Event Notification Report for March 05, 2021
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
03/04/2021 - 03/05/2021
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 55124
Rep Org: Veterans Health Administration
Licensee: Veterans Health Administration
Region: 4
City: Wichita State: KS
County:
License #: 03-23853-01VA
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Kim Wiebeck
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Licensee: Veterans Health Administration
Region: 4
City: Wichita State: KS
County:
License #: 03-23853-01VA
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Kim Wiebeck
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 03/05/2021
Notification Time: 14:03 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2021
Event Time: 10:32 [CST]
Last Update Date: 03/05/2021
Notification Time: 14:03 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2021
Event Time: 10:32 [CST]
Last Update Date: 03/05/2021
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.1906(d)(1) - Surface Contam Levels > Limits
10 CFR Section:
20.1906(d)(1) - Surface Contam Levels > Limits
Person (Organization):
HILLS, DAVID (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION, (EMAIL)
HILLS, DAVID (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION, (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 4/5/2021
EN Revision Text: NON-AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EXTERNALLY CONTAMINATED PACKAGE
The following was received from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) via E-mail:
"Per 10 CFR 20.1906(d), VHA National Health Physics Program is reporting receipt of a package of radioactive material with removable surface contamination on the outside of the package greater than NRC reporting limits. The package was received Friday, March 5, 2021, at 1032 CST at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. This facility operates as a satellite location of the VA St. Louis Health Care System which holds permit number 24-00144-05 under the VHA master materials license.
"The package was checked-in and surveyed upon receipt around 1032 CST. Three wipe tests performed on the external surface of the package indicated a removable contamination level that exceeded the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters (reported as 13,000 - 45,000 dpm/300 cm2 not corrected for wipe efficiency).
"The package contained two unit doses of F-18. Analysis of the wipe test confirmed a 511 keV peak associated with positron emission tomography (PET) material. Two wipe tests of the interior of the delivery package resulted in levels below background. The patient dosages inside the package were not impacted and were able to be used.
"The dosage was shipped from Cardinal Health out of 410 S. Emporia St., Wichita, Kansas, which was also the delivery carrier. The facility Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) immediately notified the delivery carrier by phone about the contaminated package at 1040 CST. The radiopharmacy notified the facility at 1100 CST that the driver and transport vehicle had been surveyed with no contamination noted.
"This package is the last delivery of the day. Because of the short half-life of F-18, the package will remain on the delivery rack for decay and will be returned to the Radiopharmacy on Monday. The NMT will perform extensive end of the day wipe tests in the hot lab to ensure contamination has not spread.
"VHA National Health Physics Program, who manages the master materials license, was notified of the incident around 1130 CST."
EN Revision Text: NON-AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EXTERNALLY CONTAMINATED PACKAGE
The following was received from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) via E-mail:
"Per 10 CFR 20.1906(d), VHA National Health Physics Program is reporting receipt of a package of radioactive material with removable surface contamination on the outside of the package greater than NRC reporting limits. The package was received Friday, March 5, 2021, at 1032 CST at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. This facility operates as a satellite location of the VA St. Louis Health Care System which holds permit number 24-00144-05 under the VHA master materials license.
"The package was checked-in and surveyed upon receipt around 1032 CST. Three wipe tests performed on the external surface of the package indicated a removable contamination level that exceeded the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters (reported as 13,000 - 45,000 dpm/300 cm2 not corrected for wipe efficiency).
"The package contained two unit doses of F-18. Analysis of the wipe test confirmed a 511 keV peak associated with positron emission tomography (PET) material. Two wipe tests of the interior of the delivery package resulted in levels below background. The patient dosages inside the package were not impacted and were able to be used.
"The dosage was shipped from Cardinal Health out of 410 S. Emporia St., Wichita, Kansas, which was also the delivery carrier. The facility Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) immediately notified the delivery carrier by phone about the contaminated package at 1040 CST. The radiopharmacy notified the facility at 1100 CST that the driver and transport vehicle had been surveyed with no contamination noted.
"This package is the last delivery of the day. Because of the short half-life of F-18, the package will remain on the delivery rack for decay and will be returned to the Radiopharmacy on Monday. The NMT will perform extensive end of the day wipe tests in the hot lab to ensure contamination has not spread.
"VHA National Health Physics Program, who manages the master materials license, was notified of the incident around 1130 CST."
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 55182
Rep Org: U.S. Navy
Licensee: U.S. Navy
Region: 3
City: Bedford State: IN
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CAPT. Tony Williams
HQ OPS Officer: Jeffrey Whited
Licensee: U.S. Navy
Region: 3
City: Bedford State: IN
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CAPT. Tony Williams
HQ OPS Officer: Jeffrey Whited
Notification Date: 04/02/2021
Notification Time: 10:10 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2021
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 04/28/2021
Notification Time: 10:10 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2021
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 04/28/2021
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen Lnm>10x
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen Lnm>10x
Person (Organization):
WERKHEISER, DAVE (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION, (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
WERKHEISER, DAVE (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION, (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 5/28/2021
EN Revision Text: LOST THEN FOUND SOURCE MATERIAL
The following is a summary of information received from the U.S. Navy via phone and email:
On March 5, 2021, the it was discovered that IBIS units (400 micro Ci total) had not been properly removed from 4 helicopter blades that were sent for recycling. The IBIS units were discovered when the detectors alarmed at the recycling facility in Bedford, IN. The blades were redirected to the Army Joint Munitions Command Morris Consolidation facility in Rock Island, IL for proper disposal.
Based on the shipping paperwork, the helicopter blades that contained the four IBIS were received at the recycling facility on 11/17/2020, and were picked up from the facility on 3/16/2021.
The highest reading was 0.7 mR/hr on contact without the cover installed for one blade. For the 3 other blades in their casing, needle deflection was observed, but had no appreciable dose rate.
It is not likely that personnel spent an appreciable amount of time in the vicinity of the helicopter blades.
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 ON APRIL 28, 2021 AT 14:27 FROM ANTHONY WILLIAMS TO THOMAS HERRITY * * *
Additional investigation has shown that the IBIS (Sr-90) sources were 500 microCuries each for a total of 2,000 microCuries sent to the recycling center.
Notified R1DO (Schroeder), ILTAB and NMSS via email.
EN Revision Text: LOST THEN FOUND SOURCE MATERIAL
The following is a summary of information received from the U.S. Navy via phone and email:
On March 5, 2021, the it was discovered that IBIS units (400 micro Ci total) had not been properly removed from 4 helicopter blades that were sent for recycling. The IBIS units were discovered when the detectors alarmed at the recycling facility in Bedford, IN. The blades were redirected to the Army Joint Munitions Command Morris Consolidation facility in Rock Island, IL for proper disposal.
Based on the shipping paperwork, the helicopter blades that contained the four IBIS were received at the recycling facility on 11/17/2020, and were picked up from the facility on 3/16/2021.
The highest reading was 0.7 mR/hr on contact without the cover installed for one blade. For the 3 other blades in their casing, needle deflection was observed, but had no appreciable dose rate.
It is not likely that personnel spent an appreciable amount of time in the vicinity of the helicopter blades.
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 ON APRIL 28, 2021 AT 14:27 FROM ANTHONY WILLIAMS TO THOMAS HERRITY * * *
Additional investigation has shown that the IBIS (Sr-90) sources were 500 microCuries each for a total of 2,000 microCuries sent to the recycling center.
Notified R1DO (Schroeder), ILTAB and NMSS via email.