Event Notification Report for July 29, 2024
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
07/28/2024 - 07/29/2024
Fuel Cycle Facility
Event Number: 57251
Facility: BWX Technologies Inc.
Region: 2 State: VA
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Comments: Heu Fabrication & Scrap
NRC Notified By: Daniel Ashworth
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Region: 2 State: VA
Unit: [] [] []
RX Type: Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Comments: Heu Fabrication & Scrap
NRC Notified By: Daniel Ashworth
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 07/30/2024
Notification Time: 09:24 [ET]
Event Date: 07/29/2024
Event Time: 10:25 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/30/2024
Notification Time: 09:24 [ET]
Event Date: 07/29/2024
Event Time: 10:25 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/30/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.2202(b)(1) - Pers Overexposure/TEDE >= 5 Rem
10 CFR Section:
20.2202(b)(1) - Pers Overexposure/TEDE >= 5 Rem
Person (Organization):
Coovert, Nicole (R2DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL) (EMAIL)
Coovert, Nicole (R2DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL) (EMAIL)
POSSIBLE OVEREXPOSURE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL
The following information was provided by the BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. (BWXT NOG-L) via email:
"At approximately 1025 EDT on Monday, July 29, 2024, a BWXT NOG-L recycle vendor notified the licensee that a shipment of scrap aluminum machining chips was identified as being potentially radioactive and/or contaminated. The shipment of material activated the recycle vendor's portal detectors. BWXT NOG-L responded to the vendor's facility and performed a preliminary assessment, exterior smears of the shipping container and inside the transport vehicle confirmed no contamination. The recycle vendor obtained a special permit, from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to return the container back to BWXT NOG-L for evaluation of uranium contamination. Upon return of the container, the contents were re-packaged into drums, values established through non-destructive assay (NDA), and stored within a radiation-controlled area.
"No one was exposed and the material did not pose a risk to the public or the environment during its transportation to and from the recycle vendor. BWXT NOG-L recognizes the potential exposure implications had this material processed through the recycler's facility and is reporting accordingly under 10 CFR 20.2202(b). BWXT NOG-L also recognizes the failure to properly ship radioactive material in accordance with 10 CFR 71.5.
"The resident inspector has been notified. "
The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
As a corrected action the licensee has suspended shipments until an evaluation is completed.
The following information was provided by the BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. (BWXT NOG-L) via email:
"At approximately 1025 EDT on Monday, July 29, 2024, a BWXT NOG-L recycle vendor notified the licensee that a shipment of scrap aluminum machining chips was identified as being potentially radioactive and/or contaminated. The shipment of material activated the recycle vendor's portal detectors. BWXT NOG-L responded to the vendor's facility and performed a preliminary assessment, exterior smears of the shipping container and inside the transport vehicle confirmed no contamination. The recycle vendor obtained a special permit, from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to return the container back to BWXT NOG-L for evaluation of uranium contamination. Upon return of the container, the contents were re-packaged into drums, values established through non-destructive assay (NDA), and stored within a radiation-controlled area.
"No one was exposed and the material did not pose a risk to the public or the environment during its transportation to and from the recycle vendor. BWXT NOG-L recognizes the potential exposure implications had this material processed through the recycler's facility and is reporting accordingly under 10 CFR 20.2202(b). BWXT NOG-L also recognizes the failure to properly ship radioactive material in accordance with 10 CFR 71.5.
"The resident inspector has been notified. "
The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
As a corrected action the licensee has suspended shipments until an evaluation is completed.
Agreement State
Event Number: 57287
Rep Org: Florida Bureau of Radiation Control
Licensee: University of Florida
Region: 1
City: Gainesville State: FL
County:
License #: 031-3
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: John Williamson
HQ OPS Officer: Josue Ramirez
Licensee: University of Florida
Region: 1
City: Gainesville State: FL
County:
License #: 031-3
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: John Williamson
HQ OPS Officer: Josue Ramirez
Notification Date: 08/23/2024
Notification Time: 17:33 [ET]
Event Date: 07/29/2024
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/23/2024
Notification Time: 17:33 [ET]
Event Date: 07/29/2024
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/23/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Lilliendahl, Jon (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Lilliendahl, Jon (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SEALED SOURCE
The following information was provided by the Florida Bureau of Radiation Control (BRC) via email:
"On 3/27/24, the Cs-137 dose calibrator source was found to have 635 disintegrations per minutes (dpm) of contamination during the routine weekly swipe. Second set of swipes found 2346 dpm on the inside of the shielded container and 2559 dpm on the outside of the vial. The source was cleaned and swiped again, which brought counts to zero on the inside of the shielded container and 1018 dpm on the outside of the vial. On 4/1/2024, the swipes were counted again and found to be at the same level, showing the contamination to be a long-lived isotope. Since the area where the sealed source resides does not contain long-lived isotopes, it was assumed the source was leaking and was taken out of service and stored under the office of radiation safety's control. On 4/2/2024, Eckert and Ziegler [the manufacturer] was contacted to request instructions on returning the leaking source. Another swipe taken on 7/29/2024 found 17807 dpm and a small fracture was noticed on the vial. This swipe exceeded 5 nano Ci, and the report was made to BRC. Source will be returned to the manufacturer."
Source Information:
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler.
Model: RV-137-200U.
Serial number: 1047-67-4.
Original activity: 197 micro Ci with a calibration date of 7/1/2004.
Florida Incident No.: FL24-076
The following information was provided by the Florida Bureau of Radiation Control (BRC) via email:
"On 3/27/24, the Cs-137 dose calibrator source was found to have 635 disintegrations per minutes (dpm) of contamination during the routine weekly swipe. Second set of swipes found 2346 dpm on the inside of the shielded container and 2559 dpm on the outside of the vial. The source was cleaned and swiped again, which brought counts to zero on the inside of the shielded container and 1018 dpm on the outside of the vial. On 4/1/2024, the swipes were counted again and found to be at the same level, showing the contamination to be a long-lived isotope. Since the area where the sealed source resides does not contain long-lived isotopes, it was assumed the source was leaking and was taken out of service and stored under the office of radiation safety's control. On 4/2/2024, Eckert and Ziegler [the manufacturer] was contacted to request instructions on returning the leaking source. Another swipe taken on 7/29/2024 found 17807 dpm and a small fracture was noticed on the vial. This swipe exceeded 5 nano Ci, and the report was made to BRC. Source will be returned to the manufacturer."
Source Information:
Manufacturer: Eckert and Ziegler.
Model: RV-137-200U.
Serial number: 1047-67-4.
Original activity: 197 micro Ci with a calibration date of 7/1/2004.
Florida Incident No.: FL24-076