Event Notification Report for February 28, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
2/27/2019 - 2/28/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **

 
53882 53884 53885 53886

Agreement State Event Number: 53882
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: BLUE CUBE SOLUTIONS, LLC
Region: 4
City: PLAQUEMINE   State: LA
County:
License #: LA-13286-L01AI#196702
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSEPH NOBLE
HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA
Notification Date: 02/19/2019
Notification Time: 11:32 [ET]
Event Date: 02/18/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/19/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RICK DEESE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEVEL DENSITY GAUGE SHUTTER MALFUNCTION

"On 02/18/2019, BCS [Blue Cube Solutions] was performing their routine operational checks of their RAM LICENSED devices. During their routine maintenance checks, the shutter malfunction was discovered. The gauge shutter would not close. BCS called a service contractor, BBP Sales, to evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action to correct the problem.

"The sources and device with the shutter stuck open will remain installed on the process until the repairs are made. This is not a radiation exposure hazard and does not pose a health and safety situation for the BCS employees or the general public.

"The Level Gauge is a KAY RAY Model 7062B device/source holder, S/N KR23306B, loaded with an approximately 100 mCi Cs-137 source.

"LDEQ [Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality] was notified when BCS called the LDEQ Radiation Emergency Hot Line at 0800 CST. The notice was forwarded to the LDEQ/ERSD/Radiation Section. The notification was to get the preliminary information report and meet the 24 hour reporting requirement. Additional information will be provided when available. BCS will provide LDEQ a corrective action and a final report no later than 30 days of the corrective action.

"This event is being reported to the NRC OPERATIONS CENTER as required by Regulatory Requirements 10 CFR Part 30.50(b)(2) & LAC 33:XV 340.B."

Louisiana report LA-190002.

Non-Agreement State Event Number: 53884
Rep Org: US ARMY TACOM
Licensee: US ARMY
Region: 3
City: WARREN   State: MI
County:
License #: 21-32838-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN McGUIRE
HQ OPS Officer: JOANNA BRIDGE
Notification Date: 02/20/2019
Notification Time: 13:25 [ET]
Event Date: 02/20/2019
Event Time: 09:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/20/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
ANNE DeFRANCISCO (R1DO)
ERIC DUNCAN (R3DO)
RICK DEESE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

REPORT OF LOSS OF NI-63 SOURCES USED IN IMPROVED CHEMICAL AGENT MONITORS

The following was received from the licensee via e-mail:

"The concerned radioactive material is part of an Army Chemical Detection Equipment (CDE) and is called an Improved Chemical Agent Monitor (ICAM) NSN [National Stock Number] 6665-01-357-8502 and Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM), NSN 6665-01-199-4153. Each ICAM and CAM contains 10 mCi of Ni-63. The items with the radioactive material are under US Army NRC License 21-32838-01 issued to the Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). TACOM is located in Warren, MI.

"The reporting was based on 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(ii) (Reports of Theft or Loss of Licensed Material). Licensed material in a quantity greater than 10 times the quantity specified in Appendix C. The quantity specified in Appendix C is 100 microCi. One ICAM/CAM containing 10 mCi is 10,000 microCi. [The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)] had reported nine CDE, but after confirming the serial numbers, we determined that one of the CDE (serial number 11769) was under another NRC license 19-10306-01 issued to the US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) located in Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. This report is for eight CDE under TACOM's NRC license. We have six ICAMs and two CAMs that are lost for a total of 80,000 microCi. The serial numbers for the ICAMs are Z47-M-13972, Z47-M-13526, Z47-M-01859, Z47-M-15832, Z47-M-21980 and Z47-M-18759. The serial numbers for the CAMs are Z16-M-01075 and Z16-M-01025.

"The ICAMs/CAMs are not known to leak and do not have a leak test requirement. The Ni-63 is inside the ICAM/CAM.

"[The RSO] was notified via e-mail on February 19, 2019, at 1545 EST, by the Army Rad waste agency (Joint Munitions Command [JMC] located in Rock Island, IL) of the following:

"'A package containing nine each CDE was in route from APG, Maryland to Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA), Alabama via [a Common Carrier] and was lost in the possession of [the Common Carrier]. The CDE were being sent for demilitarization and eventual disposal of the Ni-63. The subject package was dropped off at [the Common Carrier] in Baltimore, MD on 26 Nov 2018. The tracking system showing the package as 'In [Common Carrier] Possession'.'

"Prior to the notification on February 19, 2019, JMC called PBA shipping and receiving. PBA personnel indicated that subject package was not received at their location. Also, APG personnel traveled to the [Common Carrier] facility where the items were dropped off. Personnel confirmed that the package was not at that facility.

"As of February 19, 2019, JMC indicated that [the Common Carrier] has not formally issued the a statement of loss, but that JMC will continue to track this for APG. It was a Local Project for JMC with ID number of APG 2018-001.

"On February 20, 2019, at 0847 EST, the [RSO] called [the Common Carrier] with the tracking number. [The RSO] spoke to [an individual] who indicated that a case was assigned to the shipment and a claim was put in. [The RSO] was put in contact with the Trace Department, and was then told that the shipment was considered lost. Shipments after 14 days are considered lost."

This event is related to NRC Event Number 53888.

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: 53885
Rep Org: CA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: G3SOILWORKS, INC.
Region: 4
City: NEWPORT BEACH   State: CA
County:
License #: 6492-30
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DONALD OESTERL
HQ OPS Officer: JOANNA BRIDGE
Notification Date: 02/20/2019
Notification Time: 15:15 [ET]
Event Date: 02/20/2019
Event Time: 09:03 [PST]
Last Update Date: 02/20/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RICK DEESE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
- CNSNS (MEXICO) (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following report was received from the State of California via email:

"On February 20, 2019, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of G3SoilWorks, Inc. contacted the California Office of Emergency Services about a moisture density gauge that was stolen from the operators vehicle at an apartment complex [in] Newport Beach, CA. The gauge was a CPN MC-3, Serial Number M390705215 (10 mCi Cs-137, 50 mCi Am:Be-241). The incident was reported to the Newport Beach Police Department. The gauge has not been found at this time."

California 5010 number: 022019

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: 53886
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: CARDINAL HEALTH 414, LLC
Region: 4
City: DENVER   State: CO
County:
License #: CO 1219-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PHILLIP PETERSON
HQ OPS Officer: JOANNA BRIDGE
Notification Date: 02/20/2019
Notification Time: 17:21 [ET]
Event Date: 02/11/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/20/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
ANNE DeFRANCISCO (R1DO)
RICK DEESE (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST PACKAGE CONTAINING RA-223

The following report was received from the State of Colorado via email:

"On February 14th, 2019, a written report was received from Cardinal Health detailing the events of a lost package containing 180.3 microCi (shipped activity) Ra-223. The package was lost in transit on February 11th, the intended recipient was in Savannah, GA. The courier for the package was a [Common Carrier]. A search by the [Common Carrier] located the package on the side of the road on February 12th in the Savannah, GA area. Regional Cardinal Health technicians were dispatched to the found package and determined that the transport index was as expected and the package indicated no removable contamination. Cardinal Health took possession of the package for decay-in-storage."

CO Event Report ID No.: CO190002

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

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021