ENS Event | |
|---|---|
18:50 Oct 18, 2024 | |
| Title | Damaged Troxler Gauge |
| Event Description | The following is a summary of information that was provided by the Bakerton Fire Department via phone:
On 10/18/2024 at 1450 EDT, a traffic accident occurred on US Route 340 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, near Shipley School Road. The accident involved a model 3430 Troxler moisture/density gauge (nominal activity of 8 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am-241/Be) that was knocked out of its case and was damaged in the accident. The Bakerton Fire Department isolated the area, and initially shut down all lanes of traffic on Route 340. Surveys were later conducted with no signs of contamination or exposure. The gauge is damaged, but the negative survey results indicate no release occurred. The authorities on scene notified the West Virginia Radiological Health Program of the accident. After surveys were conducted, all of the lanes were opened for traffic except for one of the northbound lanes on US Route 340. The company that owns the gauge is Hillis-Carnes based in Frederick, MD. At this time, the license number under which the Troxler gauge is held is unknown. Notified the National Response Center, the West Virginia Radiation Health Program, DHS SWO, FEMA Ops Center, USDA Ops Center, HHS Ops Center, DOE Ops Center, CISA Central Watch Officer, EPA EOC, FDA EOC (email), FEMA NWC (email), DHS Nuclear SSA (email), DHS NRCC (email), FEMA NRCC SASC (email), FERC (email)
The following is a summary of information provided by the radiation safety officer (RSO) for Hillis-Carnes: The RSO passed that Homeland Security responded to the site as well. Homeland Security ensured there was no contamination by spreading anti-contamination material and performing surveys. The RSO also passed that the source rod was ejected from the gauge which was not relayed to the NRC headquarters operations officer previously. The RSO did not know how much exposure personnel may have received from the source rod, but the source rod is intact. Additionally, the RSO clarified that there was no actual vehicle collision. The RSO passed that the Troxler gauge was inside its case in the bed of the truck and the case was chained to the truck by the case's handle. The RSO claims that a load of concrete in the bed of the truck shifted which forced open the tailgate and broke off the handle of the case, freeing the case and allowing it to go into the road, where it was run over by a tractor trailer. The RSO has possession of the gauge, including both the Cs-137 source rod and the Am-241/Be source, and intends to bring the gauge to Northeast Technical Services for evaluation and/or disposal. The RSO passed that Hillis-Carnes' NRC license is 19-30304-02 and their Maryland Agreement State license is MD-21-041-01. Notified R1DO (Lally), IR MOC (Crouch), NMSS (Williams), and NMSS Events Notification (email) |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Hillis-Carnes Harper, West Virginia (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 19-30304-02 |
| Organization: | Bakerton Fire Department |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2), Licensed Material Protection Equipment Failure | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+-3.8 h-0.158 days <br />-0.0226 weeks <br />-0.00521 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Josh Smith 15:02 Oct 18, 2024 |
| NRC Officer: | Ernest West |
| Last Updated: | Oct 18, 2024 |
| 57390 - NRC Website | |
Hillis-Carnes with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 573902024-10-18T18:50:00018 October 2024 18:50:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Damaged Troxler Gauge 2024-10-18T18:50:00 | |