| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
04/21/2014 - 04/22/2014 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 50027 | Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: BP HUSKY REFINERY
Region: 3
City: TOLEDO State: OH
County:
License #: 31201 49 0001
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KARL VON AHN
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 04/11/2014
Notification Time: 09:00 [ET]
Event Date: 04/10/2014
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/11/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
PATTY PELKE (R3DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text PROCESS GAUGE WITH SOURCE EXPOSED
The following information was received from the State of Ohio via email:
"The assistant RSO of BP Husky refinery called the Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Protection [Department] at 0933 EDT on April 10, 2014 to report an incident that happened overnight.
"Thermo Fisher had been contracted to remove an old Ohmart gauge for disposal. During the removal of the gauge, the gauge and the gauge rigging fell. The gauge was still attached to the source well and was being removed as a single unit. The damaged gauge fell and became stuck inside the vessel tower skirt. During the fall, the gauge was damaged and the source became exposed. The dose rate from the device is 640 mRem/hr at 1 ft. The area, which is located inside a secured refinery, is roped and barricaded. No personnel were injured during the incident.
"The gauge is an Ohmart SHRM-BW. It contained 1000 mCi of Cs-137 when installed in 1966.
"The Department sent an inspector to the site to observe the source and gauge recovery efforts on April 10, 2014. VEGA (the successor company of Ohmart) sent a field service representative to provide technical assistance. As of 1830 CDT on April 10, 2014, efforts to return the source to the shielded position were unsuccessful.
"The Department continues to monitor efforts to secure the source in a shielded position."
* * * UPDATE FROM KARL VON AHN TO CHARLES TEAL ON 4/11/14 AT 1556 EDT * * *
"At 1530 EDT on April 11, 2014, the BP Husky Refinery RSO called the Department to report that the VEGA and Thermo Fisher service personnel were able to retract the sealed source back into the shielded position. A preliminary check of the sealed source leak tests did not indicate any leakage of the sealed source."
Notified R3DO (Pelke) and FSME Events Resource. |
| Non-Agreement State | Event Number: 50028 | Rep Org: QAL-TEK ASSOCIATES
Licensee: QAL-TEK ASSOCIATES
Region: 4
City: IDAHO FALLS State: ID
County:
License #: 11-27610-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MONTE POPE
HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL | Notification Date: 04/11/2014
Notification Time: 15:50 [ET]
Event Date: 04/11/2014
Event Time: [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/17/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
CANADA (FAX)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE LOST DURING SHIPMENT
The licensee shipped a moisture density gauge to a customer in Billings, Montana. However, the customer notified the licensee that the package had not arrived.
The licensee contacted the common carrier. The common carrier was able to confirm that they had weighed the package at their facility in Salt Lake City, Utah on 4/5/14 and it was scanned at that same facility on 4/9/14. The common carrier said that the normal routing for the package is through the Denver, Colorado office. A search of that facility did not find the package.
The moisture density gauge is a Troxler Model 3440 containing 8 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am/Be as of 2004.
* * * UPDATE FROM MONTE POPE TO DANIEL MILLS ON 4/17/2014 AT 1318 EDT * * *
The licensee notified NRC that the moisture density gauge was found by the common carrier at the Denver, Colorado office. The gauge was found undamaged, and indications are that the gauge never left the Denver office. The common carrier delivered the gauge to the correct address on 4/17/14.
Notified R4DO (Gaddy), FSME (Email), and Canada (Fax).
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: 50029 | Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: AG WASSENAAR, INC
Region: 4
City: UNKNOWN State: CO
County:
License #: CO 212-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PHILLIP PETERSON
HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL | Notification Date: 04/11/2014
Notification Time: 21:29 [ET]
Event Date: 04/11/2014
Event Time: [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/11/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING/LOST PORTABLE GAUGE
The following was received from the State of Colorado via email:
"The State of Colorado needs to report a missing/lost portable gauge. The licensee is AG Wassenaar, Inc. (Colorado license number CO 212-01). The gauge is a Troxler model 3430, serial number 36856 with 333 MBq (9 mCi) of Cs-137 and 1.63 GBq (44 mCi) Am-241:Be.
