Event Notification Report for March 22, 2022

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/22/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST AND FOUND DENSITY GAUGE

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

"On March 14, 2022 the Agency received information from the gauge manufacturer that a call had come to their 24-hour number at approximately 1830 (CDT) on March 13, 2022 that Troxler moisture/density gauge (Model 3430: 8 milliCurie cesium-137, 40 milliCurie americium-241/beryllium) had been found in the parking lot of an apartment complex in San Antonio, Texas. The finder did not want to call the police so the manufacturer contacted them. The gauge was inside its unlocked transport case and the finder kept watch on it until the police arrived and took it between 2100 and 2200 (CDT). The gauge was placed in their impound. After receiving the information, the Agency contacted the police department but was only able to get limited information. Attempts to contact the police impound were unsuccessful. A radioactive materials inspector was dispatched but by the time he got there the gauge had been picked up by the owner licensee. The impound staff had called the manufacturer, provided the serial number, and the manufacturer contacted the licensee's corporate office who notified the San Antonio office. The Agency contacted the licensee, their radiation safety officer (RSO) is out of the office and the individual handling the incident is in the process of investigating until the RSO returns mid-week. The licensee confirmed that there were no locks on the case and the insertion rod did not have a lock when they retrieved it. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas incident no.: I-9923

* * * UPDATE FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1848 EDT ON 3/17/2022 * * *

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On March 17, 2022, the licensee notified the Agency that its investigation had revealed that on February 14, 2022, one of its technicians had taken the gauge to their residence at the end of the workday and the gauge was stolen from the vehicle, which was parked at the technician's apartment complex, during the overnight hours. The technician stated that the transport case was secured with two chains in the bed of the pickup and that there was a lock on the insertion rod. The technician did not report the theft to the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) when he discovered it on February 15, 2022. The technician did make a statement to the RSO that day that the gauge was not in its storage location at their facility. The RSO presumed another technician had it out on a job. Since neither the technician nor any of the other technicians brought up to the RSO that the gauge was not there after that, the RSO did not follow up. Any additional information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Drake) and NMSS Events Notification E-mail group.

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/22/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIXED GAUGE WITH STUCK SHUTTER

The following information was received from the Alabama Office of Radiation Control via E-mail:

"The Alabama Office of Radiation Control received a call from a service provider on 3/15/2022 to report a fixed gauge with the shutter stuck in the open position. The licensee is National Cement Company of Alabama, Inc. in Ragland, Alabama. The gauge is a Vega Americas SR-1A gauge, s/n 8180GK, with nominal 500 millicuries of cesium-137. The service provider shielded the gauge with a 4 inch steel plate, resulting in an exposure rate of 0.1 mR/hr at the surface. No unmonitored personnel are known to have been exposed as a result of the stuck shutter. Report to follow as required."

Alabama Event: 22-05

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/22/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIXED GAUGE LOCKING PIN STUCK

The following information was received from the Mississippi State Department of Radiological Health via E-mail:

"During locking out the device for shutdown of the operating equipment, the key that locks the locking pin to the shutter broke when the shutter was put in the closed position. The key will not remove the pin. Berthold was contacted to have this pin replaced. The device is inoperable but safe to be around since the shutter is closed and the locking pin is stuck.

"Manufacture: Berthold
Model: LB 7400D/F
Gauge Serial Number: 2967-11-95
Capsule Serial Number: N/A 16072
Material: Cs-137
Activity: 150 mCi"

Mississippi Incident: MS-220001

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/22/2022

EN Revision Text: LOSS OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER (TSC)

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"The following event description is based on information currently available. If through subsequent reviews of this event additional information is identified that is pertinent to this event or alters the information being provided at this time a follow-up notification will be made via the ENS or under the reporting requirements of 10CFR50.73.

"At 1306 [MST] on March 19, 2022, the Technical Support Center (TSC) lost normal and alternate electrical power, resulting in the inability to perform emergency assessments at the TSC. At the time of the event, the normal power source to the TSC (offsite power) was under a clearance for maintenance activities and the alternate power source (backup generator) was running to provide electrical power to the TSC. At 1306, the alternate power source to the TSC was lost when the backup generator tripped. Power was restored to the TSC via the normal power source at 1723. The cause of the TSC backup generator trip is unknown at this time.

"All three units are stable and in Mode 1.

"No emergency classification was required per the Emergency Plan.

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been informed."