Event Notification Report for November 22, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
11/21/2023 - 11/22/2023
Agreement State
Event Number: 56870
Rep Org: Iowa Department of Public Health
Licensee: 3M Company
Region: 3
City: Ames State: IA
County:
License #: 0271-1-85-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Stuart Jordan
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Licensee: 3M Company
Region: 3
City: Ames State: IA
County:
License #: 0271-1-85-FG
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Stuart Jordan
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 11/22/2023
Notification Time: 16:14 [ET]
Event Date: 11/22/2023
Event Time: 08:15 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/22/2023
Notification Time: 16:14 [ET]
Event Date: 11/22/2023
Event Time: 08:15 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/22/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Hills, David (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Hills, David (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - BROKEN GAUGE SHUTTER
The following information was provided by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via email:
"3M Company in Ames, Iowa, possesses NDC Technologies fixed nuclear gauges for material thickness measurements on their production line. It is being reported that on the morning of November 22, 2023, when beginning production at 0815 CST, a web from the line caught the shutter of an NDC model 103X fixed nuclear gauge, containing 150 millicuries of americium-141, and bent the shutter away from the closed position impacting the function [of the] shutter and not allowing it to fully shield the beam as intended. This was immediately identified by staff and the line was shut down and the radiation safety officer (RSO) was notified. The affected device is installed behind guarding and nobody had access to the beam until the RSO came onsite at 0920 to evaluate the situation. Iowa HHS was notified at 0945. Under the direct supervision and instruction of the RSO, using a radiation survey meter, the licensee (3M Company) fixed the shutter and 3M Corporate Health Physics was notified that the device had been fixed at 1130.
"No overexposures, release, or contamination of radioactive material has occurred because of this incident and Iowa HHS will update this reportable event as more information (cause, corrective actions, radiation doses) becomes available."
NMED item number: IA230003
The following information was provided by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via email:
"3M Company in Ames, Iowa, possesses NDC Technologies fixed nuclear gauges for material thickness measurements on their production line. It is being reported that on the morning of November 22, 2023, when beginning production at 0815 CST, a web from the line caught the shutter of an NDC model 103X fixed nuclear gauge, containing 150 millicuries of americium-141, and bent the shutter away from the closed position impacting the function [of the] shutter and not allowing it to fully shield the beam as intended. This was immediately identified by staff and the line was shut down and the radiation safety officer (RSO) was notified. The affected device is installed behind guarding and nobody had access to the beam until the RSO came onsite at 0920 to evaluate the situation. Iowa HHS was notified at 0945. Under the direct supervision and instruction of the RSO, using a radiation survey meter, the licensee (3M Company) fixed the shutter and 3M Corporate Health Physics was notified that the device had been fixed at 1130.
"No overexposures, release, or contamination of radioactive material has occurred because of this incident and Iowa HHS will update this reportable event as more information (cause, corrective actions, radiation doses) becomes available."
NMED item number: IA230003
Agreement State
Event Number: 57295
Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services
Licensee: ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
Region: 4
City: Alvin State: TX
County:
License #: L06630
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Licensee: ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
Region: 4
City: Alvin State: TX
County:
License #: L06630
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Notification Date: 08/28/2024
Notification Time: 21:25 [ET]
Event Date: 11/22/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/28/2024
Notification Time: 21:25 [ET]
Event Date: 11/22/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/28/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Josey, Jeffrey (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Josey, Jeffrey (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK OPEN SHUTTERS
The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:
"On August 28, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee that during a record review, it was discovered that on November 22, 2023, during routine testing, two gauge shutters had failed in the open position and were not reported to the Department. The gauges were both Vega [model] SHLG-1 gauges. One gauge contained a 1 millicurie Cs-137 source and the other a 500 millicurie Cs-137 source. Open is the normal operating position for the gauges. The licensee reported that there is no additional risk of radiation exposure to members of the general public or the licensee's workers. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300"
Texas Incident Number: 10124
Texas NMED Number: TX240025
The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:
"On August 28, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee that during a record review, it was discovered that on November 22, 2023, during routine testing, two gauge shutters had failed in the open position and were not reported to the Department. The gauges were both Vega [model] SHLG-1 gauges. One gauge contained a 1 millicurie Cs-137 source and the other a 500 millicurie Cs-137 source. Open is the normal operating position for the gauges. The licensee reported that there is no additional risk of radiation exposure to members of the general public or the licensee's workers. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300"
Texas Incident Number: 10124
Texas NMED Number: TX240025