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Event Notification Report for April 19, 2005

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
04/18/2005 - 04/19/2005

** EVENT NUMBERS **


41596 41597 41598 41608 41610

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41596
Rep Org: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY
Licensee: JERRY HURACEK
Region: 4
City: PHOENIX State: AZ
County:
License #: AZ 7-496
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: AUBREY GODWIN
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON
Notification Date: 04/13/2005
Notification Time: 18:25 [ET]
Event Date: 04/13/2005
Event Time: 11:00 [MST]
Last Update Date: 04/18/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
SCOTT FLANDERS (NMSS)
CNSNS (FAX)
AARON DANIS (TAS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided via email from the State of Arizona (State text in quotes):

"At approximately 11:00 AM April 13, 2005, the Agency was informed that the Licensee had a pickup truck stolen with a Troxler Model 3401B gauge, SN 10444. The theft occurred between 7:00 PM, 4/12/2005 and 4:00 AM, 4/13/2005. The truck is a green 1995 Nissan. The Troxler gauge was locked in a 16 gauge steel box with a hardened and anti-theft designed lock and hasp. The steel box is bolted to the frame of the truck. The truck license number is Arizona [DELETED]. The gauge contains 8 mCi of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi Am:Be-241.

"Phoenix PD is investigating and has issued report number 2005-50689301.

"The Licensee is offering a $500.00 reward for the recovery of the truck and sources. A press release is to be made.

"The Agency continues to look for the source.

"The states of CA, NV, CO, UT, and NM and Mexico and U.S. NRC and FBI are being notified of this event."

Arizona State Report ID: 05-03

* * * UPDATE TO NRC (VIA E-MAIL) FROM STATE OF ARIZONA (GODWIN) AT 18:00 EDT ON 4/18/05 * * *

"The Phoenix Police Department recovered the truck on April 18, 2005. The gauge does not appear to have been opened. The truck suffered minimal damage."

R4DO (Shannon) and NMSS (Flanders) notified. TAS notified via e-mail.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41597
Rep Org: WISCONSIN RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: GENERALLY LICENSED DEVICE
Region: 3
City: MONROE State: WI
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: PAUL CALEB
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY
Notification Date: 04/14/2005
Notification Time: 13:48 [ET]
Event Date: 04/12/2005
Event Time: [CST]
Last Update Date: 04/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
JOHN MADERA (R3)
TOM ESSIG (NMSS)

Event Text

WISCONSIN AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOSS OF CONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

The following information was provided by the State via facsimile:

"Event description: On April 12, 2005, an employee of the St. Vincent de Paul Store in Monroe, Wisconsin dismantled a tritium exit sign thinking it was electrical and requiring repair. Unknown persons had dropped off the exit sign at the store. After dismantling the sign, the individual noticed the 'Caution Radioactive Material' label on the device. The individual wrapped the tubes containing the tritium in aluminum foil, and placed them in a cardboard box inside the facility. The device housing was placed in a scrap recycling bin. The individual initially contacted the NRC Operations Center for assistance. The information was subsequently relayed to the Wisconsin Radiation Protection Section by NRC Region III on April 13, 2005.

"The device was identified as an Everglow Safety Sign, Model. 713A, Serial No. 53886 containing 25 curies of tritium in 1987. The device may have been manufactured in New York.

"The state investigated on April. 13, 2005. The exit sign tubes were found to be intact. The manufacturer name on the tubes was Self-Powered Lighting, Inc. A local scrap dealer had picked up the device housing with other scrap from St. Vincent de Paul. Staff was unable to locate the device housing but discovered an additional, intact exit sign at a local scrap yard that receives scrap from the dealer. The second exit sign was manufactured by Self-Powered Lighting, Model # 710-A containing 25 curies of tritium. The WI Radiation Protection Section is attempting to locate the owner(s) of these exit signs. The exit sign and tubes have been removed from the public domain. Media attention: None"

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41598
Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: ZIPPER ZEMAN ASSOCIATES
Region: 4
City: TACOMA State: WA
County:
License #: WN-I0507-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY
Notification Date: 04/14/2005
Notification Time: 15:16 [ET]
Event Date: 04/13/2005
Event Time: 10:45 [PST]
Last Update Date: 04/14/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
SCOTT MOORE (NMSS)
CANADA (FAX) ()
TAS ()

