U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
Event Reports For
03/05/2003 - 03/06/2003
** EVENT NUMBERS **
39626 39638
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|General Information or Other |Event Number: 39626 |
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| REP ORG: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM |NOTIFICATION DATE: 02/28/2003|
|LICENSEE: NITON CORP |NOTIFICATION TIME: 13:46[EST]|
| CITY: BILLERICA REGION: 1 |EVENT DATE: 02/05/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: MA |EVENT TIME: 15:00[EST]|
|LICENSE#: 55-0238 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE: 02/28/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |JOHN KINNEMAN R1 |
| |FRED BROWN NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+MARISSA BAILEY-email NMSS |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: KENATH TRAEGDE | |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: GERRY WAIG | |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE | |
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| | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- RECEIPT OF CONTAMINATED PACKAGES |
| |
| The following is taken from an email received from the MA Dept. of Public |
| Health, Radiation Control Program: |
| |
| "On Wednesday, February 5, 2003, it was discovered that a routine wipe of an |
| incoming 20 millicurie (0.740 GBq) Iron-55 source ordered from AEA |
| Technology QSA, Inc. was contaminated. The wipe was sent off for analysis. |
| On Friday, February 14, the wipe was reported to contain 213.7 nanocuries |
| (7.91kBq) of Iron-55 contamination. The distributor, AEA Technology QSA, |
| Inc., was notified of the leaking source as was the Radiation Control |
| Program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. |
| |
| "In the interim, on Monday, February 24, 2003, another incoming Iron-55 |
| leaking source from the same lot number was discovered by Niton Corporation |
| at approximately 5:00 p.m. The wipe has been sent to an authorized |
| consultant for further analysis. The level of contamination of the second |
| source has not been reported to the Agency at the time of this report. |
| Again, the manufacturer/distributor, AEA Technology QSA, Inc., was notified |
| of the leaking source as was the Radiation Control Program. |
| |
| "An investigation into these leaking source events has been initiated by the |
| Radiation Control Program." |
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|Transportation |Event Number: 39638 |
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| REP ORG: STATE OF WV RAD HEALTH PROGRAM |NOTIFICATION DATE: 03/06/2003|
|LICENSEE: UNKNOWN |NOTIFICATION TIME: 01:24[EST]|
| CITY: PARKERSBURG REGION: 2 |EVENT DATE: 03/06/2003|
| COUNTY: STATE: WV |EVENT TIME: 01:15[EST]|
|LICENSE#: AGREEMENT: N |LAST UPDATE DATE: 03/06/2003|
| DOCKET: |+----------------------------+
| |PERSON ORGANIZATION |
| |CAROLYN EVANS R2 |
| |C.W. (BILL) REAMER NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+JOSEPH HOLONICH IRO |
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: DAN HILL |NANCY OSGOOD DOT |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: HOWIE CROUCH |GIBSON DOE |
+------------------------------------------------+CAPT. HOLLAND LLEA |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY | |
|10 CFR SECTION: | |
|NINF INFORMATION ONLY | |
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EVENT TEXT
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| AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INVOLVING RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE |
| |
| At 0124 EST on 3/06/2003, NRC Headquarters was contacted by State of WV |
| Radiation Health Program that an automobile/truck accident had occurred in |
| Parkersburg, West Virginia that involved a Iridium-192 radiography source. |
| Local HazMat responders do not have radiation monitoring equipment. |
| Currently, LLEA is in contact with Camden-Clark Hospital to obtain proper |
| radiation monitoring equipment to determine if packaging is intact. (It was |
| determined that Camden-Clark is unable to respond). Vehicle is located in |
| local towing impound yard. West Virginia will be responding in the morning |
| to perform surveys. |
| |
| Notified NMSS EO (Reamer), R2DO (Evans), DIRO Mgr. (Holonich), NRC |
| Transportation (Osgood), DOT (LT. (jg) Johnson) and DOE (Gibson). |
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