ENS Event | |
|---|---|
14:30 Sep 16, 2024 | |
| Title | Sources Failed to Retract |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (the Department) via email:
On September 16, 2024, at 1415 EDT, the Department was notified by Alpek Polyester (the licensee) that while performing semi-annual shutter checks the licensee discovered that two gauges (model: Berthold LB 300 IRL) had cables that were malfunctioning, and that the sources were unable to be retracted to the shielded and locked position. One gauge contains a 6 mCi (original activity) cobalt-60 source and the other contains a 2.5 mCi (original activity) cobalt-60 source. Currently the cobalt sources are 1.07 mCi and 0.044 mCi, respectively. These sources were placed into service on September 17, 2011. On September 17, 2024, the department on-call duty officer met the licensee's radiation safety officer at 0900 EDT to perform a visual inspection and radiation survey of the gauge. The highest radiation measured was 0.5 microR/hr. The licensee has contacted a licensed vendor to schedule the repair of the drive cables.
The following information was provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (the Department) via email: The radiation safety officer (RSO) notified the Department on January 26, 2026, that it has scheduled the replacement of the gauge with serial number 1819-10-11 for the week of March 9, 2026. The licensee still foresees having possible issues with [the gauge with serial number SN 1818-10-11] as they were not able to fully retract the source in March of 2025. Plans are to replace the source, source holder, and detector as well. The licensee stated that if they are unable to retract the source, they will have another shutdown in September [of 2026] to have the source extracted by a licensed vendor. Notified R1DO (Bickett) and NMSS Event Notification (Email) via email |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Alpek Polyester Usa, Llc Gaston, South Carolina (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 189 |
| Organization: | Sc Dept Of Environmental Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+21.55 h0.898 days <br />0.128 weeks <br />0.0295 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Andrew Roxburgh 12:03 Sep 17, 2024 |
| NRC Officer: | Robert A. Thompson |
| Last Updated: | Jan 28, 2026 |
| 57327 - NRC Website | |
Alpek Polyester Usa, Llc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 573272024-09-16T14:30:00016 September 2024 14:30:00
[Table view]Agreement State Sources Failed to Retract 2024-09-16T14:30:00 | |