ML20055G625
| ML20055G625 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/12/1990 |
| From: | Shear G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20055G623 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990003-900713 99990003-90-08, 99990003-90-8, NUDOCS 9007230389 | |
| Download: ML20055G625 (6) | |
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
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REGION III.
j Report No.
999-90003/90008(DRSS)
Docket No..
999-90003-General License License No.
Licensee:'.
Lionel 50725 Richards W. Boulevard Mt.-Clemens~, MI 48405-inspection Condt.cted:
June 7, 1990
- Purpose of Inspection
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This was an announced, special inspection conducted to review the circumstances surrounding the loss of.
four polonium-210 static eliminators, NRD Model Nos'..
P2051 and P2031 and the licensee's corrective actions associated with the event,
- t. f g v Inspector:
Gary L Shear 7 Jho-
.Senio Radiation Specialist Date '
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-Approved'By: Roy J. Can e
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- d Nuclear % r Ms Safety-Date Sectiotr
. Inspection Sununary l
is Inspection on June 7, 1990-(Report No. 999-90003/90008(DRSS)
Areas Inspected: This was an announced, special inspection conducted to review the-circumstances surrounding the loss of four static eliminators each containing a' nominalL10 millicuries of polonium-210, model numbers P2051, and P2031 manufactured by NRD,' Incorporated, of Grand Island, New York.
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Results: Within the areas inspected one violation of NRC requirements was identified relating to the loss of the static elimination devices:
I unauthorized disposal' or transfer of byproduct material,10 CFR 31.5(c)(8)
(Section 3).
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- gn DETAILS-1.
Persons Contacted g
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- Ken Major, Decorating Manager
- Attended Exit Meeting-
'2.
LicepedProgram The licensee is 'a manufacturer of model trains and utilizes polonium-210 static elimination devices in.its production pri. cess. The static eliminators are installed on-air lines in the coating area of the facility.
LThe licensee currently possesses 12 devices manufactured by NRD Corporation-of Grand Island, New York, with 9.of the 12 in storage pending return to the manufacturer.
The devices contain a nominal 10 mil 11 curies of polonium-210 upon receipt.
3; Inspection Findings
'In a letter to the Region III office dated April 27, 1990, the licensee reported 'the loss of four static elimination -devices (one Model No. p20Si and three Model No. P2051) from the manuf acturing facility (Attachment 1).
The devices contained a nominal acti rity of 10 mil 11 curies of polonium-210 each. The devices were discovered missing in January or February 1990.
The ' licensee conducted three complete searches of the facility with no success in locating the lost devices.
In addition, the licensee posted a lost and-found memo which did not result:in the location of any of the devices (Attachment 2).
On June 7, 1990, a special in & cetion was conducted to review the circumstances surrounding the Toss of the static elimination devices.
The inspection revealed that the' licensee leased the lost devices from the NRD Corporation ir itarch and July 1989. The Model No. P2031 was leased on March 29, 1989 and the Model Nos. P2051 were leased on July 26 1989. The devices were discovered missing in January or February 1990.
The licensee conducted three complete searches of the facility in an effort to locate the devices. A fourth check of the facility was.
completed just prior to this inspection.
It was learned that all devices were installed on air lines with a " quick disconnect" system which makes it easy for the devices to be removed from the installation site. The licensee reported the loss of the devices to NRD.in January or February-1990 who in turn told the licensee to keep searching for the devices until the lease period was up-In April'1990 NRD instructed the licensee to report the loss of the devices to NRC. The loss was subsequently reported in the April 27, 1990 letter. 10 CFR Part 20 does not reoP re reporting the loss of the devices be.ause a substantial hazard does.iot exist.
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4 The licensee speculates that the devices were ' inadvertently (c)isposed of d
but cannot rule out-the theft of the devices.
10 CFR 31.5 (8) requires that-any person who-acquires, receives, possesses, or transfers byproduct material in a device pursuant.to the general license.in paragraph (a) of.
this section, transfer or. dispose of the device only by transfer to a-person: holding a specific license to receive the device. Contrary to the above, during the period March 1988 to February 1990 one NRD Model P2031 and-three.NRD Model P2051-static elimination devices containing a nominal
~ 10 mil 11 curies of polonium-210 were transferred or disposed of in an unauthorized manner. The unauthor' zed transfer or disposal of the polonium-210 static eliminators constitutes an apparent violation of 10 CFR 31.5(c)(8).
