ENS 54851
ENS Event | ||
|---|---|---|
13:00 Aug 21, 2020 | ||
| Title | ||
| Event Description | EN Revision Imported Date : 9/14/2020
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGE ENGULFED DURING FIRE The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On August 21, 2020, at 1307 CDT the Agency was notified by the licensee consultant (LC) that a fire was burning on one of its dredges off the coast Corpus Christi, Texas. The LC stated the drudge had a 250 milliCurie (original activity) [Cs-137] source in a Berthold model 7440 nuclear gauge installed on a pipe for density measurement. The LC did not have any other information on the location, but knew the dredge was in between 40 and 50 feet of water. The LC stated that the personnel on board were fighting the fire. The LC stated they believed that the gauge would be engulfed by the fire. The LC stated they would supply additional information once the fire is out and they have a chance to inspect the equipment. At 1553 CDT the LC contacted the Agency and stated the dredge workers were able to take dose rate reading about two feet from the gauge and the reading was 26 millirem per hour. The LC stated that the steel was still too hot to stay very long in the area. The LC stated (when asked) that they believe the fire is out. The LC stated the current priority on the drudge was locating several missing individuals. The LC stated they directed personnel on the drudge to take a contamination survey on the gauge as soon as possible. The LC stated the gauge source serial number was 0025-06. A search of news sources in Corpus Christi, Texas by the Agency found that a barge had struck an underwater natural gas line at a facility in Corpus Christy, Texas. This information was verified by the licensee's LC. The news reports stated the event occurred at about 0800 CDT. The report stated that the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel are on the ground to provide support, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is monitoring air quality in the area. The United States Coast Guard is assisting in the fire fighting and search for individuals. The name of the dredge involved was provided in several reports. The Agency contacted the LC verified the ship was owned by the licensee. This information was verified by the Agency by reviewing four different news sources. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: 9784
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On August 21, 2020, at 2200 CDT, the Agency was notified by the LC that the dredge has sunk. The dredge is believed to be in 45-50 feet of water on its starboard (stbd) side. The gauge is located on the stbd side of the vessel and the shutter was in the open position. The LC stated that after talking to the radiation safety officer who is at the location the LC stated the dose rate they were able to take earlier today and was reported as 26 mR/hr at 2 feet was 26 mR/hr at 6 feet. A request for the composition of the source material has been made to the manufacturer. The search for four missing persons continues and is the current priority. Notified R4DO (Taylor), NMSS (Jamerson), and NMSS Events Notifications (email).
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On August 22, 2020 the manufacturer confirmed the source involved in this event is made of ceramic source material and is double encapsulated. Follow-up phone call to the Agency confirmed that the fire is out and the LC and the RSO are working on a recovery plan. First priority remains the search for the four missing persons. Notified R4DO (Taylor), NMSS (Jamerson), and NMSS Events Notifications (email).
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: The Agency has contacted the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) and received the following information. The RSO stated that before the vessel sank a hazmat crew was able to get eyes on the gauge. The hazmat team stated the gauge did not appear to have been damaged by the fire. The area around the gauge also did not appear to have been damaged by the fire. The RSO stated the current plan is to raise the vessel, survey the gauge, and close the shutter. The RSO stated they would send a written report providing additional information. Notified R4DO (Taylor), NMSS (Jamerson), and NMSS Events Notifications (email).
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: The Agency contacted the licensee's consultant (LC) on August 24, 2020, and requested an update on the event. The consultant stated he had received a written report completed by the licensee's RSO for his review. The LC stated he is on vacation but hoped to forward it to the Agency today. As of the writing of this update the report has not been received by the Agency. The LC stated they had a contractor in place to retrieve the vessel. Once raised the plan is to inspect the gauge, perform surveys of the gauge, and close the shutter. The raising of the vessel is not scheduled to take place until next week or the week after that due to difficulties getting the needed equipment in place. In addition, the local weather may hamper recovery activities. Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notifications (email).
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On August 25, 2020, the Agency received the following information from the licensee's radiation safety officer: 'We do not have the equipment to do a deep-water survey of the radiation source. T&T our salvage contractor is ordering the equipment to do the survey of the source to insure the safety of their divers because the source has not had an up-close survey since the vessel sunk. We have taken a survey above the water and have not picked up any radioactivity.' The report from the licensee has been delayed while a review is completed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notifications (email). The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email: The licensee has confirmed that a member of a hazmat team who was able to inspect the gauge from a small boat next to the vessel prior to it sinking stated the gauge appeared undamaged, the wires leading to and from the gauge appeared to be undamaged, and that painted surfaces in the area of the gauge did not appear to be damaged by heat or the fire. The licensee stated they were unable to locate any pictures of the gauge prior to the vessel sinking. The licensee stated that their salvage contractor is ordering the equipment to do an underwater survey of the source to insure the safety of their divers because the source has not had an up-close survey since the vessel sunk. The licensee stated they have taken a survey in the water above the vessel and have not picked up any radioactivity. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notifications (email).
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On September 11, 2020, the licensee reported the dredge was raised to the surface and the gauge was recovered on the dredge. The gauge was undamaged, and the licensee was able to shutter the source. Dose rates at the gauge were reported as normal. The shutter has been locked closed and the source will be disposed by a contractor. Additional information will be provided via the Nuclear Materials Events Database. Notified R4DO (Warnick) and NMSS Events Notifications (email). | |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Texas Dept Of State Health Services Corpus Christi, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | L 06473 |
| Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+2.13 h0.0888 days <br />0.0127 weeks <br />0.00292 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Arthur Tucker 15:08 Aug 21, 2020 |
| NRC Officer: | Andrew Waugh |
| Last Updated: | Sep 11, 2020 |
| 54851 - NRC Website | |
Texas Department of State Health Services with Agreement State | |||||||
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