Event Notification Report for November 30, 2022

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

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

"On November 30, 2022, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that during routine testing the shutter on a Berthold model LB7440 nuclear gauge the shutter failed to close. The gauge shutter is in the open position, which is the normal operating position. The gauge contains a 30 millicurie Cesium - 137 source. The RSO stated the roll pin on the shutter operating arm had broken. The manufacturer has been contacted to repair the gauge. The RSO stated dose rates around the gauge were normal. No individual received any additional exposure as a result of this event. The gauge does not pose an exposure risk. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: 9968

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING OR POSSIBLY LOST GAUGE SOURCES

The following information was received from the state of Maryland via email:

"A Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) radioactive materials inspector was performing a close-out survey in support of license termination. The facility is no longer operating with radioactive materials (RAM) and some essential staff are gone. The inspector found that three Cf-252 sources for installed gauges had been changed out. The licensee was unable to provide records for the disposal of the old sources, which are no longer present, the new sources were accounted for.

"The sources of concern are:

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3384; 5.2 Ci Assay date missing. Installed October 2009. Decay corrected activity to November 2022 = about 165mCi or less

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3383; 5.2 Ci Assay date missing. Installed October 2009. Decay corrected activity to November 2022 = about 165mCi or less

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3930: 5.2 Ci Assay date missing. Installed October 2009. Decay corrected activity to November 2022 = about 165mCi or less

"Total Activity: about 495 mCi or less

"The licensee is continuing the search for records of these sources. It does not appear to the licensee that an exposure could result to persons in unrestricted areas. The licensee believes that the sources were sent to ThermoFisher Scientific and is attempting to confirm. MDE is providing this precautionary notification pursuant to 10 CFR 2201(a)(1) using the best available information on the radioactive sources."

* * * UPDATE ON 12/1/2022 AT 1622 EST FROM MDE TO ERNEST WEST * * *

Updated activities for sources of concern and results of search for the sources are as follows:

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3384; 10.8 mCi on 25 September 2010. Decay corrected activity November 2022 = 445 microcuries

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3383; 10.8 mCi on 25 September 2010. Decay corrected activity November 2022 = 445 microcuries

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3930: 10.8 mCi on 25 September 2010. Decay corrected activity November 2022 = 445 microcuries

"Total Estimated Current Activity: 1.335 mCi

"The licensee is continuing to search for disposal records for these sources or the sources themselves. It does not appear to the licensee that an exposure could result to persons in unrestricted areas. The supplier, ThermoFisher Scientific, has confirmed that they do not have the sources. The waste disposer, RAM Services, is attempting to confirm their possession or the possibility that the sources remain in the gauge housing. MDE is providing this precautionary notification pursuant to 10 CFR 2201(a)(1) using the best available information at the time. This report principally revises source activities using information from the supplier and continuing efforts of the supplier and waste disposer."

Notified R1DO (Cahill), NMSS Events Notification, and ILTAB via email.

* * * UPDATE ON 12/2/2022 AT 1852 EST FROM MDE TO BILL GOTT * * *

"An MDE radioactive materials inspector was performing a close-out survey in support of license termination. The facility is no longer operating with RAM and some essential staff are gone. All RAM sources had been reportedly removed and disposed. The inspector found that three Cf-252 sources from three installed process gauges had been replenished in the past. Each gauge contained one Cf-252 and one Cs-137 source; the Cs-137 are not normally replaced because of their long half-life. The licensee was unable to provide records for the disposal of the three old Cf-252 sources which were no longer present; the three new Cf-252 sources were accounted for. The sources of concern are:

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3384; 10.8 mCi on 25 September 2010. Decay corrected activity Nov 2022 = 445 microCuries

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3383; 10.8 mCi on 25 September 2010. Decay corrected activity Nov 2022 = 445 microCuries

"Cf-252; serial # FTC-CF-Z3930: 10.8 mCi on 25 September 2010. Decay corrected activity Nov 2022 = 445 microCuries

"Total Estimated Current Activity: 1.335 mCi

"The licensee and vendors continued to search for disposal records for these sources or the sources themselves. At no time did it appear to the licensee that an exposure could result to persons in unrestricted areas. A precautionary Event Report was made on 11/30/22 and updated on 12/01/22. On 12/02/2022 the waste disposer, RAM Services, confirmed by serial number that they have possession of the three old and three new Cf-252 sources in a neutron-shielded container in a secure, licensed facility in Wisconsin. The sources had been removed and misidentified when the gauges were de-sourced for license termination. The intended sources to be removed were three Cs-137 sources; these sources are presently unaccounted for and believed to be remaining in the gauges. The sources are:

"Cs-137; serial # CZ-2586; 30mCi on 10/01/2010. Decay corrected activity 12/01/2022 = 22.68 mCi

"Cs-137; serial # 0950/08; 30mCi on 10/01/2010. Decay corrected activity 12/01/2022 = 22.68 mCi"

"Cs-137; serial # 0949/08; 30mCi on 10/01/2010. Decayed corrected activity 12/01/2022 = 22.68 mCi

"Total Estimated Current Activity: 68.04 mCi

"It appears that the disposer had removed sources without actually verifying the serial numbers, isotopes, and activities of the sources, contrary to the records that were submitted. The source slots in the gauges are not visible and sources are moved remotely. The disposer will investigate and confirm or locate the three Cs-137 sources 12/05-12/09/2022. This is an update to the precautionary notification made 11/30/2022 pursuant to 10CFR 2201(a)(1) using the best available information currently available."


Notified R1DO (Cahill), NMSS Events Notification, and ILTAB via email.

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 REPORT - LOST EXIT SIGNS

The following is a synopsis of information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment via email:

The licensee discovered twelve tritium exit signs were lost. The exit signs are SRB Technologies Model BXU10GS containing 9.21 Ci of tritium (H-3) each. This is being reported under Colorado Regulations Section 4.51.1.1 (10 CFR 20.2202(a)(1)(i)).

Event Report ID No.: CO230008

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