Event Notification Report for August 02, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/01/2023 - 08/02/2023
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 56651
Rep Org: Elkhart Clinic
Licensee: Elkhart Clinic
Region: 3
City: Elkhart State: IN
County:
License #: 133251501
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Sharon Updike
HQ OPS Officer: Eric Simpson
Licensee: Elkhart Clinic
Region: 3
City: Elkhart State: IN
County:
License #: 133251501
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Sharon Updike
HQ OPS Officer: Eric Simpson
Notification Date: 08/02/2023
Notification Time: 14:14 [ET]
Event Date: 08/02/2023
Event Time: 14:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/02/2023
Notification Time: 14:14 [ET]
Event Date: 08/02/2023
Event Time: 14:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/02/2023
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):
Nguyen, April (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL) (EMAIL)
Nguyen, April (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL) (EMAIL)
RADIOACTIVE SOURCE LOST IN TRANSIT
The following information was received from Elkhart Clinic via telephone:
A 300 micro-curie germanium-68 (Ge-68) phantom source was sent from Elkhart Clinic of Elkhart, Indiana, in Siemens Medical Solutions in Knoxville, Tennessee, via [common carrier] on November 22, 2022. The radioactive source never arrived at its destination and was subsequently declared lost by [common carrier]. Ge-68 is used as a quality control source for positron emission tomography (PET) studies.
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.pdfNON-
The following information was received from Elkhart Clinic via telephone:
A 300 micro-curie germanium-68 (Ge-68) phantom source was sent from Elkhart Clinic of Elkhart, Indiana, in Siemens Medical Solutions in Knoxville, Tennessee, via [common carrier] on November 22, 2022. The radioactive source never arrived at its destination and was subsequently declared lost by [common carrier]. Ge-68 is used as a quality control source for positron emission tomography (PET) studies.
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.pdfNON-
Agreement State
Event Number: 56657
Rep Org: NH Dept of Health & Human Services
Licensee: Nylon Corporation of America
Region: 1
City: Manchester State: NH
County:
License #: #142R
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: David Scalise
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Licensee: Nylon Corporation of America
Region: 1
City: Manchester State: NH
County:
License #: #142R
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: David Scalise
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Notification Date: 08/04/2023
Notification Time: 14:32 [ET]
Event Date: 08/02/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2023
Notification Time: 14:32 [ET]
Event Date: 08/02/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Bickett, Brice (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Bickett, Brice (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE - REMOTE SHUTTER INDICATION FAILURE
The following information was provided by the New Hampshire Radiological Health Section (NHRHS) via email:
"On August 2, 2023, Nylon Corporation of America (NYCOA) reported that a specifically-licensed fixed level gauge (Berthold, Serial No. 175-02-07) installed on the `Capro Recovery Unit' apparently failed a semi-annual detector test. The detector provides a remote indication of tank level and shutter position. In the absence of remote indication, shutter position can be noted visually. The gauge shutter is manually operated and performs as designed. Additional testing performed on August 3, 2023, verified the detector failure. NYCOA formally reported their findings to the NHRHS via email on August 3, 2023 at 1316 [EDT].
"The fixed gauge (Berthold Model LB-300L) houses a 32.9 MBq (0.89 mCi) Co-60 source assayed on January 1, 2006. The current activity is calculated as 3.3 MBq (0.088 mCi). The gauge is affixed to a tank that is suspended about 9 feet above the process room floor. The location cannot be accessed without a ladder. The surrounding area contains process piping and is not normally occupied.
"On August 4, 2023, at 0930, NHRHS inspectors arrived to perform a reactive inspection. As found, the level gauge shutter was closed and appropriately locked-out/tagged-out of service. The highest measured exposure rate was 0.327 mR/hour in contact with the gauge housing (shutter closed). At head height, below the gauge, the exposure rate was 0.010 mR/hr, which approximates normal background. A Ludlum 9DP ion chamber was utilized for these measurements.
"There is no indication of personnel overexposure.
"NYCOA stated that the Capro Recovery Unit has been offline for about five years and there are no near-term plans to bring it back online. NYCOA will investigate removal and disposal of the level gauge rather than repair the detector."
NMED Report Number: NH-23-0001
The following information was provided by the New Hampshire Radiological Health Section (NHRHS) via email:
"On August 2, 2023, Nylon Corporation of America (NYCOA) reported that a specifically-licensed fixed level gauge (Berthold, Serial No. 175-02-07) installed on the `Capro Recovery Unit' apparently failed a semi-annual detector test. The detector provides a remote indication of tank level and shutter position. In the absence of remote indication, shutter position can be noted visually. The gauge shutter is manually operated and performs as designed. Additional testing performed on August 3, 2023, verified the detector failure. NYCOA formally reported their findings to the NHRHS via email on August 3, 2023 at 1316 [EDT].
"The fixed gauge (Berthold Model LB-300L) houses a 32.9 MBq (0.89 mCi) Co-60 source assayed on January 1, 2006. The current activity is calculated as 3.3 MBq (0.088 mCi). The gauge is affixed to a tank that is suspended about 9 feet above the process room floor. The location cannot be accessed without a ladder. The surrounding area contains process piping and is not normally occupied.
"On August 4, 2023, at 0930, NHRHS inspectors arrived to perform a reactive inspection. As found, the level gauge shutter was closed and appropriately locked-out/tagged-out of service. The highest measured exposure rate was 0.327 mR/hour in contact with the gauge housing (shutter closed). At head height, below the gauge, the exposure rate was 0.010 mR/hr, which approximates normal background. A Ludlum 9DP ion chamber was utilized for these measurements.
"There is no indication of personnel overexposure.
"NYCOA stated that the Capro Recovery Unit has been offline for about five years and there are no near-term plans to bring it back online. NYCOA will investigate removal and disposal of the level gauge rather than repair the detector."
NMED Report Number: NH-23-0001