ML20134C446

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Insp Rept 150-00009/96-10 on 960808-09.Violation Noted. Major Areas Inspected:Management Oversight,Organization & Scope of Licensee Program,Leak Test & Inventory,Training, Retraining & Instructions to Workers
ML20134C446
Person / Time
Site: 15000009
Issue date: 09/06/1996
From:
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
Shared Package
ML20134C426 List:
References
15000009-96-10, NUDOCS 9609270181
Download: ML20134C446 (7)


See also: IR 015000009/1996010

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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

Docket No.:

150-00009

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Report No.:

150-00009/96-10

Organization:

Edward M. Chadbourne, Inc.

Location:

Pensacola, Florida

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Dates:

August 8-9, 1996

Inspector:

Wade T. Loo, Health Physicist

Approved by:

Charles M. