The following information was received from the Commonwealth of
Virginia via email:
On October 20, 2020, a representative of the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) received a report from a licensee via email that a portable nuclear moisture/density gauge was damaged in a vehicle accident at the intersection of Airport Road and Hwy 156 in Sandston, Virginia. The report indicated that a Troxler soil density gauge (Model 3430, Serial # 36803, containing 8 milliCuries of Cesium-137 and 40 milliCuries of Americium-241/Beryllium) was being transported in its case in the bed of a truck. During the accident, the case was damaged and the gauge housing was cracked, but there appeared to be no significant damage to the baseplate, rod, shielding or sources. The licensee's survey of the gauge yielded readings of 8-10 mR/hr at a 6 inch distance from the gauge. The gauge was returned to the Ashland office then transferred to an intact case and transported to North East Technical Services [(NETS)] for further evaluation. The VRMP is working with the licensee to obtain additional information and this report will be updated once the licensee's investigation is complete and the information is received.
VA incident no.: VA20005
- * * RETRACTION ON 12/08/20 AT 0922 EST FROM ASFAW FENTA TO SOLOMON SAHLE * * *
The following retraction was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via email:
On November 4, 2020, VRMP performed a reactive inspection. The inspector noted that on October 20, 2020, the licensee sent the gauge to NETS for leak testing and evaluation. The record from NETS indicated that no removable contamination was detected. It also concluded that every component of the gauge is functioning as it should and the gauge was deemed serviceable for field use. The licensee, however, reported this initially as a damaged gauge because of the small crack observed on the plastic case of the gauge. Since the gauge still functioned properly with no damage to any shielding components, the incident does not meet the reporting requirements of 12VAC5-481-1110 B. 2.(10 CFR 30.50 b.2). Thus, VRMP requests the NRC Operation Center retract this event report.
Notified R1DO (Bower) and
NMSS Event Notification via email.