Information Notice 1988-07, Inadvertent Transfer of Licensed Material to Uncontrolled Locations

Inadvertent Transfer of Licensed Material to Uncontrolled Locations

ML031150578
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	03/07/1988
From:	Cunningham R NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
IN-88-007, NUDOCS 8803020036
Download: ML031150578 (6)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 March 7, 1988 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 88-07: INADVERTENT TRANSFER OF LICENSED MATERIAL

TO UNCONTROLLED LOCATIONS

Addressees

All NRC broad licensees and licensees authorized to possess byproduct material

as sealed sources in teletherapy units or 'self-contained" irradiators.

Purpose

-

This infornation notice is being issued to alert licensees of the need to

exercis e'proper control over radioactive material, and to avoid inadvertent

transfer of licensed material to uncontrolled locations or to unauthorized

recipients. The NRC is particularly concerned about large sources such as

those used in teletherapy units and irradiators. It is expected that licensees

will review-this information for applicability to their licensed activities, distribute the notice to responsible radiation safety staff, and consider

actions, if appropriate, to prevent similar problems from occurring at their

facilities. However, this information notice does not constitute new NRC

requiements, and no written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

A cesium-137 teletherapy unit in Brazil was abandoned in a building which once

housed a clinic. Someone removed the teletherapy unit for its scrap metal

value.' While dismantling the unit, the salvagers ruptured the sealed source

capsule and spread cesium-137 (as cesium chloride powder) over a large portion

of a city 'incentral Brazil.

The cesium chloride powder had an attractive color, and the salvagers shared

the powder with friends and relatives. To date, four persons have died from

radiation overexposures, and a number of persons are under medical surveillance.

Severalcountries, including the United States, have assisted the Brazilian

government in radiation monitoring, decontamination, and treatment of injured

personnel.

Discussion:

The Brazilian incident illustrates the serious consequences which can result

from failure to properly control radioactive material. Events involving loss

or theft of radioactive material also occur frequently in the United States, although the events have been less serious in nature. The Commission is con- cerned that licensees might not, in all cases, be exercising proper management

880302003

K-J V IN 88-07 March 7, 1988 oversight to avoid such incidents. The NRC staff is currently considering

whether additional regulatory requirements should be developed in order to

reduce the risk of loss of hazardous radioactive material.

In the meantime, it is suggested that licensees review their licensed programs, license, and applicable regulations in order to assure that all radioactive

material is accounted for, and to determine whether adequate precautions are

in place to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or loss. In particular, licensees

should note the following:

1. Title 10 CFR Part 20 contains several requirements regarding

posting of radiation areas, labeling of radioactive material

containers, and restriction of access to radioactive material.

2. Most licensees are required by regulation or license condition to

periodically inventory or leak test sealed sources at intervals of

three months or six months.

3. Section 30.51 requires licensees to maintain records of receipt, transfer, and disposal of all licensed material.

4. Placing surplus radioactive material into long-term storage, when

there is not an anticipated future need for the material, may even- tually result in loss of the material, or access to it by persons

not knowledgeable of proper precautions. If this happens, high

levels of radiation exposure and widespread contamination could

--occur.--ThereforeNRC Co Diders that long-term-storageo.ofsurplus.

radioactive material is undesirable. While NRC regulations do not

require licensees to promptly dispose of unused radioactive material, licensee management may want to consider disposition through disposal

at a licensed burial site, or transfer to another authorized licensee

who would have a current need for it.

Violations of NRC requirements involving the failure to control or account for

licensed material, especially if the failure results in loss or theft, will be

considered for escalated enforcement action.

No written response is required by this notice. If you have any questions about

this matter, please contact the appropriate NRC regional office, or this office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material

Safety and Safeguards

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS

(301) 492-3424 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment

IN 88-07 March 7, 1988 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

,. I NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

88-06 Foreign Objects in Steam 2/29/88 All holders of OLs

Generators or CPs for PWRs.

88-05 Fire in Annunciator Control 2/11/88 All holders of OLs

Cabinets or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

88-04 Inadequate Qualification 2/5/88 All holders of OLs

and Documentation of Fire or CPs for nuclear

Barrier Penetration Seals power reactors.

88-03 Cracks in Shroud Support 2/2/88 All holders of OLs

Access Hole Cover Welds or CPs for BWRs.

88-02 Lost or Stolen Gauges 2/2/88 All NRC licensees

authorized to possess

gauges under a

specific or general

license.

88-01 Safety Injection Pipe 1/27/88 All holders of OLs

Failure or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

86-81, Broken External Closure 1/11/88 All holders of OLs

Supp. 1 Springs on Atwood & Morrill or CPs for nuclear

Main Steam Isolation Valves power reactors.

87-67 Lessons Learned from 12/31/87 All holders of OLs

Regional Inspections of or CPs for nuclear

Licensee Actions in Response power reactors.

to IE Bulletin 80-11

87-66 Inappropriate Application 12/31/87 All holders of OLs

of Commercial-Grade or CPs for nuclear

Components power reactors.

87-28, Air Systems Problems at 12/28/87 All holders of OLs

Supp. 1 U.S. Light Water Reactors or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 88- March 1988 In the meantime, it is suggested that licensees review their licensed that all

programs, license, and applicable regulations in order to assure adequate

radioactive material is accounted for, and to determine whether

loss. In

precautions are in place to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or

particular, licensees should note the following:

1. Title 10 CFR Part 20 contains several requirements regarding

posting of radiation areas, labeling of radioactive material

containers, and restriction of access to radioactive material.