"The technician who was using the gauge was working at one job site and then drove to a 2nd job site. The technician cannot remember if he placed the portable gauge in the transportation box or not, and whether or not the gauge was secured for transport appropriately. When the technician arrived at the 2nd job site at approximately 1430 MDT on 4/11/14, he noticed that the gauge was missing. The technician and radiation safety officer have traveled the area between the two job sites and were not able to locate the missing gauge. The licensee reported the missing gauge at approximately 1750 MDT on 4/11/14.
"The investigation by the licensee and the Department [State of Colorado] is ongoing."
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: 50033 | Rep Org: NE DIV OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
Licensee: REGIONAL WEST MEDICAL CENTER
Region: 4
City: SCOTTSBLUFF State: NE
County:
License #: 21-01-03
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: HOWARD SHUMAN
HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL | Notification Date: 04/14/2014
Notification Time: 12:35 [ET]
Event Date: 04/09/2014
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/14/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IODINE-125 SEED FOUND IN WELL CHAMBER
The following was received from the State of Nebraska via fax:
"On April 9, 2014, the State of Wisconsin Radiation Protection Section called to inform the State of Nebraska Radioactive Materials Program that a State of Wisconsin licensee (University of Wisconsin) had found an Iodine-125 seed (measured at 0.255 millicuries) in a well chamber that had been sent to the University of Wisconsin from Regional West Medical Center (Nebraska Radioactive Material License # 21-01-03) for calibration. The I-125 seed has been secured by the University of Wisconsin and is awaiting disposition."
"The State of Nebraska Radioactive Materials Program called Regional West to confirm that there was no misadministration to the patient since one seed was left in the counting chamber. Regional West confirmed that the proper dose was administered to the patient."
Nebraska Report #: NE140002 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 50035 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: SEADRIFT State: TX
County:
License #: 00051
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 04/14/2014
Notification Time: 15:58 [ET]
Event Date: 04/11/2014
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 04/15/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER
The following information was received from the State of Texas by email:
"On March 14, 2014, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received a call from the radiation safety officer (RSO) of a licensee. The RSO stated that during an instrument check on Friday, April 11, 2014, technicians found two line level indicators with stuck shutters. The open position is the normal operating position for these types of instruments. The technicians stated there was no apparent damage to the rod or the shutter mechanisms. The level indicators are located on the sides of a very tall product receiver bin containing polyethylene resin. There were no exposures and employees are not routinely around these sources. The instruments contained Cesium-137 at 5000 milliCuries each. The level indicators are tagged as inoperable and a service company has been contacted to inspect and repair the instruments. Further information will be entered in accordance with SA300."
* * * UPDATE FROM IRENE CASARES TO VINCE KLCO VIA EMAIL ON 4/15/2014 AT 1235 EDT * * *
"The first line of the initial report contained the wrong report date. The first line should have read: On April 14, 2014, the Agency received a call from the radiation safety officer (RSO) of a licensee. Additional information: The gauges are Ohmart model SHLM-BR-4 gauges. The sources are in the out position, but the licensee's RSO stated there has not been any additional exposure to radiation to any individual due to this event. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA300."
Notified the R4DO (Gaddy) and FSME Resources via email.
* * * UPDATE FROM IRENE CASARES TO VINCE KLCO VIA EMAIL ON 4/15/2014 AT 1604 EDT * * *
"On April 15, 2014, the Agency was contacted by the licensee and informed they were able to retract the source and fully close the shutter placing the source in the fully shielded position. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Notified the R4DO (Gaddy) and FSME Resources via email.
Texas Incident: I-9182 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 50036 | Rep Org: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY
Licensee: PROTEX-THE PT X-PERTS, LLC
Region: 4
City: TEMPE State: AZ
County:
License #: 07-588
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: AUBREY GODWIN
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 04/14/2014
Notification Time: 18:21 [ET]
Event Date: 04/14/2014
Event Time: 06:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 04/14/2014 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (EMAI)
MEXICO (FAX)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE
The following information was received by email:
"On April 14, 2014 at approximately 0600 MST, the licensee discovered that a portable gauge was stolen out of the bed of a pick-up truck at a technician's home. The gauge was being housed in a transport box, which was chained to the bed of the truck. The lock was cut and the entire box was stolen. The gauge is a CPN MC Series, serial #MC380404231, and contained 50 millicuries of Cs-137 and 10 millicuries of Am-241.
"The Agency [Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency] continues to investigate the event.
"The USNRC, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, FBI, and Governor's Office are being notified of this event [by the Agency]."
Arizona Event: 14-007
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 | |