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Event Notification Report for May 23, 2005

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
05/20/2005 - 05/23/2005

** EVENT NUMBERS **


41704 41707 41708 41709 41723

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41704
Rep Org: MISSISSIPPI DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: CHEM-BIO LABS INC.
Region: 1
City: HATTISBURG State: MS
County:
License #: MS-473-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: BOBBY SMITH
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 05/17/2005
Notification Time: 15:19 [ET]
Event Date: 03/23/2000
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/17/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RONALD BELLAMY (R1)
LARRY CAMPER (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOSS OF ELECTRON CAPTURE DETECTOR

The State provided the following information via email:

"During a routine inspection of Chem-Bio Laboratories, Inc. on March 23, 2000, it was determined that a Perkin Elmer Model 330-0119 electron capture detector, previously possessed by the licensee could not be located. The management representative explained that the owner/authorized user had removed that particular source from the device and placed in storage. She stated that she would continue to look for the source. Shortly after the inspector departed the licensee's facility, a call was made to the MSDH-Division of Radiological Health stating that the missing source had been found. During another routine inspection conducted on March 18, 2004, it was discovered that the source was never located. The licensee stated that she called again to inform someone at DRH that she had mistakenly informed the Agency about the source location and the source had never been found. She stated that she has made every effort possible to locate the source, but has not been successful. The licensee also stated that she was aware that a letter should have been sent to our Agency describing the circumstances surrounding the missing source, but failed to do so.

"Isotope: Nickel - 63
"Activity: 15 mCi (millicuries)
"Date Closed: 4-12-04

"State Event Number: MS-04-002

"Enforcement action taken: Violations cited for failure to secure radioactive material from unauthorized removal or access and failure to properly report lost source and provide a written report to the Agency."

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41707
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES
Region: 4
City:  State: LA
County: EVANGELINE
License #: LA-7561-L01A
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MIKE HENRY
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 05/18/2005
Notification Time: 13:55 [ET]
Event Date: 05/12/2005
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/18/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
RICHARD CORREIA (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - LOST AND RECOVERED SOURCE

The State provided the following information via facsimile:

"On the evening of May 12, 2005, Superior Energy Services lost a tool string with a 150 mCi [millicuries] source of Am-241 downhole at about 11,000 feet. Superior's slickline division fished for the tool and recovered the tool string and source on May 14, 2005 with no damage to the source housing. The onsite technician surveyed the tool and did not find any radiation leakage from the housing. The source was returned to the storage location and surveyed again before putting the source in the bunker. No radiation leakage was detected.

"Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA050005"

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41708
Rep Org: GEORGIA RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PGM
Licensee: CSRA TESTING & ENGINEERING CO.
Region: 1
City: AUGUSTA State: GA
County:
License #: GA 620-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ELIZABETH DRINNON
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 05/18/2005
Notification Time: 14:43 [ET]
Event Date: 05/16/2005
Event Time: 09:45 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/18/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
RONALD BELLAMY (R1)
RICHARD CORREIA (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST/STOLEN AND RECOVERED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The State provided the following information via facsimile:

"Description of Event: Received a report that a Troxler gauge had been found in the middle of Stevens Creek Road. Date of event: 5/16/05.

"A delivery truck driver recovered the gauge from the street and notified the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department. The fire department then notified the Georgia Radioactive Materials Program. The gauge was a model 3430 Troxler Moisture Density Gauge.

"Isotope: Cesium 137 and Americium 241, Beryllium. Amount of Activity: 8 mCi [millicuries] Cs 137 and 40 mCi Am/Be.

"Describe clean-up actions taken by RCP: None.

"List radiation measurements taken by RCP: Took measurements to confirm source was in proper position in gauge and did not exceed transport index."

The Augusta Chronicle published a story in this event on May 16, 2005.

