The following was received from the State of
Texas via e-mail:
On October 21, 2010, the Agency [State of Texas] received a 'Notice of reciprocity' from Berthold Technologies. The notice stated that a Berthold Technologies service representative would be replacing the shutters on two gauges at the licensee's (International Paper Company) facility on October 22, 2010. The Agency contacted the licensee and asked to speak with the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The Agency was forwarded to the RSO's voicemail box and left a message. The Agency then contacted one of the licensee's employees whose information was obtained from the 'Notice of Reciprocity.' The employee then reported that the licensee had experienced a shutter failure.
The licensee stated that on Monday, October 18, 2010, another licensee properly authorized by the Agency [State of Texas] to remove the gauges came to the licensee's facility to remove the gauge from the pipe it was fixed to. The gauge was manufactured by Berthold Technologies (Model: LB7440; Serial Number: 1335) and it houses a 30 milliCurie Cesium (Cs) 137 source (Serial Number: 1335- 5-89). The gauge was removed so that the licensee could perform maintenance on the pipe. The licensee stated that the shutter was hard to turn at that time, but the shutter properly closed prior to the authorized person removing the gauge. On Wednesday, October 20, 2010, the authorized person returned to reattach the gauge and attempted to open the shutter, and the shutter would not open. The licensee then stated that they contacted Berthold Technologies to repair the shutter that failed, as well as another shutter on different gauge that was difficult to operate. The shutters are scheduled to be repaired on Friday, October 22, 2010. The RSO was later contacted and he agreed to submit a written report to the Agency within thirty days.
TX Incident No. I-8794