Information Notice 1994-81, Accuracy of Bioassay and Environmental Sampling Results
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
November 25, 1994 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 94-81: ACCURACY OF BIOASSAY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SAMPLING RESULTS
Addressees
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensees.
Purpose
NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to a recent event
that has raised questions about the accuracy of results from a bioassay and
environmental sampling contractor. It is expected that recipients will review
the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as
appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in
this information notice are not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific
action or written response is required.
Description of Circumstances
On November 8, 1994, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issueda press
release stating that it was cooperating with other Federal authorities who
executed a search warrant for the records of a company that analyzed urine
samples for the bioassay program at Sandia National Laboratory.
The release
is provided in Attachment 1. The company, Controls for Environmental
Pollution (CEP), is located in Santa Fe, NM. Quality control testing has
raised questions about the reliability of CEP's reports. DOE is also
reviewing whether other DOE facilities and employees may be affected.
Discussion:
NRC is concerned that Commission licensees may have used the services of CEP
and, based on the circumstances described above, may have reason to question
sample results used to determine the exposure of individuals to radioactive
materials, or to determine the release of radioactive materials to the
environment. NRC does not have complete information on what services CEP has
performed for Commission licensees over the last few years. Licensees may
wish to determine whether they have used CEP services within the last few
years and, if so, consider how the results were used and whether inaccurate
results would have any safety significance. If inaccurate results could cause
significant safety concerns, licensees may wish to consider what actions would
be appropriate to confirm their sample results.
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IN 94-81 November 25, 1994 This information notice requires no specific action or written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Contact: Scott W. Moore, NMSS
(301) 415-7875 Attachments:
1. DOE Press Release
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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Attachment 1
IN 94- 81 November 25, 1994 __
__
NEWTS
NEWS MEDIA
CONTACT
FOR IMMEDIATE REILEASE
Michael Gauldin, 202/586-4940
November 8,.1994
Rick Oborn, 202/586-4940
Rod Geer, 505/844-6601
ACCURACY OF WORKER EXPOSURE REPORTS QUESTIONED
DOE OFFICIALS CONCERNED; ALL SITES ALERTED
The Department of Energy (DOE) is cooperating fully with
federal authorities who today executed a search warrant for the
records of a Santa Fe company that has analyzed employee
radiation test results for Sandia National Laboratory.
The company, Controls for Environmental Pollution (CEP),
tested employee urine samples for Sandia National Laboratory
beginning in 1992 as part of the department's bioassay program.
This program is designed to measure the amount of radioactive
material taken internally by employees who work with unsealed
radioactive substances.
The department is also investigating whether other DOE sites
and employees may be affected and reviewing its
procedures for
handling bioassay samples. Additional information will be
released as it becomes available.
Sandia officials stopped using CEP's services in April
because quality control testing had raised questions about the
reliability of CEP's reports. The department's Mound Plant in
Ohio used CEP's services for special projects last year, but
stopped sending samples to the company after questions arose
about the company's capabilities.
"We take these allegations very seriously," said Secretary
of Energy Hazel R. O'Leary. "We are assessing the number of
employees and sites that may be involved, reviewing our
procedures for handling bioassay reports and establishing an
accreditation system to ensure the reliability of bioassay
testing."
(MORE)
Attachment 1
IN 94-81 November 25, 1994 "We will keep employees informed as we determine the scope
of the problem and notify any employees who've been given
inaccurate information that affects their health. We a-re also
going-to reconstruct dose levels where tests may be
questionable."
Urine tests are conducted at DOE sites where unsealed
radioactive materials are handled to verify that worker exposure
is within safety limits.
CEP tested about 500 employee urine samples for Sandia from
August 1992 to April 1994. All individuals involved will be
offered new tests.
All DOE sites are being alerted and directed to report
instances in which CEP's service have been used so the number of
workers potentially affected can be determined and appropriate
action taken.
DOE's Office of Environment, Safety and Health is reviewing
the department's policies and standards for the collection and
recording of bioassay samples to identify weaknesses and make
improvements.
Guidance will be provided to DOE sites for action to be
taken in the future if similar suspect information is identified.
The direction will include procedures for determining whether
retesting for affected individuals is called for.
