Event Notification Report for December 12, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
12/11/2023 - 12/12/2023
Agreement State
Event Number: 56335
Rep Org: Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency
Licensee: Jiva Resources
Region: 3
City: Sauget State: IL
County:
License #: GL 9223880
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Gary Forsee
HQ OPS Officer: Bill Gott
Notification Date: 02/03/2023
Notification Time: 14:39 [ET]
Event Date: 09/26/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/11/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Szwarc, Dariusz (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Rivera-Capella, Gretchen (NMSS DAY)
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 12/12/2023
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SEALED SOURCE GAUGES INVOLVED IN A FIRE
The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:
"The Agency was contacted on February 3, 2023, by Jiva Resources in Sauget, IL to advise that five Cs-137 gauges had been impacted by a fire in September 2022. A Jiva Resources representative called and initially reported the five radioactive gauges as stolen 'in the last week.' When Agency staff returned his call that same morning, the devices had been located but were identified as having been involved in a fire back in September 2022. While the container (sealed drum) holding the gauges was impacted by the fire, it is unclear if there was any impact to the gauges. The devices include two Ohmart model SH-F1 gauges (serial numbers 2879GK and 1652GK) and three Vega model SR-A gauges (serial numbers 2174GK, 2878GK, and 63008). All contain 20 millicuries of Cs-137 except for serial number 63008 which contains 30 millicuries of Cs-137. It should be noted the SH-F1 housings are identified in the Sealed Source and Device Registry as being fireproof (rated above 800 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes) while the SR-A housings are lead-filled cylindrical steel shells, which are noted for retaining the source should the lead shielding melt out. Exposure rates should be less than 5 mR/hr at one foot - which will be confirmed by Agency staff. Leak tests will be conducted and source security assessed. Additional regulatory requirements regarding proper disposal, storage, leak testing and reporting will be investigated as well."
* * * UPDATE ON 02/06/2023 AT 1248 EST FROM GARY FORSEE TO LLOYD DESOTELL * * *
The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:
"Agency staff attempted to perform a reactionary inspection the morning of February 6, 2023, to inspect the condition of the five radioactive gauges identified above. This effort confirmed that the registrant did in fact lose accountability of the gauges as it appears they were stolen at some point in the last four months. The last known location was in Sauget, IL in September 2022 when that storage location was involved in a fire. Since that time, the building has reportedly been accessible to looters. Local scrap yards and public safety partners will be notified."
Illinois Incident Number: IL230002
Notified: R3DO (Szwarc); NMSS Events Notification and ILTAB via email.
* * * UPDATE ON 04/04/2023 AT 1120 EDT FROM GARY FORSEE TO BRIAN LIN * * *
The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:
"On 3/7/23 the property owner (39N properties) was contacted to coordinate a site visit. The Agency was advised that on 2/23/2023, all assets were transferred to JET Resources by matter of court decision. The Agency staff coordinated with the new property owners and performed a site visit on 3/30/2023. The Agency staff performed surveys for nearly 2.5 hours to attempt to locate the gauges. While it is possible the gauges may still be buried beneath debris, surveys on the accessible surface did not show evidence of the gauges. Sodium iodide surveys performed throughout the site yielded count rates that were indistinguishable from background. The area is secured and looting does not appear to be an issue as initially reported. Site cleanup is ongoing and the new owners will coordinate with the Agency if anything suspect is located. The contractor has radiation detection equipment. Enforcement regarding this matter is ongoing. While this report will be updated with any developments, all available evidence indicates these gauges are no longer on the site and were either stolen or improperly transferred by the previous owners. This matter is considered closed by the Agency unless additional information becomes available."
Notified: R3DO (Orlikowski); NMSS Events Notification, NMSS Regional Coordinator (Rivera-Capel), and ILTAB via email.
* * * UPDATE ON 12/11/23 AT 1240 FROM WHITNEY COX TO KAREN COTTON * * *
The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:
"ONS-RAM [Office of Nuclear Safety - Radioactive Materials] was contacted by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on 12/6/23, to advise that they had discovered what appeared to be generally licensed gauges, reported as lost/abandoned in February of this year at Jive Resources in Sauget, IL. IEMA-OHS [Illinois Emergency Management Agency - Office of Homeland Security] staff responded and recovered three generally licensed gauges containing 20-30 mCi of Cs-137 each. The gauges were found corroded, partially submerged, and had been involved in a fire. Field surveys/wipes did not show evidence of leakage, but ash samples and wipes will be submitted to the lab for confirmation. Two gauges remain unaccounted for, but were not located after additional searches/surveys of the site.
"The following gauges were recovered: Vega Americas Model SR-A gauges with S/Ns 2174GK, 2878GK, and 63008."
