Event Notification Report for June 18, 2015

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- LOST MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE

The following report was received from the State of California via e-mail:

"On 6/18/15 an RHB [Radiologic Health Branch] inspector discovered one the licensee's gauge cases was empty and the licensee stated they did not know where the gauge was and would do an investigation. The licensee stated they were not able to determine where the gauge was (Troxler, 3441B, #5803 with 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am-241:Be). The last time the gauge was seen was when it was brought to Maurer Technical Services (the CPN representative) for repair on July 23, 2014. The licensee was going to review additional paperwork to see if he could figure out what happened to the gauge, but at this point he has not gotten back to us [RHB] with any additional information. Maurer Technical Services has done a complete search of their facility and said they do not have the gauge. Maurer Technical [Services] does not have a record of which individual picked up the gauge from their facility. The licensee states they do not remember who picked up the gauge and could not find any paperwork to show gauge #5803 had been used after July 23, 2014. The licensee states there had been no break ins at their facility nor had the locked storage cabinet been tampered with. The Department [California Department of Environmental Health] also interviewed all of the current employees and no one can remember who last used the gauge or picked up the gauge from the repair facility. The Department contacted several of the major companies that perform leak test analysis and this gauge had not been leak tested since prior to July 23, 2014. The Department also researched whether the gauge (serial #5803) was listed in the NMED system as having been 'found', but it was not found in any of the reports. The gauge remains missing."

5010 Number: 070615

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

ATTEMPTED FORCED ENTRY TO RADIOGRAPHY DARKROOM TRUCK

"On June 18th 2015 at approximately 1130 EDT while parked at a Hawthorn Suites in Meriden, Ct., an attempted breech of a darkroom containing a Sentinel Delta 880 Device Serial # D3582, with a model A424-9 Ir-192 source serial #17586G (100 curies). Operator 1 and Operator 2 were sitting on the back patio of the hotel when they heard the alarm chirp twice on a darkroom unit. Operator 1 ran to the unit to make sure everything was okay. When he got to the side of the darkroom he looked around the back and saw a black male standing on the bumper of unit # 1620 [truck] trying to break in with a screw driver. Operator 1 yelled for Operator 2 that someone was trying to break into the darkroom. The burglar was scared off, then the burglar came back to retrieve his budget rental van and he sped off. The Meriden Police Department was immediately contacted and dispatched to the scene, Officer took all statements and the police report # 15-004841 was filed. Unit was checked to make sure that security of all locks and that the alarm system was still operable.

"(RSO) was made aware of this attempted breech on 10/26/2015 at 5:03 pm by NRC auditor."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR FIXED GAUGE DAMAGED

The following report was provided by the Arkansas Department of Health via email:

"Nucor-Yamato Steel Company, Arkansas Radioactive Materials Licensee Number ARK-0722-03120, notified the Arkansas Department of Health, Radioactive Materials Program, via phone on Friday, June 19, 2015, at 1000 [CDT], of damage to one of their fixed gauges, manufacturer Ronan, Model #SA-1-F37, Serial #1224CG with a 5 Curie Cs-137 source. The event occurred on June 18, 2015 at approximately 1230 [CDT]. Licensee reported a wash-out of liquid steel which came into contact with the gauge. There was approximately 30 tons of molten rock (2800 øF) flowing onto the floor of the plant which caused a fire. Surrounding gauges were not affected.

"The Licensee immediately closed the shutter, but was not sure if it was completely shut. The RSO indicated the only radiation levels were from the top of the gauge, nothing was measured on the sides. A steel plate was placed on top of the gauge to reduce radiation levels. The area was roped-off at 2 mR/hr to prevent public exposures. Chase Environmental Consulting was notified of the damaged gauge and arrived on Friday, June 19, 2015 to investigate and remove the gauge out-of-service.

"The gauge is currently in storage awaiting the manufacturer (Ronan) to arrive to package for shipment on Friday, June 26, 2015.

"The State is awaiting a written report from the licensee and will continue to investigate this event. The State will update this event as more information becomes available.

"Arkansas Event Number: ARK-2015-008"

* * * UPDATE ON 7/2/15 AT 1315 EDT FROM SUSAN ELLIOTT TO JEFF HERRERA * * *

The following update was received from the Arkansas Department of Health via email:

"The written report dated June 26, 2015, from Nucor-Yamato Steel Company, detailed safety procedures followed in securing the damaged gauge while removing it from service. The manufacturer, Ronan's Field Engineer, packaged and shipped the gauge to their facility. There was no radiation leakage from the gauge. The licensee confirms no exposure to the public.

"The State considers this event closed."

Notified the R4DO (Okeefe) and NMSS Events (via email).