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General Information or Other Event Number: 41709
Rep Org: COLORADO DEPT OF HEALTH
Licensee: GEOCAL INC.
Region: 4
City: AURORA State: CO
County:
License #: 894-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TIM G. BONZER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 05/18/2005
Notification Time: 14:41 [ET]
Event Date: 05/18/2005
Event Time: [MDT]
Last Update Date: 05/19/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
REBECCA NEASE (R4)
RICHARD CORREIA (NMSS)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The State provided the following information via facsimile:

"A Ford F-150 with the CO license plate #225ALO was stolen at approximately 88th and Washington Street in Thornton (at approximately 11:00 am). A Troxler model 3430, gauge serial # 33250 was inside a DOT approved container, which was chained in the back truck bed and the container/box, was also locked. The keys for those locks were with the truck keys, with the individuals who have stole the truck; per Mr. D.

"Per Mr. D, he is waiting for the Thronton Police to arrive to document such. Further information will be forwarded to us upon learning."

* * * UPDATE FROM STATE (BONZER) VIA FAX RECEIVED AT 1348 EDT ON 5/19/05 * * *

The stolen truck was recovered with gauge in the truck bed. The licensee retrieved the truck and gauge at 0115 MDT on 5/19/05 with no evidence that the gauge had been tampered with or disturbed. The licensee intends on leak testing the gauge and will keep the gauge out of service until results are obtained.

R4DO (Nease) and NMSS (Correia) have been notified. TAS (Hahn) informed via e-mail.

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Fuel Cycle Facility Event Number: 41723
Facility: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION
RX Type: URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION
Comments: LEU CONVERSION (UF6 to UO2)
                   COMMERCIAL LWR FUEL
Region: 2
City: COLUMBIA State: SC
County: RICHLAND
License #: SNM-1107
Agreement: Y
Docket: 07001151
NRC Notified By: OWEN CONNELLY
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 05/21/2005
Notification Time: 18:39 [ET]
Event Date: 05/20/2005
Event Time: 18:40 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/21/2005
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
PART 70 APP A (b)(5) - DEV FROM ISA
RESPONSE-BULLETIN
Person (Organization):
CHARLES R. OGLE (R2)
LARRY CAMPER (NMSS)

Event Text

DEVIATION FROM INTEGRATED SAFETY ANALYSIS, AND A 24 HOUR NOTIFICATION - BULLETIN 91-01 CRITICALITY CONTROL

"Facility
Westinghouse Electric Company, Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia, SC, low enriched PWR fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors.

"Time and Date of Event
May 20, 2005, 1840 hours.

"Reason for Notification
During a routine filter change-out in a HVAC recirculation filter housing, maintenance mechanics detected an excessive amount of material buildup on the filters and contacted the ventilation engineer. Human performance training at the plant has engendered a heightened awareness for process upsets or unusual conditions in all plant personnel.

"The ventilation engineer examined the filter housing beneath the filter array and discovered a minor build up of powder in the corners of the housing. This caused him to contact the Nuclear Criticality Safety function. The ventilation engineer and the NCS engineer had samples pulled from the powder and filters to confirm the absence of uranium. The system was believed to serve hoods where entrainment of uranium was not credible, i.e. hoods that contained only sintered pellets, not powder in any form. The samples from the filters returned results in a range from 3.5 to 50 weight percent uranium (average 19 weight percent).

"This notification [Deviation from Integrated Safety Analysis] is made in accordance with Appendix A [(b)(5)(i)] to Part 70 - Reportable Safety Events. Events to be reported to the NRC Operations Center, (b) within 24 hours of discovery, (5) An occurrence of an event or process deviation that was considered in the Integrated Safety Analysis and : (i) Was dismissed due to its likelihood.

"As Found Condition
The samples from the filters returned results in a range from 3.5 to 50 weight percent uranium (average of all samples for filters was 19 weight percent). An approximate mass of material mass held up in the filters is 119 kg. Based on the average weight percent uranium, the mass of uranium held up in the filters was 22.6 kg, which is less than a critical mass for spherical fully reflected UO2 and water system. The system was already shut down for filter replacement.

"Summary of Activity
The entire functional area that the system serves was shut down immediately. A team of process experts, system experts, NCS specialists, maintenance personnel, and management was immediately formed to determine the source of the uranium in the system.

"Conclusions
At no time was the health or safety to any employee or member of the public in jeopardy. No exposure to hazardous material was involved. The Incident Review Committee (IRC) has determined that this is a safety significant incident in accordance with governing procedures. A causal analysis will be performed."



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