Event Notification Report for March 30, 2022

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/30/2022

EN Revision Text: LOST SOURCE
The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

"Agilent Technologies manufacturers ECDs [Electron Capture Detectors], containing 15 millicuries each, of Ni-63 for use in Gas Chromatographs (for generation of ionized atmospheres for chemical analysis). We have a number of ECDs in use at our facility as addressed below for customer support and R&D. We are required by our license to perform wipe (swipe) tests every six months. The ECD in question was last wiped in August. We were in the process of performing our most recent wipe test last month (February) when we discovered the ECD and its host GC were no longer in the lab they were being used in. [Source was determined to be missing on February 22, 2022 at 1000 EDT when it could not be found for the scheduled swipe test.] We discovered quickly that the individual chemist with ownership of the ECD retired in November of 2021 [last date the device was accounted for]. Investigations to date have not been successful in recovering the ECD. Information pertinent to the incident to follow. I will also be submitting a letter to the appropriate address in one month if we are still unable to recover the ECD."

"ECD Model # G2397A
ECD Serial Number # U25487
Activity: 15 millicurie Ni-63
Facility security: Access to building is limited to those issued electronic badges. Labs are further secured by electronic access only to necessary personnel. [Therefore the source is not suspected to have been stolen.]"



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: 3/30/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the California Department of Public Health (RHB) via email:

"On March 22, 2022, at approximately 0834 PDT, the ARSO/Field Operations Manager of Southern California Geotechnical contacted RHB Brea concerning the moisture/density gauge, CPN, MC-1DR, serial number MD 20400784, (Cs-137 0.370 GBq, Am-241, 1.85 GBq) that had been found missing along with the Authorized User since 3/18/2022 when he was last seen at a jobsite at 1740 Mountain Avenue, Norco, CA and did not report for work on Monday, March 21, 2022. [ARSO/Field Operations Manager] has contacted emergency contacts of the Authorized User and the employment agency he was hired through with no response at this time. [ARSO/Field Operations Manager] has also notified Orange County Sheriff and filed a missing person's/stolen property report, reference number 22-009329. A copy of the theft report will be forwarded to the RHB Brea office to be included as part of this report. [ARSO/Field Operations Manager] will contact local newspapers to attempt to retrieve the stolen radioactive gauge as well as notifying local servicing vendors of radioactive gauges to be alert for the serial number of the stolen gauge in case it turns up for service. The investigation will continue to determine if the radioactive gauge and the Authorized User can be found. This is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as a 24-hour report under 10CFR30.50(b)(2) since the radioactive gauge has been lost and it can not be determined what condition the sources are currently in."

CA incident no.: 32222

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: 3/30/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN X-RAY FLUORESCENCE DEVICES
The following information was obtained from the state of New Jersey Radioactive Materials Program (NJ RMP) via email:

"On 2/17/2022, staff [at NJ RMP] was notified via police report that two XRF devices were stolen from the licensee's location in March of 2021. This notification resulted from an investigation initiated by NJ RMP staff to obtain unpaid licensing fees in January 2022. While doing so, staff found that the RSO died in March of 2021 and the licensed storage location was for sale. Staff were able to make contact with the estate lawyer to attempt to locate the devices. On 2/17/2022, the estate lawyer forwarded staff a police report filed on 3/9/2021 reporting the stolen devices and other items. No follow up to find the stolen items was done by the police or family members. No further investigation is expected. The license was revoked on 2/23/2022."

Device 1 was manufactured by RMD Instruments, Inc., model LPA-1, serial number 1183, containing 12 mCi of Co-57.
Device 2 was manufactured by Viken Detection, model Pb200i, serial number 2537, containing 5 mCi of Co-57.

NJ Investigation number: 448354-INV220001

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: 3/30/2022

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

The following was received from the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health via email:

"An in-line fixed gauge was discovered to have a stuck shutter. Licensee attempted to use penetrating lubricant without success. Licensee has contacted VEGA field technician to attempt to unstick the shutter. If technician is unsuccessful, the plan is to immediately replace the gauge. The following is the technical information on the gauge:

"Manufacturer: Ohmart/Vega
"Model: SHF1
"Gauge SN: (Will be sent with 30-day report)
"Isotope: Cs-137, 20 mCi (1993)
"Source SN: 9274GG
"Source Holder Model: SHF1-45

"Corrective actions will be updated with a report within 30 days."

State Event Report ID Number: TN-22-020

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/30/2022

EN Revision Text: PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE DISCOVERED WITHIN THE PROTECTED AREA

A non-licensed employee possessed a prohibited substance (alcohol) within the Protected Area. The employee's access to the plant has been placed on hold pending results of an investigation.

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.