Region 111 has concluded that the unauthorized transfer / disposal-does not-pose a significant threat to public health and safety.. At the time the loss was discovered, the devices contained 2-4 mci of polonium-210 each.
As a result of the loss of the static eliminators the licensee removed
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all static eliminators from use with the exception of three Model P2031 devices. Also, the Decorating Manager conducts a visual check daily to verify the location of the three remaining devices in use. The licensee currently has no plans of replacing the 9 units in storage once the
-current lease has expired.
In addition to the-above aret the inspector also inspected the three remaining devices in use by the licensee. The inspection revealed that all devices were nronerly labeled as required by 10 CFR 31.5(c)(1). Leak-
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tests un-the devices are required every 13_ months. The devices are returned to the manufacturer at approximately 12 month intervals, therefore leak tests are not required to be conducted by the licensee.
One violation of NRC requirements was identified.
4.
Exit Meeting An exit meeting was: conducted on June 7,1990, at the conclusion of the inspection with Mr. Major, Decorating Manager. The inspection findings, the NRC Enforcement Policy, and the licensee's corrective actions were discussed. No !nformation contained in this report was identified as proprietary by the licensee.
Attachments:
1.: Ltr dtd April 29, 1990
- 12. Notice to Employees f
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ATTACHMENT'l
..g DATE:V
' April 27, 1990 I
TOf
-NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FROM: '
Ken Major FRE:
3 MISSING DE10NIZED AIR CUNS I
Per your request I am sending you the formal report on the history of unit), and P-2051, (l's 27406, 27409, 27410, j
the air suns P-2031, # 23651 (1
"( 3: units ) that came up missing recently, i
P-2031 unit was leased on 3/29/89, and the P-2051 units were ici sed on i
7/D di from NRD Incorporated in New York in order for us to deionized i tr planic parts prior to painting.
Since joining the team here at Lionel Traina in December of 1989, it was-brought to ny attention recently thr.t the units listed above came up mis.ing.
I immediately pulled all remaining 14 unite from the floor to contain th m in order to find out why this happened and do a-thorough search.
Afte 3 complete searches, in which'I was involved in, we did not fitI any in ourufacilities.
I also pulled all obsolete stock and fixture.dowt from our vershouse and checked every container.
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I t'en notified NRD of losses and they sent'me a letter to whom I would need *
'ntact which was'your office. We epoke extensively about the letter of d' and what steps should follow.
. w w are the st s aat have followed to take care of problem:
Called
., to see' abat a survey of the plant for any leakage.
They ?v not do surveys and could not contact me with anyone in our area that does.
Galled to talk to you about seme suggestions and was notified I /
.nother gentleman of the Medical Physica Association.
Called Jim Clancy of Medical-Physica and he had no equipment that would detect the Polonium 210-due to the small amount of radiation involved. lie gave er 5
.mber for Mark Driscoll at Radiation Control Service at
,orsity of Michigan'.
Mark said.they will come in to do he survey and will be calling me back vich the time.
I'will noti!" ou and fax you a copy of the roccipt.
i have returned all material frec !.
Icase.
97 IFR 90 ?J '57 16.- coste lost and found memo at al
.ocations of the shop, b
to' locate lost items.
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-.1 My reorder v111-be. at-3*unita versus the 18, ordered before.-
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iThese units are attached direct to the air versus quick connects:
"4 to take away the easy-stealing. factor for anyone, ii.
1 Once ~ again, I will send you a -copy of the st.rvey.and or contact you when it
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._is co:rplete Thank you'for your ticie andLieel free to call.-
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Kindest regards.
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Ken Major, Decorating Manager N
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ATTACHMENT 2 NOTICE !!!
NISSLNG ARE 4
O E10NL Z E D RZ R G U.NS F#0 M TH E PAI. t4T DEPT.
I F Mon FI N D A N Y NOTT FY WEN M A70R oR T'000 SLE00E OF THE PMNT OEP A RT M EMT TMANK Hou
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