| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
10/02/2017 - 10/03/2017 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 52985 | Rep Org: KANSAS DEPT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Region: 4
City: WICHITA State: KS
County:
License #: GL
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JAMES UHLEMEYER
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 09/22/2017
Notification Time: 11:00 [ET]
Event Date: 09/21/2017
Event Time: 16:04 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/22/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
GEOFFREY MILLER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - INADVERTENT DISPOSAL OF AN ELECTRON CAPTURE DETECTOR GAS CHROMATOGRAPH
The State of Kansas was notified that an Electron Capture Detector Gas Chromatograph (ECD-GC) owned by Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) was inadvertently disposed of as electronic waste. The contracted waste company, Clean Harbors Wichita, ships waste to the recycler, ERI, in Fresno, CA. OxyChem provided ERI pictures of the missing Varian ECD GC to aid in identification.
The missing ECD-GC is a model 3400 (Serial Number A-8080), containing 8 mCi Ni-63 as of 1990. The current activity is calculated as 6.58 mCi.
The State of Kansas is providing a courtesy notification to the State of California Radiation Program Office.
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: 52986 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS USA LLC
Region: 4
City: ORANGE State: CA
County:
License #: 06515
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARTHUR TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 09/22/2017
Notification Time: 11:36 [ET]
Event Date: 09/14/2017
Event Time: [PDT]
Last Update Date: 09/22/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
GEOFFREY MILLER (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK CLOSED SHUTTER
The following information was received via E-mail:
"On September 18, 2017, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] received a reciprocity request from a nuclear gauge manufacturer to perform repairs on a Ronan Engineering model SA1-F37 gauge at the licensee's facility. The gauge contains a 500 millicurie (original activity) source. On September 22, 2017, the Agency contacted the licensee and asked if the gauge shutter was functioning properly. The individual stated the shutter on the gauge would not fully close. The individual was instructed to contact the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) and instruct the RSO to contact this Agency. The RSO contacted the Agency and stated the problem was discovered when testing the gauge on September 14, 2017. The RSO stated the gauge shutter was not open, but stuck in the closed position. The RSO stated it appears the pin that connects the shutter operating arm to the operating rod is no longer in place and the shutter cannot be moved. The RSO stated the gauge is located in an area where the access is controlled and does not pose an exposure risk to their workers or members of the general public. The manufacturer is scheduled to be on the site September 26, 2017, to repair the gauge. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #: I-9511 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 52987 | Rep Org: MARYLAND DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Region: 1
City: COLLEGE PARK State: MD
County:
License #: MD 33-004-03
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CHARLES COX
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA | Notification Date: 09/22/2017
Notification Time: 14:05 [ET]
Event Date: 09/22/2017
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/22/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
SILAS KENNEDY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IRRADIATOR ACCESS CONTROLS INOPERABLE
The following information was received via email:
"An irradiator operator was leaving the panoramic irradiator vault and was following procedures to close the vault door. Audio and Visual alarms functioned properly and the vault door was sliding shut when the door stopped. The operator took immediate actions and was able to close and lock the door. All security systems were checked, found to be working and engaged. He tagged the Irradiator 'out-of-service' until an investigation can be conducted and corrective actions are implemented.
"The source rack remained in the shielded position during this event. There was no threat to public health, safety or homeland security. UMCP [University of Maryland College Park] will provide RHP [Radiation Health Program] with a written report. A RHP Inspector will conduct an investigation." |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 52990 | Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: US STEEL CORPORATION - CLAIRTON WORKS
Region: 1
City: CLAIRTON State: PA
County:
License #: PA-1280
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH MELNIC
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD | Notification Date: 09/25/2017
Notification Time: 08:23 [ET]
Event Date: 08/25/2017
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/25/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
FRED BOWER (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK / BROKEN SHUTTER
The following information was received via email:
"On September 22, 2017, the licensee informed the Department [PA DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection] of a failure of a collimator block. This event is reportable per 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2).
"On August 25, 2017, the licensee identified a failure of the collimator block attached to the shutter assembly on one of its Thermo Measure Tech Model 5204 gauges containing 4 curies of Cesium-137. The gauge was immediately removed from service. A licensed service provider was contacted and the broken shutter mechanism was removed and replaced with a spare. The shutter mechanism was then tested and confirmed as operating properly. Survey results indicated no abnormal amounts of radiation in the area before or after the repair work. All regulatory precautions were taken and no overexposures occurred.
"The cause of the event was equipment failure. The Department will perform a reactive inspection. A service provider has already corrected the problem. More information will be provided upon receipt."
PA Event Report ID No.: PA170013 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 52991 | Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: IPSCO KOPPEL TUBULARS, LLC
Region: 1
City: AMBRIDGE State: PA
County:
License #: PA-1050
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH MELNIC
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 09/25/2017
Notification Time: 14:04 [ET]
Event Date: 09/24/2017
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/25/2017 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
FRED BOWER (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK / BROKEN SHUTTER
The following information was received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via email:
"Notifications: On September 25, 2017, the licensee informed the Department [PA DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection] of a failure of an electronic component of a fixed gauge. It is reportable per 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2)(i).
"Event Description: The electronic component of the automatic shutter on an IMS Model 5301-01 gauge containing approximately 20 curies of Cesium-137 failed to close on its own. The licensee immediately notified the RSO, as per their emergency procedure, who was able to remotely log in to the computer software system and bypass the automatic mode to close the shutter. The gauge is housed in a secure and entry restricted enclosure and instructions have been given to all operators to ensure that the shutter is closed while not in use. The manufacturer, IMS, was notified and is scheduled to make repairs on September 26, 2017. All regulatory precautions were taken and no overexposures have occurred.
"Cause of the Event: Equipment failure.
"ACTIONS: The Department will perform a reactive inspection. The manufacturer has already been scheduled to correct the problem. More information will be provided upon receipt."
PA Event Report ID No.: PA170014 | |