Event Notification Report for March 05, 2025

FITNESS FOR DUTY

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

A non-licensed employee brought an illegal substance into the protected area. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.

The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified.

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/14/2025

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA

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

"On March 6, 2025, the Department received a call from the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO). He reported that at around 1600 hours a radiography crew reported losing a SPEC 150 exposure device containing a 95.4 curie iridium-192 source. The RSO stated that the source was in the fully shielded position. The RSO stated that the radiographers had completed an exposure on a pipeline and the radiographer trainer told the trainee to store the exposure device. [The radiographer trainer] then went to the cab of the truck to do some paperwork. The trainee set the exposure device on the back of the truck with the guide tube removed but the 35-foot crank outs still attached. The trainee failed to secure the device in the truck. The radiographers drove [toward] the next site. The RSO stated that they traveled about a mile and realized the exposure device was no longer on the back of the truck. The radiographers turned around and retraced the path they had traveled. They did not find the device. The RSO stated that while looking for the device [the radiographers] passed two trucks, which they stopped and asked if anyone had seen the device. Both said they had not seen it. The RSO stated that they have 4 radiography crews searching in the area for the device. The operations manager is also in the area searching for the device. The RSO stated that he has tried to contact the sheriff for the area and has not been able to do so. He stated he will continue to call them until he reaches someone. The radiographers were working approximately 10 miles east of Mentone, Texas, north of state highway 302. The RSO said he would provide GPS coordinates as soon as he received them.

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

Texas Incident Number: 10179
NMED Number: TX250016

Notified: DHS SWO, FEMA Ops Center, USDA Ops Center, HHS Ops Center, DOE Ops Center, DHS CISA Central, EPA EOC, FEMA NWC, FDA EOC (email), Nuclear SSA (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), CNSNS (Mexico) email.

* * * UPDATE ON 03/13/2025 AT 1843 EDT FROM ART TUCKER TO ROBERT THOMPSON * * *

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

"On March 13, 2025, the licensee contacted the Department and stated they had received a phone call from an individual who stated they had found its exposure device. The individual stated they found it on March 13, 2025, where the licensee believed it had been lost. The individual stated they had taken it to their home in Pecos, Texas. They stated this was their first day back at work since they found the device and saw the posting about the device. They agreed to meet at the individual's home at 1700 CDT. The licensee's radiation safety officer, corporate safety officer, the local sheriff, and two deputies arrived at the individual's home at 1715 CDT. The individual took them to a small shed behind their house. The shed was locked. The individual stated the gauge remained in the locked shed from the time they brought it to their home until then. The exposure device was found on the floor in the shed. The crank outs were still attached, and the dust cover was still on the front of the device. Both the exposure device and the crank outs appeared to be undamaged. The individual stated they had not attempted to operate the device. The licensee took the device to their vehicle to transport it back to its normal storage location. The licensee stated that dose rates off the device were normal and no individual would have received any significant exposure due to this event."

Internal notifications: R4DO (Warnick), NMSS (Silberfeld), ILTAB (Brown), IR MOC (Crouch), NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (email), ILTAB, (email), INES National Officer (Smith), NMSS INES Coordinator (Allen).

External notifications: DHS SWO, FEMA Ops Center, USDA Ops Center, HHS Ops Center, DOE Ops Center, DHS CISA Central, EPA EOC, FEMA NWC, FDA EOC (email), Nuclear SSA (email), CWMD Watch Desk (email), CNSNS (Mexico) email.

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Category 2' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 2 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 a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IMPROPER SHIPMENT OF BYPRODUCT MATERIALS

