Event Notification Report for November 26, 2024

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA MALFUNCTION

The following report was received by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department):

"On 11/26/24, the Department was notified by the licensee of a malfunction that occurred with one of its cameras during an industrial radiography procedure. The licensee stated that a technician, while operating a SPEC 150 camera containing a 56 curie source of Ir-192, heard grinding noises during the crank-out process. The technician then retracted the source and conducted a source survey to confirm that it had returned to the shielded position. Upon inspection, the technician observed that the source was still extended at the end of the guide tube. The technician contacted the radiation safety officer (RSO), who responded to the scene, conducted an inspection, and was unable to determine if the source had become disconnected. The RSO subsequently covered the source with lead shielding and contacted the manufacturer who advised the licensee to transport the camera and source to the manufacturer for further examination and repair.

"The licensee stated no members of the public were exposed to radiation because of the incident.

"Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident Number: 10147
Texas NMED Number: 240046

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER GAUGE

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

"The Agency was contacted the evening of 11/26/24 by the radiation safety officer for Princeton Technical Services to advise that a Troxler 3430 moisture density gauge had been hit by a vehicle while in use at the airport. Reportedly, the authorized user (AU) set the portable gauge next to his vehicle and forgot to properly secure it prior to moving. The vehicle struck the gauge and broke off the face plate and the electronic keypad. The AU stated that there was no damage to the source housings and the cesium source rod was fully retracted. These statements were confirmed by on scene Chicago Fire Department (CFD) personnel. The CFD used a Thermo RadEye device to measure the exposure rate at one meter which was compared to the shipping papers. The reading at one meter was 189 microR/hour and the listed transport index was 0.3 which supports the fact that the source rod was properly shielded. The gauge was then packaged in the undamaged case and transported back to the licensee's location.

"Agency inspectors conducted a reactive inspection the morning of 11/27/24 and corroborated the details above. The licensee's written report is pending and will be used to update this event with a root cause and corrective actions. The licensee attributes the cause of the event to human error and the failure to follow their procedure."

Illinois Item Number: IL240029
Source Number: 1
Source/Radioactive Material: Sealed Source Gauge
Manufacturer: AEA Technologies
Model Number: NR
Serial Number: 750-9439
Radionuclide: Cs-137
Activity: 0.008 Ci (8 mCi or 296 MBq)
Source Number: 2
Source/Radioactive Material: Sealed Source Gauge
Manufacturer: Isotope Products Lab
Model Number: NR
Serial Number: 47-6362
Radionuclide: Am-Be
Activity: 0.04 Ci (40 mCi or 1.48 GBq)

DIVISION 3 DIESEL GENERATOR INOPERABLE

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

"At 1158 EST on 11/26/24, the Division 3 diesel generator was declared inoperable due to failure of the right bank air start motor during a planned monthly surveillance run. Troubleshooting of the issue is in progress. This condition could prevent the fulfillment of a safety function; therefore, this condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v). All other emergency core cooling systems were operable during this time.

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

The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
The Division 3 diesel generator supports high pressure core spray, a single train system.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCES

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

"On October 6, 2025, the Agency received notification from the licensee on missing calibration sources. The sources include 2 vials of cesium-137 and cobalt-57. The licensee could not provide details regarding the activities of the sources. According to the licensee, on November 26, 2024, the sources were shipped using [common carrier] to Eckert and Ziegler in California for disposal. At the time, the licensee reportedly they were in the process of closing-up as it was merging with another organization. The licensee stated that it had submitted a request for termination of its license to the Agency's licensing department. In March 2025, the licensing department requested radioactive source transfer records as part of the license termination process, but the licensee could not provide any documentation. The licensee stated that these records could not be found and were lost during the changeover to the new company. Eckert and Ziegler was also contacted but could not find any record of receipt of these sources.

"Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA 300 reporting requirements."

Texas Incident Number: 10236

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