Event Notification Report for June 26, 2012

DRUM MISTAKENLY SET ASIDE WITH NO CRITICALITY SAFETY CONTROLS

During the excavation of the burial pits area the licensee has requirements that 2 people survey the excavated materials. Excavated material was placed into a 5 gallon plastic container. After placing the material into the container a reading is taken on the bottom of the container in counts per minute which is then equated to a gram level (mass) of material present. If the mass of material is less than 15 grams (about 300,000 counts per minute) then no criticality safety controls are required.

One container, packed to a level of 325,000 counts per minute, was put aside briefly near a waste bin where those materials requiring no controls can be placed. Both people assigned to the work mistook this container for a container requiring no controls. A level of 325,000 counts per minutes equates to a mass of 20 grams of Uranium 235. At that level this item was far from the amount of material needed for a criticality accident but additional controls were required.

When the personnel realized their mistake they took that container to another area for overpack into a drum that provides additional spacing needed to provide additional criticality safety protection. At this time the container has the appropriate level of controls. The amount of material present was small enough that it could not have caused a criticality accident.

* * * RETRACTION ON 7/4/12 AT 1556 EDT FROM KEVIN DAVIS TO DONG PARK * * *

"Retraction of the initial notification is appropriate since subsequent, more detailed surveys via gamma spectroscopy (ISOCS) [In Situ Object Counting System] determined that only 2.83g of U-235 were present in the 5 gallon container. The subsequent, more detailed survey was conducted on 6/28/12, after the initial notification was made. This mass quantity is below the threshold for being exempt from criticality safety controls (i.e., no more than 15 g of U-235 in a 5L or larger container). Thus, an unsafe condition was not present when the container was set aside without safety controls since no safety controls are required for 2.83g of U-235 in a 5 gallon container. Based on this retraction, a written report will not be submitted to NRC.

"The container was retrieved and the container was placed in a drum with a safety collar that provides additional spacing needed to provide additional criticality safety protection. The cause of the event was personnel inattention to the procedure, which contained the correct numerical decision points and controls. Personnel were retrained, particularly on: (a) Independence of redundant surveys and reviews; (b) Use of the procedure to provide numerical setpoints and action steps. Management and independent oversight of burial pit work activities are emphasizing independence of redundant surveys/reviews and use of the procedure."

Notified R3DO (Daley), R2DO (Bonser), IRD (Marshall), and NMSS (Damon) via email.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TROXLER GAUGE STRUCK BY VEHICLE AT CONSTRUCTION SITE

The State of Illinois submitted the following report via email:

"On the morning of June 26, 2012, the Agency's Communication Center contacted the Radiological Duty Officer about a Troxler [Model 3411-B] gauge that had been hit by a truck on the Westbound I-90 in Chicago. The licensee, Interra, Inc., reported that an asphalt truck crossed the barriers and ran over the gauge while it was in use in an inactive traffic lane. The source rod was subsequently thrown from the gauge housing. [Illinois Emergency Management] Agency inspectors were dispatched to the scene. State police were also dispatched for traffic control.

"In the interim, the licensee located the source rod two lanes over near the center median using their own survey meter. With instruction from the duty officer, they were able to scoop the rod up in an asphalt shovel and put it in a 5 gallon bucket full of sand for shielding. Approximately one hour later, [Illinois Emergency Management] Agency inspectors arrived and were able to secure the source rod back into the damaged gauge housing. A leak test was done and no removable contamination was noted. The shield and shutter were intact and radiation levels were 0.5 mR/hr at a meter once secured. The device was transported back the licensees storage area for further investigation.

"[Illinois Emergency Management] Agency inspectors arrived at the licensee's facility at 2:00 pm that same afternoon to inspect the gauge, the storage area, and interview the RSO. The gauge was in view of the authorized user about 5 feet away when the truck crossed the barrier so it does not appear to be a surveillance violation by the licensee. The condition of the gauge was confirmed. The gauge is secure in its Type A container and radiation levels are 0.5 TI [Transportation Index]. All records for transportation were present and correct. The licensee appears to have followed their operating procedures correctly for this type of event. Pending leak test results, film badge results and return of the device to Troxler, we are considering this matter closed."

The gauge is a Troxler Model 3411-B, Serial number 40-9314, with a Cs-137 0.009 Ci and Am-241 0.04 Ci source.

IL Item Number: IL12010

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