Event Notification Report for February 08, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
02/07/2023 - 02/08/2023
EVENT NUMBERS
56344
56344
Agreement State
Event Number: 56344
Rep Org: Virginia Rad Materials Program
Licensee: Geo Design & Engineering, Inc.
Region: 1
City: Chantilly State: VA
County:
License #: 107-329-2
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Sheila Nelson
HQ OPS Officer: Adam Koziol
Licensee: Geo Design & Engineering, Inc.
Region: 1
City: Chantilly State: VA
County:
License #: 107-329-2
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Sheila Nelson
HQ OPS Officer: Adam Koziol
Notification Date: 02/08/2023
Notification Time: 19:13 [ET]
Event Date: 02/08/2023
Event Time: 11:15 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2023
Notification Time: 19:13 [ET]
Event Date: 02/08/2023
Event Time: 11:15 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/08/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Cahill, Christopher (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Cahill, Christopher (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED PORTABLE GAUGE
The following information was provided by the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) via email:
"On February 8, 2023, at approximately 1300 EST, the VRMP received a report via telephone from the licensee that a portable nuclear moisture/density gauge (Troxler Model 3440+, serial number 72924, containing 8 millicuries of cesium-137 and 40 millicuries of americium-241/beryllium) was damaged. At approximately 1115 EST on February 8, 2023, [the gauge] was hit by a 'Bobcat' compaction vehicle/machine on a temporary jobsite at a private residence. The source rod was not out at the time of the impact. The gauge is not functional as the housing and electronics sustained significant damage. The source appeared to remain intact within the safe position. The authorized user secured the area and immediately contacted his radiation safety officer (RSO) who was several hours away. The RSO then contacted the VRMP. The licensee was instructed to transport the gauge back to their storage facility in its transport container to expedite removal from the residential site before nightfall. At 1615 EST, the RSO confirmed the gauge had arrived at their office in Chantilly VA and was secured. The Virginia Office of Radiological Health will perform surveys of the gauge on February 9, 2023, and will conduct a reactive inspection to investigate the incident. This notification will be updated with additional information determined during the inspection.
"No members of the public have had close proximity to the gauge. Any potential exposure by the authorized user will be determined once surveys have been made."
Virginia Incident Number: VA230001
The following information was provided by the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) via email:
"On February 8, 2023, at approximately 1300 EST, the VRMP received a report via telephone from the licensee that a portable nuclear moisture/density gauge (Troxler Model 3440+, serial number 72924, containing 8 millicuries of cesium-137 and 40 millicuries of americium-241/beryllium) was damaged. At approximately 1115 EST on February 8, 2023, [the gauge] was hit by a 'Bobcat' compaction vehicle/machine on a temporary jobsite at a private residence. The source rod was not out at the time of the impact. The gauge is not functional as the housing and electronics sustained significant damage. The source appeared to remain intact within the safe position. The authorized user secured the area and immediately contacted his radiation safety officer (RSO) who was several hours away. The RSO then contacted the VRMP. The licensee was instructed to transport the gauge back to their storage facility in its transport container to expedite removal from the residential site before nightfall. At 1615 EST, the RSO confirmed the gauge had arrived at their office in Chantilly VA and was secured. The Virginia Office of Radiological Health will perform surveys of the gauge on February 9, 2023, and will conduct a reactive inspection to investigate the incident. This notification will be updated with additional information determined during the inspection.
"No members of the public have had close proximity to the gauge. Any potential exposure by the authorized user will be determined once surveys have been made."
Virginia Incident Number: VA230001