ML19290D176

IE Insp Rept 79-01 on 791031.No Noncompliance Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Conditions Re Storage of Authorized Gammacell Model 220 Irradiator,Licensee Emergency Procedure & Radiation Safety Instruments

ML19290D176
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/31/1979
From:	Book H, Thomas R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V)
To:
Shared Package
ML19290D174	List: ML19290D173 ML19290D176
References
NUDOCS 8002200214
Download: ML19290D176 (7)

Text

{{#Wiki_filter:' U. S. hJCLEAR REGULATORY C010 FISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMEh7 REGION V 79-01 Report No. 56-12953-01 Docket No. License No. safeguards croup Licensee: Department of Agriculture Government of Guam Agana, Guam 96910 Facility Name: Inspection at: Guan Departr.ent of Agriculture Building at Mangilao Inspection conducted: Octobey 31, 1979 P CT, [ 2 '(( Ins pe ct ors : Herbert E. Eook, Inspectd Date signed Date signed Approved By : M/M / 7 R. D. Thomas, Chief, Materials Radiation Safety Section 'Date signed S uw.a ry : Insoection on October 31,1979 (NRC Report No. 79-01) A routine announced inspection was concucted on October 31, 1979. This license authorizes a Gamrr.acell Model 220 irradiator containing sealed sources of cobalt-60. The irradiator was used in an experimental fruit fly eradication project in 1969 and 1970. It has not been used for about ten years, and the present ?!RC license authorizes storage only. The licensee has no emerger.cy procedures, no radiation safe'y instruments, and no person with radiation safety training in his employ. Storage conditions have resulted in deterioration of the device, which contained approximately 950 curies of Co-60 at the time of the inspection. Con-tinued deterioration cocid result in a significant safety problem, which could not be detected by the licensee. The licensee would like to dispose of the device, but has been unable to obtain approval for the money necessary to complete the disposal. Resul ts: tio items of nonccmpliance were observed but a significant potential safety problem exists at this facility. RV Form 719 (2) 9% 8002200 A

~ DETAILS ~ 1. Persons Contacted Antonio S. Quitugua, Director Administrative Services Victor T. Artero Deputy Director Administrative Services William tiull, Ph.D., Chief Forestry and Soil Resources Logan Oplinger, Department of Public Health Government of Guan (Accompanied Inspector) 2. Organization Tne Government of Guam, Department of Agriculture facility at Mangilao, Guam is under the direction of Antonio S. Quitugua, Director, Administrative Services. The license in Condition 12 specifies that "Syproduct material shall be stored by, or under the supervision of, Ivan A. DeSoto." Mr. DeSoto is no longer employed by the Island of Guam Department of Agriculture. The recponsibility for the storace of the device has been assigned to William flull, Ph.D., Chief, Forestry and Soil Resources. Dr. flull is stationed at the fiangilao facility and reports +a the Director, Mr. Quitugua. In a letter to the licensee, fr.SS.us stated "For purposes of storage only of the irradiator, it is not necessary for the individual who would act in a custodial capacity to have specific training in radiation safety." 3. Internal Audits and Controls fio internal audits are conducted. 4. Training and Instruction 'a Emoloyees Responsibility for the device in storage has been assigned to Dr. liull. Dr. liull has control of the keys to the facility and to the irradia'wr. However, he has had no training or experience in radiation safety or in the operation of the AECL Gamacell 220 f rradia tor. There is no one in the Department of Agriculture with experience or training in radiation safety or irradiator operations. 5. Radiation Protection Procedures The licensee has no radiation protection procedures. The license authorizes s'wrage only, with no operation of the irradiator authorized. The device is exempt from any leak test requirement

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as long as it remains in storage. Consequently, no leak test has been conducted since January 1971. The leak test exemption was first included in Amendment No. 3 to the original license, issued in October 1972. No procedures have been established in case of fire or severe earthquake. The facility is located in a rural area remote from any fire station, and is not fireproof. The electrical system in the facility is faulty, evidenced by intermittent failure during the inspection, increasing the possibility of a fire. The island of Guam experiences earthquakes on a regular basis. 6. Inventory, Facilities and Instruments The license authorizes 3500 curies of Co-60 as sealed sources in an AECL Gammacell 220 irradiator, with the unit locked in the "0FF" position and held in storage only. The license expires on September 30, 1980. Due to natural decay, the irradiator contained approximately 950 curies of Co-60 at the time of the inspection. No other radio-active raterial is au:horized or possessed. The irradiator is located in a small, inside, windowless room located in a warehouse-type sheet metal and wood frame building in the rural Mangilao section of the Island of Guam. A photograph of the AECL f rradiatcr is included in Exhibit A. A photo of the warehouse building is also included in Exhibit A. The inner room is maintained locked at all times, and the outer doors to the warehouse are locked at night. Dr. William Null has control of the keys. The warehouse roof leaks, and at the time of the inspection about one-half inch of water was standing in one corner of the room which contained the irradiator. A photo of that condition is included in Exhibit A. Rust and corrosion was visible on unpainted parts of the irradiatcr. The tropical climate of the Island of Guam is very humid, and salt in the air promotes corrosion. The exterior of the irradiator was damp to the touch. A Victoreen area radiation monitor VAMP Model 808B is present in the facility but is not operable. No operable portable radiation ronitoring instruments or personnel dosimeters are possessed by this licensee. The irradiator room is posted with " Danger Radiation Area" and " Danger Radioactive Material" signs bearing the radiation symbol in the correct colors. A Form NRC-3 " Notice to Employees" was posted in the room. Photos of the posting are included in Exhibit A. The irradiator is labelled with the following information. " Caution Radioactive Material" with the proper radiation symbol and the information "AECL, Commercial Products, Model GC-220, Type B, Serial 115. Co-60, Nov. 68, 3810 Ci." The device also bears a label indicating a leak test was conducted in January 1971 by the Health Physics Associates, Highland Park, Illinois.

7. Independent Insoection Effort Direct radiation r.easurements were made by the inspector using an liRC portable instrument Digicaster, Serial fiumber 000356. Maximum dose rates of 0.3 to 0.5 mr/hr were measured with the instrument in contact with the device at the crack between the upper shielding plug and the supplemental shielding collar around the irradiation chamber. Wipes were collected by the inspector on the surface of the upper shielding plug, at the crack around the supplemental shielding collar,'and around the base of the device. Check of the three wipes with the portable instrument mentioned above revealed no activity above background. After return to the Region V office, the wipes were counted on a 10iC Model pC-55 gas flow windowless proportional counter. tio radioactivity was detected above background. 8. Discussion With Manaceaent At the conclusion of the inspection, tne inspector held a discussion with Mr. Quitugua, Director and Mr. Artero, Deputy Director. The inspector stated that no items of noncompliance were observed, but that in his opinion a significant potential safety problem exists. The principal problem is believed to be possible failure of the sealed sources of cobalt-60, and the licensee's inability to detect such leakage cf radioactive material. Leakage could result from deterioration of the capsules due to conditions of storage, or from the effects of fire or earthquake. The inspector informed licensee management that he was going to recommend an order be issued, requiring ther to dispose of the device. Mr. Quitugua said they sincerely wanted to dispose of the device, but were unable to cet approval for the estimated $2000. that it would cost to have AECL take the irradiatur off their hands. He said anything we could do to help would be appreciated. He said if the tiRC issued an order, he could probably obtain the money to dispose of the device.

Enclosure:

Exhibit A

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E'GiIBIT A Page 2

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EXHIBIT A Page 3}}