U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 08/24/2015 - 08/25/2015 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | Agreement State | Event Number: 51320 | Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION Licensee: AVID RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS PHILADELPHIA PA Region: 1 City: PHILADELPHIA State: PA County: License #: PA-0023 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: DAVID J. ALLARD HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 08/14/2015 Notification Time: 17:14 [ET] Event Date: 08/13/2015 Event Time: [EDT] Last Update Date: 08/14/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): RAY POWELL (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - EXTERNAL RADIATION LEVELS ON SHIPPING PACKAGE ABOVE LIMITS The following report was received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection via facsimile: "NOTIFICATIONS: On August 13, 2015, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals (a PA licensee) informed the Department [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Radiation Protection] of a shipment of fluorine-18 (F-18) from IBA Molecular Inc. (a New Jersey radiopharmaceutical licensee) with a maximum surface reading of 210 mR/hr. The event is immediately reportable per 10 CFR 20.1906 and 10 CFR 71.47. "EVENT DESCRIPTION: The licensee informed the Department that upon inspection of the package, the following was determined: 1. The area along the gap between the lid and the body of the shipping package gave the highest dose rates (180-230 mR/hr). 2. The licensee opened the package to [examine] the interior for any damage, but instead determined that the lid of the secondary shield was not present. 3. The licensee removed the 'Biodex pig' containing the F-18 activity in a vial to determine damage or contamination. It was observed that the screw top of the 'pig' was not secured properly (the thread of the lid and the body did not align), therefore there was a gap in the shielding. "The licensee determined that there was no observable damage to the activity, vial and an absence of removable contamination from the surface of the shipper. The F-18 is in the custody of the licensee. "CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Possible human error. "ACTIONS: The Department notified New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection Radiation Control Program. Pennsylvania will follow-up during the next routine inspection of Avid." Event Report ID No: PA150023 | Agreement State | Event Number: 51322 | Rep Org: OK DEQ RAD MANAGEMENT Licensee: UNKNOWN Region: 4 City: ENID State: OK County: License #: Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KEVIN SAMPSON HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 08/17/2015 Notification Time: 11:10 [ET] Event Date: 08/11/2015 Event Time: [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/24/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): BOB HAGAR (R4DO) PAMELA HENDERSON (NMSS) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - ORPHANED SOURCE DISCOVERED / POSSIBLE OVEREXPOSURE INVOLVED "[The Oklahoma Environmental Agency, Radiation Management Section] has been informed [on 8/17/2015] that a member of the public was cleaning out a warehouse belonging to Northern Oklahoma College in Enid, Oklahoma on August 15, 2015 when they came across an unusually heavy box. When opened, they found what was apparently a lead pig and about 10 glass vials. The pig was not secured and when tipped over a metal rod approximately 1.25 inches by 3 inches fell out. A piece of masking tape on the rod was labeled 'HOT' and '4 Radium tubes 1 broken.' One of the workers picked up the tube and handled it for a few minutes before they noticed the Radioactive label on the box. At this point, they returned the contents to the box and notified the University. The University does not possess a radioactive materials license. The person who handled the rod is now seeking medical attention complaining of nausea, dizziness, pain like arthritis in his hands, and blistering on his feet. [The Oklahoma Environmental Agency, Radiation Management Section] will be sending an inspector to the University, probably today. More information [will be provided] as it becomes available." * * * UPDATE AT 1013 EDT ON 8/24/15 FROM KEVIN SAMPSON TO JEFF ROTTON * * * The following update was received from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality via email: The original report documented that the material was discovered on 8/15/2015 while cleaning out a warehouse. This update revised this report to document that the discovery of the radioactive material occurred on 8/11/2015. The individual that handled the material with his hands was wearing leather work gloves when handling the radioactive material, but they were discarded with the other trash. On 8/14/15 the [member of the public] who handled the object reported feeling ill and on 8/17 went to a doctor complaining of nausea, dizziness, pain in his hands, and blisters on his feet. "On 8/17/15 [The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Radiation Management Section] conducted a reactive inspection of the facility. Surveys of the facility using a microR meter and survey meter with GM detector did not find any contamination. Wipe tests of various objects and areas were collected and are being counted. The pig was as described in the original report and surveys of it produced readings from 1.5 to 3.5 mR/hr on the exterior and approx. 