Event Notification Report for September 17, 2020

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
9/16/2020 - 9/17/2020

** EVENT NUMBERS **

 
54852 54891 54892 54893 54894 54901

 
Agreement State Event Number: 54852
Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: Sunflower Enterprises
Region: 3
City: Dubuque   State: IA
County:
License #: 3389-1-31-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Randal S Dahlin
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Kendzia
Notification Date: 08/22/2020
Notification Time: 09:29 [ET]
Event Date: 08/21/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/16/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
RICHARD SKOKOWSKI (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text



EN Revision Imported Date : 9/17/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN SHUTTER ON FIXED GAUGE

The following was received from the Iowa Department of Public Health via email:

"On Friday August 21, 2020 the registrant reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health that they had discovered, on that day, a broken shutter handle on a Berthold Technologies model LB 7440 fixed gauging device. The registrant also indicated that an outside vendor had been contacted to repair the handle. This device is located on a barge used for dredging the Mississippi River. There is no threat to the health and safety of the public.

"This event will be updated in NMED once the required 30 day written report has been received."

* * * UPDATE ON 09/16/2020 AT 0758 EDT FROM RANDAL DAHLIN TO BETHANY CECERE * * *

Iowa Item Number IA200002.

"On September 9, 2020, the manufacturer of the device arrived on site and found that the stem that is rotated by the open/close bar on the shield had broken off. The manufacturer's technician replaced the shield, moved the source to the new shield, performed a device shield survey and performed a leak test of the source. The device and the shutter are working properly. The State considers this event closed."

Notified R3DO (Feliz-Adorno) and NMSS_Events_Notification (by email).

 
Agreement State Event Number: 54891
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: Mistras Group Inc.
Region: 4
City: Deer Park   State: TX
County:
License #: L 06369
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Arthur Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 09/09/2020
Notification Time: 11:26 [ET]
Event Date: 09/08/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
GREG WARNICK (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Category 2" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AND RECOVERED CAMERA

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

"On September 9, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that on September 8, 2020, one of his crews lost a QSA 880D exposure device containing a 38.1 Curie iridium-192 source. The radiography crew had placed the exposure device on the tailgate of their truck at the licensee's location. The crew drove away from the site with the exposure device still on the tailgate. The device fell off the truck a short distance from the licensee's location. A second crew left the licensee's location a short time (10 minutes) later and found the device on the pavement. The second crew performed a radiation survey of the device and found the radiation levels to be normal and the source was still fully shielded. The second crew returned the device to the licensee's location. The device was inspected and did not appear to be damaged. The licensee has sent the device to the manufacturer for inspection. Additional information has been requested from the licensee. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. "

Texas Incident Number: I-9798

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

 
Agreement State Event Number: 54892
Rep Org: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Licensee: Mid American Energy - Lousia Generating Station
Region: 3
City: Muscatine   State: IA
County:
License #: 0040-1-70-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Randal S. Dahlin
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 09/09/2020
Notification Time: 12:17 [ET]
Event Date: 09/09/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
DAVID HILLS (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN SHUTTER MECHANISM ON FIXED GAUGE

The following was received from Iowa Department of Public Health via email:

"The licensee reported today that during a routine shutter check it was discovered that a shutter on a fixed gauging device had come off of its hinge. The device is located on coal silo 106 outlet at the 163 foot elevation. Due to the location of the device, no personnel can be exposed to the beam. The licensee has contacted a vendor to repair the shutter. This event will be updated once the agency receives the written report. "

Iowa Incident Number: IA200003

 
Agreement State Event Number: 54893
Rep Org: WISCONSIN RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: Medical College of Wisconsin
Region: 3
City: Milwaukee   State: WI
County:
License #: 079-1104-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Kyle Walton
HQ OPS Officer: Caty Nolan
Notification Date: 09/09/2020
Notification Time: 16:28 [ET]
Event Date: 09/09/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
DAVID HILLS (R3DO)
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 AND FOUND MO-99/TC-99M GENERATOR

