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Event Notification Report for September 03, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
9/2/2020 - 9/3/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

Agreement State	Event Number: 54807
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM Licensee: Town of Littleton Region: 1 City: Attleboro State: MA County: License #: N/A Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Zara Rejaee HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere	Notification Date: 07/30/2020 Notification Time: 12:35 [ET] Event Date: 07/01/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [EDT] Last Update Date: 09/02/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): BRICE BICKETT (R1DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) ILTAB (EMAIL)

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

Event Text

EN Revision Imported Date : 9/3/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - ABANDONED RADIOACTIVE SCRAP METAL

The following information was received via email:

"On 7/1/2020, Massachusetts Radiation Control Program was informed by Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., that a scrap metal shipment from Town of Littleton Transfer Station in Littleton, MA set off the radiation monitor alarm. The vehicle was redirected back to Littleton Transfer Station for follow-up survey and mitigation in accordance with MA RCP DOT Special Permit 10656 MA-MA-20-01.

"On 7/6/20, the material was identified and segregated from the scrap metal load by an independent radiation consultant. The radioactive material discovered was radium-226 Aircraft gauge. Device is intact and not leaking as a wipe test was done by radiation consultant. A Ludlum Model 9DP-1 ion chamber was used for direct measurements on the instrument. The dose rate at 6 inches from the instrument was 1 mR/hr. Dose rate outside of drum is less than 300 microR/hr. The radium-226 activity was estimated to be approximately 31.6 microCuries based on the dose rate measured.

"The RAM material is being stored in safe secure storage away from people and labeled as radioactive material held for proper disposal.

"This activity meets the 30-day event report requirement for lost or abandoned radioactive material greater than 10 times the quantities specified in 10 CFR 20 Appendix C, or the Massachusetts equivalent, 105 CMR 120.297 Appendix C, which is ten times reportable quantity for radium-226 (1 microCurie).

"The Massachusetts Radiation Control Program considers this event to be open until proper disposal of this instrument is confirmed."

Event Docket No.: MA 19-4216

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

* * * UPDATE FROM ZARA REJAEE TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1549 EDT ON 9/2/2020 * * *

The following information was received via E-mail and is the Agency's (Massachusetts Radiations Control Program) final update to this report:

"1). Event Cause: Device abandoned or discarded by person(s) unknown.

"2). Corrective Action: Device transferred for proper disposal at licensed facility.

"3). Manufacturer of Source or Device: Not Available / Not Indicated. Device found in scrap metal load.

"4). No additional information expected by Agency.

"5). Agency considers this event to be closed."

Notified R1DO (Ambrosini), NMSS Events Notification E-mail group and ILTAB E-mail group.

Agreement State	Event Number: 54843
Rep Org: ARIZONA DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Brazos Geotech, Inc. Region: 4 City: Tucson State: AZ County: License #: 10-158 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Brian Goretzki HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere	Notification Date: 08/19/2020 Notification Time: 00:19 [ET] Event Date: 08/18/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [MST] Last Update Date: 08/19/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): NICK TAYLOR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING SOURCE ROD SHUTTER

The following report from the Arizona Department of Health Services (Department) was received by email:

"On August 18, 2020, during a routine inspection, the Department discovered that a licensee was in possession of a portable gauge which appeared to be missing its Cs-137 source rod shutter. The gauge was a Troxler Model 3430, Serial# 38482, containing 8 milliCuries of Cesium-137 and 40 milliCuries of Americium-241/Beryllium. While performing a survey of the gauge, inspectors recorded an exposure rate of 175 mR/hr over the shutter opening while the handle was in its locked position.

"The Department has requested additional information and continues to investigate the event."

AZ Incident Number: 20-014

Agreement State	Event Number: 54857
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES Licensee: Exxon Mobil Chemical Region: 4 City: Beaumont State: TX County: License #: L00603 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Art Tucker HQ OPS Officer: Kerby Scales	Notification Date: 08/25/2020 Notification Time: 16:52 [ET] Event Date: 08/24/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 08/25/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RAY KELLAR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK OPEN

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On August 25, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee's consultant that during routine inspections the shutter on a Vega model SHGL-1 nuclear gauge containing a 2,000 milliCurie (original activity) cesium-137 source was stuck in the open position. Open is the normal position for the shutter. The gauge does not create an exposure hazard to any individual. The licensee's service provider is aware of the failure. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: 9786

Agreement State	Event Number: 54858
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM Licensee: COASTAL VITICULTURAL CONSULTANTS Region: 4 City: Napa State: CA County: Napa License #: 7042-28 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Gregg Cohn HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin	Notification Date: 08/25/2020 Notification Time: 20:35 [ET] Event Date: 08/25/2020 Event Time: 00:00 [PDT] Last Update Date: 08/25/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RAY KELLAR (R4DO) NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL) JACOB ZIMMERMAN (EMAIL) GRETCHEN RIVERA-CAPELLA (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SOURCE POTENTIALLY DAMAGED BY FIRE

The following information was received by the state of California via email:

"On 08/25/20, the California Office of Emergency Services contacted the Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) to report potential fire damage to a moisture gauge stored inside a barn located in Napa County, CA. The gauge involved is a CPN International, Inc. Model 503, moisture gauge containing 50 milliCuries of Am-241:Be.

"The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) hasn't been to the incident location, however, he confirmed that the barn where the gauge was stored and the adjacent house have been burned down during the wildfire. The gauge is presumed to have been damaged by the fire; however, due to high temperature resistant construction of the source, the source integrity may not have been affected. According to the RSO, the property is located in a remote area in Napa County, and the entrance to the property is secured by two locked metal gates. Access by the general public is not anticipated. The RSO had already contacted the vendor, Instrotek for disposal of the damaged gauge. The RHB will be coordinating with Instrotek and intends to accompany Isotek if Isotek goes to the site. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has also been informed, and it is possible they may be involved in the gauge recovery."

California Incident No.: 082520

Agreement State	Event Number: 54860
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH Licensee: RockSol Consulting Group, Inc. Region: 4 City: Grand Junction State: CO County: License #: CO 1020-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Timothy Thorvaldson HQ OPS Officer: Brian Lin	Notification Date: 08/26/2020 Notification Time: 18:03 [ET] Event Date: 08/26/2020 Event Time: 08:00 [MDT] Last Update Date: 08/26/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: Agreement State	Person (Organization): RAY KELLAR (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 - LOSS OF CONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

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

"A Troxler 3400 Series moisture/density gauge, containing 9 mCi Cs-137 and 44 mCi Am-241:Be or 66 microCi of Cf-252 sealed sources, fell out of the back of a pickup truck during transport by the licensee and was recovered by a member of the public, who turned the gauge into the fire department and the fire department returned the gauge to the licensee."

Colorado Event Report ID No.: CO200058

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