70 mR/hr directly above the open mouth. A variety of other sealed and unsealed sources were also found, many dating from the late 1950s. The college has secured these and will arrange for their disposal as soon as possible. "On 8/18/15 [The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Radiation Management Section] again spoke with one of the workers who stated that the man who handled the source had been diagnosed with a reaction to mold exposure and given a cortisone injection. He was reportedly much better and had returned to work." Notified the R4DO (Campbell), NMSS Events (via email) and NMSS Mgr. (Henderson). | Agreement State | Event Number: 51325 | Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH Licensee: DESERT NDT Region: 4 City: BRIGHTON State: CO County: License #: CO 902-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: DEREK BAILEY HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 08/17/2015 Notification Time: 15:05 [ET] Event Date: 08/16/2015 Event Time: [MDT] Last Update Date: 08/17/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): BOB HAGAR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY TRUCK DARKROOM ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN "On Sunday August 16, 2015, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Radioactive Materials Unit, received a phone call on the after-hours emergency response line. The Corporate RSO for Desert NDT, CO 902-01, reported an attempted break-in on a radiography truck. The attempt occurred while the vehicle was parked overnight at the Cotton Wood Suites, 12095 Mariposa Street, Westminster, CO 80234. The radiographer's reported that the door to the darkroom had been tampered with, the door was not breached, therefore the alarm never activated. Evidence of the attempted break-in was identified the following morning, Sunday, August 16, 2015. All radioactive materials were accounted for by Desert, NDT, no theft occurred. "The approximate time of break-in occurred between the hours of 1755 MDT, Saturday, August 15, 2015 and 0815 MDT, Sunday, August 16, 2015. The radioactive material involved in this incident was 39 Ci of Ir-192, Source SN: Y560, Model: Industrial Nuclear Company Model 7. The source was inside a QSA Delta 880 camera. The Westminster Police were called and a police report was filed. The police report number is: 2015-14914." | Agreement State | Event Number: 51326 | Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV Licensee: H & H X-RAY SERVICES Region: 4 City: WEST MONROE State: LA County: License #: LA-2970-L01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON | Notification Date: 08/17/2015 Notification Time: 15:10 [ET] Event Date: 08/05/2015 Event Time: 12:45 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/17/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): BOB HAGAR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA SOURCE RETRIEVAL "The crew [for H&H X-Ray Services] was x-raying pipe at a temporary job site in Elm Grove, LA. Due to the configuration, the camera was above the guide tube and the source and guide tube were on a surface below. The camera slipped and fell approximately 18 inches and landed on the guide tube and crimped the guide tube not allowing the source to be returned to the shielded position. A survey indicated the source was still in the guide tube. The boundaries were maintained until the RSO and his assistant arrived to perform the retrieval. Following the source retrieval procedure, the source was placed into a shielded source changer, QSA Global 650L, and returned to the company's West Monroe, LA storage location. Except for the guide tube, none of the equipment was damaged. Exposures to the crew and the retrieval crew were minimal. "Reported to the LA Department of Environmental Quality 08/13/2015 at 1533 CDT. "Exposure Device AEA/QSA Model 880 Delta, SR D2767, Source: 58 Ci Ir-192, Model A424-9, SN 18108G" State Event Report ID No.: LA 150013 | Power Reactor | Event Number: 51340 | Facility: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR Region: 4 State: AR Unit: [1] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE NRC Notified By: KEVIN PARKS HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 08/24/2015 Notification Time: 11:36 [ET] Event Date: 08/24/2015 Event Time: 10:20 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/24/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE | Person (Organization): VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4DO) | Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | 2 | N | Y | 96 | Power Operation | 96 | Power Operation | Event Text LOSS OF SEISMIC ALARM CAPABILITY DURING CONDUCT OF FUNCTIONAL TEST "This notification is being made in accordance with 10 CFR 50 72(b)(3)(xiii) as an event that will result in a major loss of emergency assessment capability, offsite response capability, or offsite communications capability (e.g. a significant portion of control room indication, Emergency Notification System or offsite notification system.) "The emergency preparedness plan requires seismic monitoring instruments to diagnose an earthquake for emergency actions levels (EAL) HU6 (Natural or destructive phenomena affecting protected area) and HA6 (Natural or destructive phenomena affecting vital areas). "At 1020 CDT on August 24, 2015 the Semi-Annual Seismic System Functional Test commenced. While this test is in progress, seismic alarm capability is not available for EAL declaration purposes. ANO procedures provide compensatory measures of using offsite sources to obtain seismic data. It should be noted that seismic data will still remain capable of being recorded, only alarm capability is lost." The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. | |