2. Most licensees are required by regulation or license condition to

periodically inventory or leak test sealed sources at intervals of

three months or six months.

3. Section 30.51 requires licensees to maintain records of receipt, transfer, and disposal of all licensed material.

4. Placing surplus radioactive material into long-term storage, when

there is not an anticipated future need for the material, may

eventually result in loss of the material, or access to it by

persons not knowledgeable of proper precautions. If this happens, high levels of radiation exposure and widespread contamination could

occur. Therefore, NRC considers that long-term storage of

surplus radioactive material is undesirable. While NRC regulations

do not require licensees to promptly dispose of unused radioactive

material, licensee management may want to consider disposition

through disposal at a licensed burial site, or transfer to another

authorized licensee who would have a current need for it.

for

Violations of NRC requirements involving the failure to control or account will be

licensed material, especially if the failure results in loss or theft, considered for escalated enforcement action.

about

No written response is required by this notice. If you have any questionsoffice.

this matter, please contact the appropriate NRC regional office, or this

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material

Safety and Safeguards

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS

(301) 492-3424 Ellen Kraus, editor * Mary King *SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

OFC :*IMOB  :*IMOB  :*I)OB *UD:IMNS  :*OE :D:IMNS

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NAME:JMetzger/mk:DCool :JI key :GSjoblom :JLieberman :RCunningham

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DATE: 2/24/88  : 2//24/8 8 : 224/88 : 2/25/88  : 2/24/88  : /3 /88 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

IN 88- March 1988 In the meantime, it is suggested that licensees review their licens

programs, license, and applicable regulations in order to assure at all

radioactive material is accounted for, and to determine whether dequate

precautions are in place to prevent unauthorized access, thefts or loss. In

particular, licensees should note the following:

1. Title 10 CFR Part 20 contains several requirem ts regarding

posting of radiation areas, labeling of radi ctive material

containers, and restriction of access to ra oactive material.

2. Most licensees are required by regulatio or license condition to

periodically inventory or leak test sea d sources at intervals of

three months or six months.

3. Section 30.51 requires licensee to intain records of receipt, transfer, and disposal of all lice ed material.

4. Placing surplus radioactive mat eal into long-term storage, when

there is not an anticipated fu re need for the material, may

eventually result in loss of e material, or access to it by

persons not knowledgeable of roper precautions. If this happens, high levels of radiation e osure and widespread contamination could

occur. Therefore, NRC co2fiders that long-term storage of

radioactive material is desirable. While NRC regulations do not

require licensees to pr ptly dispose of unused radioactive material, licensee management ma want to consider disposition through

disposal at a licens burial site, or transfer to another

authorized licensee ho would have a current need for it.

Violations of Commission's quirements involving the failure to control or

account for licensed mater 1, especially if material is unaccounted for by

loss or theft, will be co sidered for escalated enforcement action.

No written response is equired by this notice. If you have any questions about

this matter, please co tact the appropriate NRC regional office, or this office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material

Safety and Safeguards

Technical Cont t: Jack R. Metzger, NMSS

(301) 492-3424 Ellen Kraus, editor *

Mary King *SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

OFC :*IMOB AI  :*IMOB :*IMOB :DD:I~rS .*OE :D:IMNS

_-------- -------------- --------------------------------

NAME:JMe't'ger/mk:DCool :JHickey :GS4 :JLieberman :RCunningham

DATE: 2/24/88  : 2/24/88 : 2/24/88 :2 /2?f/88 : 2/24/88 : / /88

-________________-____-___-_-

____________-___-_- ___- _____________________________

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

IN 88- March 1988 In the meantime, it is suggested that licensees review their license

programs, license, and applicable regulations in order to assure t t all

radioactive material is accounted for, and to determine whether equate

precautions are in place to prevent unauthorized access, theft or loss. In

particular, licensees should note the following:

1. Title 10 CFR Part 20 contains several requir ents regarding

posting of radiation areas, labeling of ra oactive material

containers, and restriction of access to adioactive material.

2. Most licensees are required by regul on or license condition to

periodically inventory or leak tes sealed sources at intervals of

three months or six months.

3. Section 30.51 requires licens to maintain records of receipt, transfer, and disposal of al licensed material.

4. Placing surplus radioacti e material in long-term storage increases

the risk of inadvertent oss, because the material may be

forgotten. Licensees ould promptly dispose of surplus

radioactive material y transfer to an authorized recipient.

Violations of Conmmission's r quirements involving the failure to control or

account for licensed materi1, especially if material is unaccounted for by

loss or theft, will be co idered for escalated enforcement action.

No written response is equired by this notice. If you have any questions abiDut

this matter, please c tact the appropriate NRC regional office, or this offtice.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material

Safety and Safeguards

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS

(301) 492-3424

Ellen K aus, editor

Mary K g

UFC :IIMOB :IMOB  : IMOB :DD: IMNS  : OEi :D:IMNS

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NAME: er/mk:D :JHFckey :GSjoblom :JLieberman :RCunningham

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DATE: .2,//88 : h/q 4/88 : >/P"/88 : A/ /88 :_ 19/1 88  : / /88 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY