Event Notification Report for August 07, 2024

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.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL LEAKAGE FROM MEDICAL SOURCE

The following is a summary of information received from the Washington State Department of Health via email:

An inspection was conducted on July 25, 2024 at the licensee facility for the use of Alpha DaRT. The inspection team noted that on November 15, 2023, records indicated that two of the applicators had alpha contamination inside of the sterile packaging with readings of 10,000 counts per minute (cpm) and 6000 cpm, with average background of 23 cpm using an alpha meter.

Washington Incident No.: WA-24-018

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK OPEN SHUTTER

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

"On July 30, 2024, the licensee, WRB Refining, LP - Wood River Refinery (IL-01282-01) in Roxana, IL, discovered a stuck open shutter on a fixed gauge. They reported this to the Agency on July 31, 2024. The Vega Americas level indicator gauge is located on the 'Coker North Drum 8 Top Gauge' and contains 5000 mCi of Cs-137 (assay date 11/10/2008) with serial number 8626CM, source holder model number SHLG-2-30, source holder serial number 13541754, and tag number LX0544CK. The gauge will be serviced soon. Updates will be provided as available."

The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:

This poses no safety hazard to the public.

Illinois Item No. IL240017

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