Event Text

WASHINGTON AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GUAGE

The following information was provided by the State via email:

"As reported by the licensee's RSO, the event occurred on 4/13/05, between 9:00am and 10:45am. A CPN Model MC-3, portable moisture/density gauge, serial number M36127293, was stolen from an employee's personal vehicle, parked in the lot of the licensee's office. The car was locked and the gauge was hidden from view beneath the interior hatch cover. However, the gauge was not secured within the car by use of a second, independent security method. The passenger side window was broken; the gauge and a tool box were the only items stolen. The car was apparently parked beside bushes in the parking lot, screening the passenger side of the car from view. The Police (Case Number 051030408), a CPN Representative, and our office were notified soon after the break-in was noticed.

"No on-site investigation is planned. No media attention was noted. Isotope and Activity involved: 370 MBq (10 mCi) Cs-137 & 1850 MBq (50 mCi) Am-241/Be"

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Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 41608
Rep Org: DEPT OF NAVY RADIATION SAFETY CMTE
Licensee: DEPT OF NAVY RADIATION SAFETY CMTE
Region: 1
City: CRYSTAL CITY State: VA
County:
License #: 45-93645-01NA
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: COMMANDER FRAGOSA
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 04/18/2005
Notification Time: 10:48 [ET]
Event Date: 09/30/2003
Event Time: 12:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 04/18/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
DAVID SILK (R1)
JOHN HICKEY (NMSS)
TAS (VIA EMAIL) ()

Event Text

CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTORS MISSING FROM DEPARTMENT OF NAVY INVENTORY

A representative for the Navy's master material license reported two chemical agent detectors were missing since their last audit on 9/30/2003. One detector was a Automatic Chemical Agent Detector Alarms (ACADA) which has 230 microcuries of Am241 with a surface exposure of 0.4 millirem/hr. The identification number is SSND -NR-1065-D-101-E. The other detector was a hand held vapor detector containing a 10 microCurie Ni63 source with identification number SSND-NR-0399-D-101-E.

The licensee was informed by a supply room person that the detectors were assigned to the USS Fletcher on 9/30/03, and have not been accounted for since.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41610
Rep Org: SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGIES
Licensee: SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGIES
Region: 1
City: SCHENECTADY State: NY
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BILL WILLIS (VIA FAX)
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 04/18/2005
Notification Time: 17:30 [ET]
Event Date: 04/18/2005
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 04/18/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21 - UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH
Person (Organization):
DAVID SILK (R1)
PART 21 COORDINATOR (NRR)

Event Text

PART 21 NOTIFICATION CONCERNING CUTLER-HAMMER A200 NEMA SIZE 1 STARTERS

"In March 2002, Spectrum Technologies provided 20 Class 1 E safety related Cutler-Hammer A2001 NEMA Size 1 starters to Rochester Gas & Electric Company - Ginna Station. Spectrum Technologies had purchased the starters as commercial grade items from Cutler-Hammer, and dedicated them per EPRI NP5652, method 1, Special Tests and Inspections.

"Ginna Station advised Spectrum Technologies that they had installed one of these starters in the circuit for their Boric Acid Storage Tank (BAST) Heaters. Approximately eight (8) weeks later they received an alarm for low BAST temperature. Investigation found an open coil on the starter and replaced the starter. The failed starter was sent to the Ginna Materials Laboratory for analysis. This analysis indicates that a manufacturing defect caused the failure.

"The Ginna Materials Laboratory examined the starter using a low power binocular microscope for signs of defects, overheating, or cracks. Resistance measurements between the two coils in the starter were taken and they were then subjected to X-ray radiography. Subsequent to this, the coils were disassembled and sectioned to reveal the defect. The failed coil wire was also examined using scanning electron microscopy for signs of overheating or melting.

"It was determined that the failure is the result of a manufacturing defect in the epoxy surrounding the coil. The open circuit was caused when the epoxy cracked at the defect and broke a wire running through the epoxy. This wire connected the two coils and this failure caused the open circuit.

"Spectrum Technologies has provided the above information, including all figures, to Cutler-Hammer for them to investigate/evaluate the situation. Spectrum Technologies has requested that they provide a formal report addressing what caused the condition and whether it is unique or a common problem, what other components may be affected, and what will be done to prevent recurrence."



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