mechanism do not pose any additional threat to employee safety, and surveys in the area indicate readings of <0.5 mR/hr at 1 foot from the source. The Department plans to do a reactive inspection.
"Media attention: None at this time
"Event Report ID No.: PA120008"
The following information was received from the State of Pennsylvania via fax:
"Notifications: On Wednesday February 15, 2012, the licensee left a voice message to the Central Office and followed with a phone conversation on February 16th regarding an event that took place on January 18, 2012. Additional information was then sent to Central Office via email on Friday, February 17, 2012. This event is reportable within 24-hours under 10CFR30.50(b)(2).
"Event Description: Shutter test failures occurred on 3 fixed gauge devices at the Sunoco Philadelphia Refinery. Air actuators are used as the primary testing means to close the shutters. All three actuators failed to close the shutters on the devices and the instrument technicians were unable to manually close the shutters. The instrument technician foreman was unaware of any reporting requirements to the State and did not communicate this event to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) until February 14, 2012.
"The 3 devices are identified as:
Manufacturer: Ohmart Vega
Model: SH-F1
Serial #: OVO125; OVO129; OVO131
Isotope: Cs-137
Activity: 10 mCi (each)
"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Air actuator malfunction
"ACTIONS: The manufacturer has been contacted and the parts have been ordered to repair the shutter mechanisms. The RSO reported that the failures of the shutter mechanism do not pose any additional threat to employee safety, and surveys in the area indicate readings of <0.5 mR/hr at 1 foot from the source. The Department plans to do a reactive inspection.
"Media attention: None at this time
"Event Report ID No.: PA120008"