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

"On March 6, 2025, the Department was contacted by Customs and Border Protection regarding a shipment that was passing through their checkpoint in the port of Houston, Texas. The shipment set off their radiation monitors and the radionuclides were identified as americium-241 and radium-226. When the Department contacted the shipper, the shipper stated that part of the shipment was smoke detectors. The shipper made arrangements for the shipment to be returned to the originating location in Farmers Branch, Texas. On March 14, 2025, a Department investigator went to the shipper's location and confirmed that the shipment contained two boxes with smoke detectors. On March 27, 2025, a Department investigator went back to the location to inspect the materials and perform radiological surveys. The investigator verified that the two boxes contained approximately 3,200 smoke detectors. The investigator noted that a large number of the americium-241 sources had been separated from the smoke detectors and were laying free inside the boxes. The investigator found that the dose rates on contact with the outside of the box were around 75 uR/hr. A gamma spectroscopy reading of the box determined the radionuclides to be americium-241 and radium-226. The investigator did not detect any loose surface contamination. The owner (shipper) of the package was directed to secure the packages containing the smoke detectors in a secure location. Based on the radiological surveys performed by the Department, no individual would have received a significant exposure as a result of this event. The owner of the material has agreed to impound all the sources and secure them in an area not easily accessible to an individual. The Department will assist the owner of the smoke detectors in finding a contractor to properly dispose of the material."

Texas incident number: 10185
NMED number: TX250020

There was no indication that any foils were separated from the shipping packages. The owner of the shipment does not have a Texas license for the possession of byproduct materials. The Department will continue to investigate this incident.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING SEALED SOURCE

The following information was provided by the Massachusetts Division of Radiation Control, Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health (the Agency), via email:

"On 3/5/2025 at 1549 EST, QSA Global, Inc. notified the Agency that a source imported from India was leaking. QSA Global performed two leak tests on the source upon receipt. The results of the leak tests were 0.008 micro-curies and 0.004 micro-curies. QSA Global confirmed that no contamination exists outside of the container where the source is stored."

"Isotope: Co-60
"Source model number: A424-13
"Source serial number: 102732(B)
"Form: sealed source
"Activity: 13 Ci

"The reporting requirement is immediate [per] 105 CMR 120.288, reports of leaking or contaminated sources."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK OPEN GAUGE SHUTTER

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

"On March 5, 2025, the Department was notified by Honeywell International Inc (the licensee) that prior to performing maintenance on a vessel, it was found that the shutter on an Ohmart model SH-F2 gauge was stuck in the open position. Open is the normal position for the gauge. The gauge contains a 375 millicurie (original activity) cesium-137 source. The licensee reported that a service provider has been contacted, and the gauge should be repaired by March 7, 2025. The licensee reported the area around the vessel the gauge is mounted to has been isolated and posted 'No Entry'. The licensee reported that there is no risk of additional radiation exposure to members of the general public or radiation workers, due to this on/off mechanism failure. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Texas incident number: 10178
NMED number: TX250015

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYZER

The following information was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email.

"On March 6, 2025, the Agency made the determination that Days & Crawford Scrap Metal (GL 9223735), lost an X-Ray fluorescence analyzer device (Thermo Niton Analyzers, LLC, XLp-828q, s/n 11540). The Agency reached out to the registrant on February 11, 2025, to inquire about delinquent payments for the device's registration. The registrant responded to the Agency on March 5, 2025, that they were unable to locate the device. The device contains three sealed sources: 14 mCi of americium-241; 40 mCi of cadmium-109; and 0.005 mCi of americium-241. At this time, this is considered an accidental loss due to poor oversight and is not related to any criminal theft or diversion. This event is currently under Agency investigation. Further details will be entered as they are received."

Item Number: IL250010

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

TRANSPORT OF CONTAMINATED PERSON OFFSITE

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

"On March 5, 2025, at 0418 CST, a contract employee was transported to an off-site medical facility for treatment. The individual was determined to have low levels of contamination prior to being transported.

"This event is reportable [in accordance with] 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xii) any event requiring the transport of a radioactively contaminated person to an off-site medical facility for treatment."

The NRC resident inspector has been notified.

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

A qualified radiation health physics technician traveled with the contaminated individual to ensure no spread of contamination to the ambulance or to the medical facility.

FITNESS FOR DUTY EVENT

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

A non-licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.

The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST RADIOACTIVE SOURCE

The following is a summary of information provided by the New Mexico Environment Department, Radiation Control Bureau (RCB) via phone:

The RCB was notified that a 10 mCi sealed Ni-63 source from a gas chromatograph has been lost. The loss was first discovered on March 5, 2025, during a routine audit. The licensee conducted a thorough search of the premises and could not locate the source. The loss was reported to RCB on July 30, 2025. The last confirmed physical accounting of the source was in 1995.

RCB is investigating this incident.

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