Event Notification Report for August 01, 2024

EN Revision Imported Date: 9/24/2024

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Radioactive Materials Branch (RMB) via email:

"The licensee reported that around 0800 EDT on August 1, 2024, it was discovered that a break-in had occurred at a construction site. Their portable nuclear gauge (PNG) containing 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am-241/Be was stolen. The construction site is a locked and secured fenced area with the licensee's Conex box inside that secured area. The PNG was located inside the Conex box, locked inside its own secured steel storage box, secured via chains and locks to the inside of the Conex box. The steel box containing the PNG was also locked with chains and locks.

"The fenced area was broken into and the doors to the Conex box were forced open with a large sheepsfoot roller, allowing the thieves' access to the steel box containing the PNG.

"RMB's investigation is ongoing. A follow-up report will be made to close and complete the record."

NC event number: NC240004
NMED Number 240271

* * * UPDATE ON 9/16/2024 AT 0951 EDT FROM TRAVIS CARTOSKI to SAMUEL COLVARD * * *

The following information was provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Radioactive Materials Branch (RMB) via email:

"RMB have completed the investigation and consider the case closed given the following information."

"No additional party was involved. Corrective action is not needed as the licensee was not found in violation and adhered to all security requirements as required by the rule. Device info: Portable nuclear gauge, Troxler model 3440, serial number 14357."

Notified R1DO (Werkheiser), NMSS Events (email), ILTAB (email).

* * * UPDATE ON 9/23/2024 AT 1244 EDT FROM TRAVIS CARTOSKI to IAN HOWARD* * *

The following information was provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Radioactive Materials Branch (RMB) via email:

"On 9/23/24, the gauge was found, intact and fully functional."

Notified R1DO (Dimitriadis), NMSS Events (email), ILTAB (email).

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.pdfThe following information was provided by the licensee via fax or email:

AGREEMENT STATE - STUCK OPEN SHUTTER

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:

"On August 1, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee that the shutter of a Vega model SH-F2B gauge containing 200 millicuries (original activity) of cesium - 137 was stuck in the open position. Open is the normal operating position. The problem was discovered during routine testing. The licensee reported there was no risk of additional radiation exposure to any individual.

"Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas incident number: 10117
NMED number: TX240020

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST CALIBRATION SOURCE

The following is a summary of information provided by the Florida Bureau of Radiation Control (BRC) via email:

On August 1, 2024, the BRC received a notification from the Jacksonville Cardiovascular Center mobile trailer that a 174 microcurie Cs-137 Evial calibration source was missing. The source was last inventoried at the end of June, 2024.

Device: Evial
Manufacturer: EZAG
Model Number: 3350
Serial Number: 1792-20-18

Florida Incident Number: FL24-068

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 - LOST STRONTIUM-90 SOURCES

The following information was provided by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email and phone:

"On August 1, 2024, the Agency was advised by the radiation safety officer (RSO) for Eastern Illinois University that twelve strontium-90 button sources were missing from inventory. As the sources had been secured in a locked cabinet, they were likely mistakenly included in a low-level radioactive waste pickup that occurred on July 8, 2024. The RSO was not present for the shipment, nor was the waste pickup coordinated with relevant radiation safety program staff. The sources were identified as missing when the RSO did a sealed source inventory on August 1, 2024. The sources were not itemized on the waste manifest and while this is the most likely disposition, it cannot be verified at this time.

"The twelve sources were 0.5 microcurie Sr-90 button sources when assayed in 1970. All were manufactured by The Nucleus, Inc. as model Sr-90-S-5, with serial numbers 6/2/70-1 through 6/2/70-12. They are now decayed to approximately 0.14 microcuries each and do not represent a radiation safety concern. The Agency has already conducted a reactive inspection. The licensee is assessing the availability of documentation through the waste broker (NAC Philotechnics). Pending that documentation and a response to the Notice of Violation, this matter is considered closed."

Illinois item number: IL240018

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

60-DAY NOTIFICATION OF INVALID SPECIFIED SYSTEM ACTUATION

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

"At 2127 EDT, on 8/01/2024, with Unit 1 in mode 1 at 98 percent power, a complete actuation of the 'A' train containment ventilation isolation (CVI) occurred. The 'A' train CVI resulted from the failure of a radiation monitor providing input to the isolation circuitry. The CVI removes containment purge from operation should it be in service and secures other radiation monitors which measure reactor coolant system leakage. In accordance with the station's procedures and technical specifications, a restoration from the CVI was made. Troubleshooting revealed that replacement of this obsolete radiation monitor was justified; a design change to perform this replacement is in progress.

"This report is being made under 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) as an event that resulted in an invalid actuation of the 'A' train CVI.

"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of the event."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST STATIC ELIMINATOR

The following is a summary of information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment via email:

The licensee reported a static eliminator containing 10 Ci of Po-210 was lost in Wheatridge, Colorado.

Manufacturer: NRD, LLC
Model number: P-2021
Isotope: Po-210
Activity: 10 Ci

Event report ID number: CO250034

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Category 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example: level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf