Home NRC Library Document Collections Events, Reports Associated with Event Notification Reports 2020

Event Notification Report for April 20, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
4/17/2020 - 4/20/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54654
Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Region: 4 City: SALT LAKE CITY State: UT County: License #: UT 1800001 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: TIM BUTLER HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD	Notification Date: 04/09/2020 Notification Time: 09:21 [ET] Event Date: 04/07/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [MDT] Last Update Date: 04/09/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IRRADIATOR APERTURE FAILED TO CLOSE

The following information was received via E-mail:

"The aperture electronic opening and closing mechanism malfunctioned on a J.L. Shepard Mark I series irradiator while the aperture was open. There was a smell of burning wires and visible smoke. The analysts cut power to the unit and notified department management. Utilizing portable shielding, and following ALARA principles, the attenuator of the device was able to be closed, which significantly reduced dose rates. Currently, the aperture is stuck partially open and the attenuator is closed. At 1.5 meters from the point of highest dose, the rate is approximately 10 mR/hr. Both analysts were wearing Mirion Instadose dosimeters and the measured dose to both dosimeters was less than the minimum read amount of 1 mrem.

"The irradiator is located in a shielded calibration room located in the waste building. There is no dose rate above background in any area, accessible by either non-radiation workers or members of the public, around the building where the calibration room is located. The area has been securely locked, the door alarm is activated, and there are signs placed to remind everyone to not use the device.

"Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control personnel were notified of the incident via normal work E-mail after the conclusion of the business of the day on April 8, 2020. The notification was not read until the morning of April 9, 2020 when normal business resumed and was then assigned to appropriate staff.

"The device manufacturer has been contacted to determine repair options."

Utah Event Report ID No.: UT 200004

Agreement State	Event Number: 54655
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH Licensee: AIR FORCE ACADEMY EISENHOWER GOLF COURSE Region: 4 City: AIR FORCE ACADEMY State: CO County: License #: GL002515 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KATHRYN MOTE HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD	Notification Date: 04/09/2020 Notification Time: 10:50 [ET] Event Date: 06/28/2019 Event Time: 00:00 [MDT] Last Update Date: 04/09/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (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 TRITIUM EXIT SIGN

The following information was received via E-mail:

One tritium exit sign containing 7.5 Ci was unaccounted for after the construction of a new clubhouse was completed.

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: 54656
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH Licensee: VAIL MOUNTAIN SCHOOL Region: 4 City: VAIL State: CO County: License #: GL001731 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: KATHRYN MOTE HQ OPS Officer: JEFFREY WHITED	Notification Date: 04/09/2020 Notification Time: 16:17 [ET] Event Date: 06/18/2019 Event Time: 00:00 [MDT] Last Update Date: 04/09/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (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 TRITIUM EXIT SIGN

The following is a summary of information received from the State of Colorado via E-mail:

The licensee is unable to locate a tritium exit sign with an activity of 7.5 Ci. The exit sign was determined to be missing.

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: 54658
Rep Org: MISSISSIPPI DIV OF RAD HEALTH Licensee: TRONOX Region: 4 City: HAMILTON State: MS County: License #: MS-149-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: JAYSON MOAK HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT	Notification Date: 04/10/2020 Notification Time: 14:30 [ET] Event Date: 04/09/2020 Event Time: 13:42 [CDT] Last Update Date: 04/10/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

The following is a summary received from the state of Mississippi via phone:

The licensee notified the state that during a routine check of an Ohmart gauge (s/n: 1169GK), the shutter would not close. The gauge contains a 10 mCi Cs-137 source (source holder: SHF-1). It is located over a chemical bin and the normal shutter position is open, so there is no additional exposure to employees. An authorized company is scheduled to remove and replace the gauge with an identical model.

Agreement State	Event Number: 54659
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM Licensee: JACOBSEN PACIFIC, SMM, INC Region: 4 City: MODESTO State: CA County: License #: 6370-39 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: K. ARUNIKA HEWADIKARAM HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT	Notification Date: 04/10/2020 Notification Time: 15:20 [ET] Event Date: 04/09/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [PDT] Last Update Date: 04/10/2020
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): GREG PICK (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 - LOST GAUGE

The following is a summary received from the state of California via email:

On 04/09/20, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) contacted the Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) to report a notification made by a California licensee regarding a lost hydro probe. The gauge involved is a CPN Model 503DR, S/N H380104084 hydro probe containing 50 mCi of Am-241. The report stated that the field user placed the probe into its case without securing its latches and locks and drove off to the next field site. It is believed that the probe had fallen out of the truck somewhere on Crows Landing Road between Carpenter Road and Ehrlich Road. The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] had notified the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the local Fire Department of the incident. Repeated attempts made by the RSO, his staff and CHP to locate the gauge were unsuccessful. The RSO will be posting a reward on social media for the safe return of the gauge. The RHB will be following up on this investigation.

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