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

"On September 9, 2020, the licensee reported a missing 7.5 Ci Mo-99/Tc-99m generator, which was subsequently found, to the Department. The facility receives a generator every Sunday evening. On September 8, the licensee became aware that this week's generator was missing and initiated search efforts. The licensee confirmed with the generator supplier that a generator was delivered on September 6. The licensee reviewed security footage and determined that the generator was delivered at 2115 CDT on September 6. The licensee reviewed additional camera footage and determined that a different courier service requested access to the nuclear medicine hot lab about an hour later and took the package that had been delivered at 2115 CDT. The licensee contacted the second courier service and determined that the missing generator was found in the courier's warehouse on September 9. The generator has been returned to the licensee.

"The licensee is evaluating potential dose to members of the public. The Department will perform a follow-up investigation."

Event Report No.: WI200006

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: 54894
Rep Org: NEW YORK STATE DEPT. OF HEALTH
Licensee: Not Provided
Region: 1
City:   State: NY
County:
License #: Not Provided
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Daniel Samson
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 09/09/2020
Notification Time: 16:29 [ET]
Event Date: 09/09/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
ANNE DeFRANCISCO (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MEDICAL EVENT - UNDERDOSE

The following was received from the New York State Department of Health via fax:

"A medical licensee reported that only 30.3 mCi of a prescribed dose of 45.1 mCi of SIRTEX SIR-Spheres was delivered to a patient. The microspheres apparently became clogged in the applicator. A written report is forthcoming."

Event Report ID No.: NYDOH-20-03

A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

 
Fuel Cycle Facility Event Number: 54901
Facility: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
RX Type: Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Comments: Leu Conversion (Uf6 To Uo2)
Commercial Lwr Fuel
Region: 2
City: Columbia   State: SC
County: Richland
License #: SNM-1107
Docket: 07001151
NRC Notified By: Elise Malek
HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere
Notification Date: 09/16/2020
Notification Time: 08:50 [ET]
Event Date: 09/15/2020
Event Time: 09:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/16/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
70.50(b)(3) - Med Treat Involving Contam
Person (Organization):
MARK MILLER (R2DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
GRETCHEN RIVERA-CAPELLA (NMSS DAY)
WILLIAM GOTT (IRD)

Event Text

UNPLANNED MEDICAL TREATMENT

"On September 15, 2020, at approximately 0900 EDT, a Westinghouse employee performing routine work in the Conversion Decontamination Area was exposed to nitric acid on the bottom of the right foot due to an issue with his protective footwear. The nitric acid came in contact with the employee's footwear impacting the bottom of the right foot. Appropriate treatment for exposure to nitric acid was provided by onsite medical response staff, and per procedure the employee's foot was wrapped in plastic, and the employee was transported to an offsite medical facility accompanied by plant health physics personnel for evaluation.

"Contamination was detected on the exposed area of the employee's skin during [Health Physics] surveys. Direct survey results for the bottom of the right foot were 1700 dpm/100 cm2 [disintegrations per minute per 100 square centimeters] alpha. Surveys for direct contamination were also performed at the hospital before and after cleaning the exposed area and the contamination level remained the same at 1700 dpm/100 cm2 alpha. All smear results of the exposed area were below clean area limits (less than 200 dpm/100 cm2). Contamination surveys were performed on the ambulance and at the hospital and all results were below clean area limits indicating no spread of contamination during care for the employee. All potentially contaminated materials associated with the issue were collected and returned to [Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility] (CFFF) for disposal. The operator was provided with over the counter medication and released to go home.

"A leaking valve was identified as the source of the nitric acid, which was promptly isolated and left in a safe state. There was no release to the environment and the liquid accumulation of nitric acid on the floor has been removed and the floor cleaned.

"The Columbia plant is a licensed Part 70 facility subject to 10CFR70 Subpart H, and this event does not challenge the performance requirements of 10 CFR 70.61 as analyzed in the Integrated Safety Analysis."

The isotope involved was U-235. The hospital that performed medical treatment was Prisma Health.

 

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021