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Event Notification Report for July 08, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
7/7/2020 - 7/8/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **
 
54759

Agreement State Event Number: 54759
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: Steward Norwood Hospital
Region: 1
City: Norwood   State: MA
County:
License #: 44-0008
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Kenath Traecde
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity		 Notification Date: 06/29/2020
Notification Time: 16:12 [ET]
Event Date: 06/29/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/06/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State		 Person (Organization):
DAVE WERKHEISER (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RELOCATION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL DUE TO FLOODING

The following was received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

"Excessive rain caused flooding in a medical building where licensed radioactive materials are used and stored at Steward Norwood Hospital on the evening of 6/28/2020. A call was received by the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program from licensee's consultant, F. X. Masse Associates, Inc., at approximately 0906 EDT on 6/29/2020. It was reported that the building where licensed material is used and stored was flooded and evacuation was mandatory by 1200 EDT.

"The Radiation Control Program (RCP) contacted the Director of Imaging at Steward Norwood Hospital at 0955 EDT and discussed the event. The hospital was requested to evacuate the relevant building by 1200 EDT by local government. The licensed materials to be moved included: one 186.5 microCurie cesium-137 vial source; one 1.970 milliCurie cobalt-57 flood source; one 2.301 milliCurie cobalt-57 flood source; one 0.277 microCurie cesium-137 rod source; one 9.404 microCurie cesium-137 button source; one 1.691 microCurie cobalt-57 button source; one 0.722 microCurie cobalt-57 button source; one 0.284 milliCurie cobalt-57 flood source; and two intact iodine-125 capsules of unknown activities (at this time). There may be other sources moved and it is expected that they will be reported to the RCP.

"The licensee was granted an emergency approval to move the sources to a different secure building on the site campus until such time as the relevant building is allowed to be reoccupied. A written report and amendment request are forthcoming from the licensee.

"There has been no report of personnel exposure or contamination as a result of the flooding. The hot lab where the licensed materials were initially being used and stored had no reported damage. Additional details will be forthcoming."

MA Item Number: 54759

* * * UPDATE ON 7/2/2020 AT 1724 EDT FROM ANTHONY CARPENITO TO BRIAN LIN * * *

The following update was received via email:

"The subject licensee inventory included Iodine originally reported as Iodine-125. The licensee updated inventory is the same as previously reported except there is no Iodine-125. The correct isotope is Iodine-123 (two intact capsules, each capsule with licensee-reported estimated current activity of 1.2 microCuries).

"The agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] considers this event to still be open."

Notified R1DO (Werkheiser) and NMSS Event Notifications (email).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, September 24, 2020