Event Notification Report for December 11, 2013

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
12/10/2013 - 12/11/2013

** EVENT NUMBERS **


49594 49597 49598 49602 49620

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Agreement State Event Number: 49594
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: STERIS-ISOMEDIX
Region: 4
City: EL PASO State: TX
County:
License #: L04268
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 12:25 [ET]
Event Date: 11/29/2013
Event Time: 19:40 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF AN IRRADIATOR SOURCE RACK TO FULLY LOWER

The following information was received from the State of Texas via email:

"On December 2, 2013, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received information from the licensee that on November 29, 2013, at 1940 hrs. CST, the drive mechanism on a Nordion JS-8900 (continuous) pool-type irradiator had failed to completely lower one of the source racks into the fully safe position at the bottom of the pool. Source rack one was completely lowered into the pool by venting the source hoist air cylinder. The licensee reported that the preliminary root cause seems to be debris in the air system which caused the solenoid to get stuck and prevented the source hoist piston from completely lowering the source rack. The solenoid valve spools were replaced, the source cycled several times, and normal operation continued. There were no exposures as a result of this incident. An investigation into this event is ongoing. Further information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident #: I-9140

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Agreement State Event Number: 49597
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
Region: 1
City: KNOXVILLE State: TN
County:
License #: R-47005-I18
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LAURA TURNER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 10/24/2013
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EQUIPMENT FAILURE INVOLVING A RADQUAL FLEXIBLE RULER

The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:

"Tennessee's Division of Radiological Health was notified on Monday October 28, 2013 by the RSO from the University of Tennessee [UT] Knoxville, regarding the failure of a RadQual BM83-20 flexible ruler Co-57 source. In late October, a UT nuclear medicine technician put down the ruler source, and one of the rubber caps came off. This resulted in three of the metal sources inside coming out. The sources were not leaking and no radiation contamination occurred. It appeared as though the glue from the end caps had failed. The source contained 460 micro-Ci of Co-57. Manufacturer is International Isotopes Idaho, Inc., serial # BM8305710071101. The Radiation Safety Department collected the source to be disposed of in the future."

Tennessee Report ID No.: TN-13-185

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Agreement State Event Number: 49598
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: RbM SERVICES, LLC
Region: 1
City: OAKRIDGE State: TN
County:
License #: R-01104-E17
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LAURA TURNER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 12/02/2013
Notification Time: 16:58 [ET]
Event Date: 12/02/2013
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/02/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
WILLIAM COOK (R1DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CONTAMINATED PACKAGE RECEIVED DURING SHIPMENT

The following information was received from the State of Tennessee via email:

"Tennessee's Division of Radiological Health was notified on Monday, December 2, 2013, by the RSO of RbM Services, regarding a contaminated package containing a Bracco CardioGen-82 generator. At 8:30 a.m. EST, a wipe test revealed 2937 dpm on the package exterior. The contamination was removed and the package was opened. The generator itself was not leaking; no contamination was found. The package was shipped via [a common carrier] and the shipper was G.E. Healthcare. Both were notified. The truck and the driver were surveyed, no contamination was found. The isotope involved is not known at this time. The state will follow-up and keep NRC informed of the status of our investigation."

Tennessee Report ID No.: TN-13-186

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Non-Agreement State Event Number: 49602
Rep Org: MALLINCKRODT, INC
Licensee: MALLINCKRODT, INC
Region: 3
City: MARYLAND HEIGHTS State: MO
County:
License #: 24-04206-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GARY BOSGRAAF
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 12/03/2013
Notification Time: 11:50 [ET]
Event Date: 11/12/2013
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/03/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
ERIC DUNCAN (R3DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)

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

Event Text

MISSING DEPLETED URANIUM-238 SHIELDS

Between October 2012 and May 2013, the two customers located in Ridgeland, SC and Tampa, FL shipped depleted shielded Tc-99m generators back to Mallinckrodt in Missouri using courier service companies. The Ridgeland, SC customer, Palmetto Isotopes, shipped three containers; one on 4/29/13 and two on 5/1/13 using the courier ACI. The Tampa, FL customer, West Coast Nuclear Pharmacy, shipped one container on 10/11/12 using the courier Medical Delivery Services. Mallinckrodt has no record of these shields being returned to their facility.

Each container has 3.09 mCi of depleted U-238 as a shield. Mallinckrodt uses between 4000 - 5000 total containers to support their customer's needs. A container is declared missing after performing a complete inventory, contacting their customers to verify the Bill of Laden (BOL) information and contacting the couriers who conduct a search and provide a written response to Mallinckrodt. The typical turn-around time for the above is approximately 100 days.

The serial numbers, i.e., DU tracking # on box and safe serial # stamped on shield, of the missing sources are as follows:

Palmetto - DU tracking # 2185528, safe s/n 608, DU tracking # 2186644, safe s/n 930, DU tracking # 2189415, safe s/n 4947

West Coast Nuclear Pharmacy - DU tracking # 2178372, safe s/n 2146

The licensee contacted R3 (Lambert).

This report is similar to EN #47106.

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

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Part 21 Event Number: 49620
Rep Org: FLANDERS FILTERS
Licensee: FLANDERS FILTERS
Region: 1
City: WASHINGTON State: NC
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOHN URTON
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 12/10/2013
Notification Time: 15:10 [ET]
Event Date: 11/19/2013
Event Time: 12:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/10/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21(d)(3)(i) - DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE
Person (Organization):
STEVE ROSE (R2DO)
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
PART 21 GROUP (EMAI)

Event Text

PART 21 - POSSIBLE DEFECT IN A HIGH EFFICIENCY PARTICULATE AIR FILTER

The following information was received by facsimile:

"This serves as notification to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of a possible deviation or defect in nuclear qualified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters manufactured by Flanders Filters.

"Flanders Nuclear HEPA Model T-007-W-43-05-NU-51-23-GG-FU5 failed requalification testing at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC). This failure was related to the 'Resistance to Pressure' test required per ASME AG-1, Section FC5140.

"On November 19, 2013, Flanders received a report from ECBC indicating failure of this filter model to re-qualify per the requirements of ASME AG-1, Section FC. Flanders is investigating the failure, but at this time do not believe Flanders has the ability to determine if this could create a substantial safety hazard because we do not have specific knowledge regarding the actual application the filters are being used in at each site.

"Customers supplied this model Filter, or filters with the same media type and pack style, since the last qualification of the media type and pack style on July 18, 2012 are being notified.

"In accordance with 10CFR Part 21.21(d)(4), Flanders will provide written notification to the NRC within 30 Days with additional information including corrective actions where applicable."

The customers include the following: SCANA; Nuclear Fuel Service; Premier Technology Incorporated of Blackfoot, Idaho; and Energy Northwest.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021