The following report was received from the State of
Louisiana via email:
Event type: Level density gauge on a process had a shutter malfunction. Eagle was performing their annual operational checks when the malfunction was discovered. The malfunction is the gauge shutter is stuck in the open position on an active process. The gauge Service Company, BBP Sales will make the repair or replacement after the assessment of the device. They discovered the shutters would not close. The Gauge is a RONAN SA1-C-10 device/source holder, S/N 9527GG, loaded with a 200 mCi Cs-137 source.
Notifications: LDEQ [Louisiana Department of Environmental Control] was notified by Eagle US 2 in a message on the voice mail system on 1/10/2017. The notice was sent to the Compliance Radiation Assessment Section of LDEQ. The notification was readdressed when Eagle was contacted on 1/12/2017, to get the preliminary information report. Eagle US 2 will send LDEQ a corrective action and a final report no later than 30 days of the corrective action. The Eagle US 2 preliminary written report was received 1/12/2017 at 1457 CST.
Event description: On 1/10/2017, Eagle US 2 was performing their annual inventory and operational checks of their licensed devices. During their routine annual maintenance checks, the shutter malfunction was discovered. The gauge shutter would not close.
Eagle US 2 called a service contractor, BBP Sales, to evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action to correct the problem. [The contractor] was unable to close the shutter and will determine the course of corrective action. The cause appears to be the corrosive environment where it [the gauge] is installed and used.
The source and device with shutter stuck open will remain installed and utilized on the process until the repairs are made. This is not a radiation exposure hazard and does not pose a health and safety situation for the Eagle US 2 employees or the general public.
This event is considered closed by LDEQ. This event is being reported to the NRC as required by Regulatory Requirement 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2).
Event Report ID No.: LA-17001.