The department has been developing an accreditation program
for bioassay laboratories to provide quality and performance
standards for contractors that conduct bioassay analysis for the
department.
-DOE-
R-94-220
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Attachment 2
November 25, 1994 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
4MSS INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
93-60,
Supp. 1
94-74
94-73
94-70
94-65
94-64
94-47
94-39
Reporting Fuel Cycle
and Materials Events to
the NRC Operations Center
Facility Management
Responsibilities for
Purchased or Contracted
Services for Radiation
Therapy Programs
Clarification of Critical- ity Reporting Criteria
Issues Associated with Use
of Strontium-89 and Other
Beta Emitting Radiopharma- ceuticals
Potential Errors in
Manual Brachytherapy
Dose Calculations
Generated Using a
Computerized Treatment
Planning System
Reactivity Insertion
Transient and Accident
Limits for High Burnup
Fuel
Accuracy of Information
Provided to NRC during
the Licensing Process
Identified Problems in
Gamma Stereotactic
Radiosurgery
10/20/94
10/13/94
10/12/94
09/29/94
09/12/94
08/31/94
06/21/94
05/31/94
All 10 CFR Part 70
fuel cycle licensees.
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Medical
Licensees.
All fuel fabrication
facilities.
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Medical
Licensees.
Al U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission medical
licensees.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors
and all fuel fabrication
licensees.
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Material
Licensees.
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Teletherapy
Medical Licensees.
Attachment 3
November 25, 1994 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
94-80
94-79
94-78
94-77
94-76
93-60,
Supp. 1
94-75
94-74
Inadequate DC Ground
Detection in Direct Current
Current Distribution
Systems
Microbiologically
Influenced Corrosion
of Emergency Diesel
Generator Service
Water Piping
Electrical Component
Failure due to Degrada- tion of Polyvinyl Chloride
Wire Insulation
Malfunction in Main Gen- erator Voltage Regulator
Causing Overvoltage at
Safety-Related Electrical
Equipment
11/25/94
11/23/94
11/21/94
11/17/94
10/26/94
10/20/94
10/14/94
10/13/94
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for pressurized water
reactors.
All 10 CFR Part 70
fuel cycle licensees.
All holders of OLs or CPs
pressurized-water reactors
(PWRs).
i
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Medical
Licensees.
Recent
Safety
Failures of Charging/
Injection Pump Shafts
Reporting Fuel Cycle
and Materials Events to
the NRC Operations Center
Minimum Temperature
for Criticality
Facility Management
Responsibilities for
Purchased or Contracted
Services for Radiation
Therapy Programs
OL = Operating License
CP - Construction Permit
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November 25, 1994
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Contact:
Scott W. Moore, NMSS
(301) 415-7875 Attachments:
1. DOE Press Release
2. List of Recently
3. List of Recently
A fr4rv&J S
Issued NMSS Information Notices
Issued NRC Information Notices
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the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, Director
Division of Industrial and Medical
Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Contact: Scott
(301)
W. Moore, NMSS
415-7875 Attachments:
1. DOE Press Release
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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SGagner, OPA
RLoesch, DOE
ROborn, DOE
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the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, D ector
Division of Industr 1 and Medical
Nuclear Safety
Office of Nucle
Material Safety
and Safegu ds
Contact: Scott W. Moore, NMSS
(301) 415-7875 Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Info mation Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Inf mation Notices
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This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Contact:
Scott W. Moore, NMSS
(301) 415-7875 Attachments:
1. DOE Press Release
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
DOCUMENT NAME: 94-81.IN
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November I#, 1994 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, Director
Division of Industrial and Medical
Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Contact: Scott
(301)
W. Moore, NMSS
415-7875 Attachments:
1. DOE Press Release
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Distribution:
SGagner, OPA
RLoesch, DOE
ROborn, DOE
RGeer, DOE
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November ##, 1994 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Carl J. Paperiello, D ector
Division of Industr 1 and Medical
Nuclear Safety
Office of Nucle
Material Safety
and Safegu ds
Contact:
Scott W. Moore, NMSS
(301) 415-7875 Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Info
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2. List of Recently Issued NRC Inf mation Notices
DOCUMENT NAME: G:IN EP.KMR
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