Notified: R3DO (McCraw); NMSS Events Notification, NMSS Regional Coordinator (Brenneman), 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
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 56857
Rep Org: Patriot Engineering
Licensee: Patriot Engineering
Region: 3
City: Evansville State: IN
County:
License #: 13-32725-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Kyle Bauer
HQ OPS Officer: Eric Simpson
Notification Date: 11/16/2023
Notification Time: 08:11 [ET]
Event Date: 11/15/2023
Event Time: 17:35 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/11/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen LNM>10x
Person (Organization):
Feliz-Adorno, Nestor (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 12/12/2023
EN Revision Text: NON-AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TROXLER GAUGE
The following information was provided by the licensee via phone conservation:
An NRC licensee lost a portable moisture density gauge while in transit to a testing site. The licensee inadvertently drove to the work location with a Troxler gauge on the work vehicle tailgate. The gauge was last known to be in possession by the licensee at the intersection of Kentucky and Diamond Avenues in Evansville, Indiana. The Troxler Model 3400, SN 20494, contained 9 mCi, Cs-137 and 1320 mCi, Am-241/Be.
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
* * * UPDATE ON 12/11/23 AT 1104 EST FROM KYLE BAUER TO ERIC SIMPSON * * *
The following is a synopsis of information that was provided by the licensee via email:
The site radiation safety officer received a call on Friday, November 17, 2023, from the job site informing them that the gauge was returned. The licensee returned to the job site, retrieved the gauge, performed leak tests, and notified the NRC Region III Office (Jason Draper).
Notified R3DO (McCraw), NMSS Events, 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
Event Number: 56879
Rep Org: WA Office of Radiation Protection
Licensee: WestRock Longview, LLC
Region: 4
City: Longview State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I090-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: James Killingbeck
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Notification Date: 12/05/2023
Notification Time: 20:37 [ET]
Event Date: 12/05/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/05/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Dixon, John (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK SHUTTER
The following information was provided by the The Washington State Department of Health via email:
"The shutter on a fixed nuclear gauge [a Vega Americas Corp. Model No. SH-F1 gauge containing 53 millicuries of Cs-137] was unable to be closed when licensee staff attempted to lock it out. Licensee staff consulted with the manufacturer and, per the manufacturer's recommendation, installed four inches of steel plates in front of the fixed nuclear gauge to shield it. After installation of the steel plates, radiation levels were 0.2 mR/hour. The licensee is planning to replace the entire fixed nuclear gauge, per the manufacturer's recommendation, as the manufacturer has previously replaced the shutter on this gauge. The steel plates will remain installed until the fixed nuclear gauge is replaced. The Washington State Department of Health will gather additional information about this event and will submit an updated event report. An investigation may be conducted."
WA Event Number: WA-23-031
Part 21
Event Number: 56882
Rep Org: Tioga Pipe Inc.
Licensee:
Region: 1
City: Easton State: PA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Bryan Nichols
HQ OPS Officer: Kerby Scales
Notification Date: 12/08/2023
Notification Time: 16:47 [ET]
Event Date: 11/15/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/11/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
21.21(a)(2) - Interim Eval Of Deviation
Person (Organization):
Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Part 21/50.55 Reactors, - (EMAIL)
Event Text
EN Revision Imported Date: 12/12/2023
EN Revision Text: PART 21 - INTERIM REPORT FOR BUTTWELD 90 DEGREE ELBOWS
The following is a synopsis of information that was provided by Tioga Pipe Incorporated via fax:
On November 15, 2023, nine pieces of one-inch buttweld long radius 90 degree elbows were determined not to meet correct thickness requirements. Three of the nine fittings were installed in the plant. The supplier requested that the uninstalled material be quarantined and tagged as nonconforming. The supplier doesn't know where the fittings were installed in the plant.
Brunswick Nuclear Generating Station is the only plant affected.
For questions concerning this 10 CFR 21 issue, please contact:
Bryan Nichols
Director of Quality Assurance
Tioga Pipe Incorporated
(484) 546-5613
bnichols@tiogapipe.com
* * * UPDATE ON 12/11/23 AT 0959 EST FROM SHANNON ECHOLS TO ERIC SIMPSON * * *
Duplicate Part 21 notification made by Mackson Nuclear, LLC. This notification is identical to the Part 21 notification made by Tioga Pipe Incorporated via fax to NRC on Friday, December 8, 2023. No additional information was provided.
Brunswick Nuclear Generating Station is the only plant affected.
Notified R2RDO (Miller) and Part 21 Group via email.
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 56886
Rep Org: Liveo Research Inc.
Licensee: Liveo Research Inc.
Region: 1
City: New Castle State: DE
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: John Oikemus
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 12/11/2023
Notification Time: 16:50 [ET]
Event Date: 08/21/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/11/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - Safety Equipment Failure
Person (Organization):
Gray, Mel (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Event Text
DAMAGED RADIOACTIVE SOURCE CONTAINMENT
The following is summary of information provided by the licensee via email and phone:
On December 11, 2023, the licensee reported that the point level sensor containment attached to a power feeder was damaged and the internal shutter would not close. The licensee noticed issues with the point level sensor on June 28, 2023. On July 6, 2023, a work order was submitted for servicing the point level sensor. On August 21, 2023, the level senor was serviced, and the technician informed the licensee that due to the damage of the containment the unit was non-repairable. The estimated dose to staff from June 28, 2023 to August 21, 2023 is 1.8 mrem. The device was removed from service on October 5, 2023.
Source and Containment Information:
Source: Cs-137
Containment Model Number: FQG60
Serial Number: J8003301141
Activity: 740 MBq/20 mCi
Manufacturing Date: 08/2014