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Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Event Notification Report for December 19, 2014

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
12/18/2014 - 12/19/2014

** EVENT NUMBERS **


50664 50665 50667 50669

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Agreement State Event Number: 50664
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: ALARON
Region: 1
City: WAMPUM State: PA
County:
License #: PA-0678
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH MELNIC
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON 		Notification Date: 12/10/2014
Notification Time: 13:54 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2014
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/10/2014
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
JOHN ROGGE (R1DO)
NMSS EVENTS NOTIFICA (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED SHIPMENT WITH REMOVABLE SURFACE CONTAMINATION

The following information was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

"Event date and time: Unknown at this time.

"Event type: Removable contamination greater than the limits specified in 49 CFR 173.443.

"Notifications: The Department [PA DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection] was notified via email of this event [on December 5, 2014]. The event is immediately reportable as per 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1).

"Event Description: A shipment exhibited damage consisting of a tear in the metal wall near the floor-wall junction of its container. Radiological surveillance around the tear exhibited removable surface contamination in the amount of 12,000 dpm/100 cm2 beta-gamma.

"Cause of the Event: Unknown at this time.

"ACTIONS: All areas were decontaminated and moved to a radioactive waste disposal container. The Department plans a reactive inspection. More information will be given when known, including the isotopes of concern."

PA Event Report ID No: PA140023

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Agreement State Event Number: 50665
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: GEOCON, INC.
Region: 4
City: SAN DIEGO State: CA
County:
License #: 3924-37
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW TAYLOR
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON 		Notification Date: 12/10/2014
Notification Time: 15:11 [ET]
Event Date: 12/08/2014
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/10/2014
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
NMSS EVENTS NOTIFICA (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the State of California via email:

"On December 9, 2014, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of Geocon, Inc., contacted San Diego County Radiologic Health regarding a gauge that was run over and damaged at a temporary jobsite on December 8, 2014. ICE RAM-South [Inspection Compliance Enforcement Radioactive Material] was notified of the incident and an inspector contacted the RSO. The gauge, a Troxler model 3440, S/N 27309 (8 mCi Cs-137, 40 mCi Am:Be-241), was left unattended by the operator while talking with another worker when a loader ran over the gauge and struck the gauge handle. The damage to the gauge was to the electrical housing and the scalar rod (snapped into two pieces near the gauge body but remained attached at the handle). The Cs-137 source was locked in the shielded position just prior to the incident. The Cs-137 source remained in the shielded position and the source rod and the protective housing containing the Am:Be-241 source were intact after the incident. After the incident, the area was secured and the RSO was contacted. The RSO arrived at the scene and performed a radiation survey (make/model and type not reported). The RSO found that the dose rates were normal for a gauge out of the transport case (dose rate and background not reported). After inspecting the gauge, it was determined that the gauge could be placed in the transport case in its normal position. The RSO then surveyed the transport case and found that the dose rates were normal for a gauge in the transport case (not reported).

"The RSO was instructed to prepare a report of the incident to be submitted to our office within 30 days. The investigation is on-going and any citations will be determined at a later date. "

CA Report No: 120914

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Non-Agreement State Event Number: 50667
Rep Org: HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR
Licensee: HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR
Region: 3
City: HEMLOCK State: MI
County:
License #: 21-32682-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KELLY DEERING
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON 		Notification Date: 12/10/2014
Notification Time: 19:43 [ET]
Event Date: 12/09/2014
Event Time: 22:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/15/2014
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
 Person (Organization):
RICHARD SKOKOWSKI (R3DO)
NMSS EVENT NOTIFICAT (EMAI)

Event Text

FIXED GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION

"At approximately 2200 EST, on December 09, 2014, an area operator attempted to open the shutter on source holder 10071961 (Hemlock identifier). The shutter operation failed with the shutter stuck in the closed position. The operator then contacted an area Equipment Care Operator who verified the shutter would not operate. The area operator informed a day tech of the failed shutter operation on December 10, 2014. Operating the shutter was part of a routine annual calibration PM [preventive maintenance]. The process was previously shut down, therefore, this incident caused no loss of production. The source holder is located at S-457 on HP tank 35600."

Fixed gauge: Vega America Source Holder Model SHF 2-B with Cs-137 800 millicurie source.

* * * UPDATE FROM CHRISTOPHER VAN HAMPLER TO DANIEL MILLS AT 0904 EST ON 12/15/2014 * * *

The licensee performed a radiation survey of the fixed gauge which indicated higher than expected radiation readings (40 mR/hr at <30 cm). Based on these readings, the licensee has determined that the shutter is stuck in a partially open position. The licensee has contacted the manufacturer to repair the device.

Notified R3DO (Skokowski) and NMSS Events Notification (via email)

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Agreement State Event Number: 50669
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: KOURY GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES
Region: 4
City: CHINO State: CA
County:
License #: 6449-19
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ANDREW TAYLOR
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH 		Notification Date: 12/11/2014
Notification Time: 13:25 [ET]
Event Date: 12/10/2014
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/11/2014
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
NMSS EVENTS NOTIFICA (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was obtained from the State of California via email:

"On December 10, 2014, the Assistant Radiation Safety Officer of Koury Geotechnical Services contacted the Radiologic Health Branch Brea office regarding a moisture density gauge that was run over by a construction vehicle at a construction site at 6500 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. The gauge was a CPN Model MC1-DRP gauge, S/N MD30901675 (10 mCi Cs-137, 50 mCi Am:Be-241). The gauge was in use as the Cs-137 source was extended approximately 8 inches in the soil at the time of the incident. The source rod has been damaged. The electrical body was also damaged but there was no evidence that the protective shield or the Am:Be-241source was damaged. The Long Beach Fire Department was notified and responded to the incident. Fire Department personnel did a visual inspection and radiation survey of the area and noted that the area was secured at least 50 feet from the gauge and noted that the dose rates at this boundary were at background. Long Beach Hazmat then arrived to take control of the area from the Fire Department. After assessing the situation they contacted Los Angeles County Radiation Management to assist in placing the sources in a safe condition. Thomas Gray and Associates (California materials license number 2105) was also contacted to assist in remediating the damaged gauge. The Health Physicist from Los Angeles County, with assistance from the Thomas Gray technician, was able to place the Cs-137 source into the shielded position and verified that the shutter block was in the proper position. A visual inspection of the body was performed and indicated that there was no damage to the shielding. Wipes were taken on the body of the gauge then tested using a survey meter with a geiger-mueller pancake probe. The wipes were at background indicating that the sources were not leaking. An MCA [multi-channel analyzer] was used to verify that both the Cs-137 and AmBe-241 sources were present. The gauge body was placed in the transport case along with the rest of the gauge parts then turned over to the Koury technician to take to Maurer Technical Services (California radioactive license 6163) to be shipped to the manufacturer so that it can be repaired or the sources recycled.

"The investigation is on-going and any citations will be determined at a later date."

CA Report No.: 5010-121014

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021