Event Notification Report for July 29, 2019

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT

The following is a synopsis of information received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency via email:

On July 29, 2019, there was a vehicle accident while transporting medical radioactive materials near Tinley Park, IL. There was no release of material nor contaminated individuals. Details are pending from the licensee. This is a reportable incident under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 341.10(b)(5) as detailed in 49 CFR Part 171.15.

Initial reports indicate at least one diagnostic radiopharmaceutical unit dose and a Co-57 sheet source were in transit at the time of the accident. Leak tests are pending, but initial surveys and an assessment of the radiopharmaceuticals indicates no escape of licensed material outside of the ammo can in which they were being transported. Serial number and leak test results of the sheet source as well as a description of the RAM in transit are pending. Licensee staff have reportedly taken possession of the licensed material and conducted surveys to ensure public safety.

Illinois Event Report ID: IL190024

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following is a synopsis of information received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via email:

On July 29, 2019, at approximately 2315 EDT, the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Radiological Health (Rad Health) was notified of a traffic accident involving a Troxler Gauge - model 4640B, Serial Number 2739, containing an 8 mCi Cs-137 source, source serial number 77-6508. At approximately 2125 EDT, a motorist entered a closed traffic lane and struck the gauge. Surveys by the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) indicated that the source was likely not breached. The Rad Health Duty Officer advised the RSO that the gauge was safe to transport to the licensee's secured storage location.

On July 30, 2019, Rad Health's Radioactive Materials (Rad Materials) staff visited the licensee's facility and performed contamination surveys of the gauge and the Type A package. No contamination was detected on any of the swipe samples collected. The licensee and the Rad Materials staff contacted the Troxler service department to discuss next steps. The Troxler service representative explained that they could use the swipe samples to perform a leak test. The RSO was advised that once the source is confirmed not to be leaking by Troxler, the licensee may transport the damaged gauge for repair or replacement. The RSO was advised by Rad Material staff that the Type A package label will need to be changed to correct the transport index (TI) value from 0.2 to 0.5, and the shipping papers would also need to be changed to show the new TI.

Virginia Event Report ID: VA 19-005

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION DEVIATION

The following information was received via email:

"On July 29, 2019, at 1903 CDT, the University of Missouri-Columbia Research Reactor (MURR) was shut down due to a failure of the regulating blade drive mechanism during reactor operation. This email is a required notification per MURR Technical Specification (TS) 6.6.c(1) to report to the NRC Operations Center that an Abnormal Occurrence, as defined by TS 1.1, had occurred. MURR was not in compliance with all Limiting Conditions for Operations (LCOs), specifically TS 3.2.a, which states, 'All control blades, including the regulating blade, shall be operable during reactor operation.' The regulating blade drive mechanism was removed, repaired, reinstalled, and all its functions were tested satisfactorily. Permission from the Reactor Facility Director was obtained per TS 6.6.c(4) prior to starting up the reactor later on July 29. Currently, MURR is at 10 MW.

"A detailed event report will follow within 14 days as required by TS 6.6.c(3)."

The licensee has notified the NRC Research and Test Reactor Project Manager.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS

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

"The current manager of Rodeway Inn reported 7 lost tritium exit signs when conducting the annual reconciliation."

The exit signs have an activity of 7.5 Ci each.

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