Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2019

Event Notification Report for July 19, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
7/18/2019 - 7/19/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54156
Rep Org: TENNESSEE DIV OF RAD HEALTH Licensee: EASTMAN CHEMICAL Region: 1 City: KINGSPORT State: TN County: License #: R-82007-K28 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ANDREW HOLCOMB HQ OPS Officer: RYAN ALEXANDER	Notification Date: 07/10/2019 Notification Time: 15:08 [ET] Event Date: 07/08/2019 Event Time: 00:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 07/10/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): ANTHONY DIMITRIADIS (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - INOPERABLE FIXED GAUGE SHUTTER

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

"On July 8, 2019, technicians at Eastman Chemical were performing procedures that involved securing radioactive sources on the outside of a vessel. One source had rust and corrosion around the shutter mechanism. After 4 hours with lubricant on the mechanism, the shutter was still inoperable. Eastman Chemical contacted the VEGA technician and scheduled a repair appointment for 7/12/19.

"Manufacturer: VEGA
Model #: SHF1B
Serial #: (Will be included in follow-up report)
Source Serial #: 7386 CP
Isotope: Cs-137 (20 mCi)

"A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days."

TN Tracking Number: TN-19-090

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

Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9)

Agreement State	Event Number: 54158
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY Licensee: WEBER MARKING SYSTEMS, INC. Region: 3 City: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS State: IL County: License #: 9223671 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: GARY FORSEE HQ OPS Officer: JEFF HERRERA	Notification Date: 07/11/2019 Notification Time: 15:02 [ET] Event Date: 07/11/2019 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 07/11/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): AARON McCRAW (R3DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - THREE FIXED GAUGES UNACCOUNTED FOR DURING TRANSFER

The following report was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (Agency) via email:

"During Agency efforts to pursue an annual self-inspection report from a general licensee (Weber Packaging Solutions, aka Weber Marking Systems), it was discovered (3) NDC model 103 fixed gauges, containing 150 mCi of Am-241 each could not be accounted for. The company provided a sales order, dated 3/9/17, showing the sale of the gauges (incorporated into machinery) to Margot Machinery in Scotia, New York. On July 11, 2019, the Agency determined through communications with State of New York program staff and Margot Machinery that the transfer of the devices out of Illinois was not to a licensed broker or another general licensee. Margot Machinery was unaware the machinery contained any radioactive sources. Weber indicated on the sale bill (NDC Model 5400 TC gauge) but did not verify the transfer was to another general licensee or someone specifically licensed and authorized to receive the sources. Margot Machinery states they were unaware sources were present and had never taken possession of the machinery. Margot Machinery had contracted a broker (Buckeye Business in Ohio) to rig and remove the equipment. Agency efforts are ongoing to contact Buckeye Business and determine the fate of the machinery and sources. Correspondence is ongoing with State of Ohio officials. This matter remains open and the report will be updated as details become available."

Illinois Item Number: IL190021

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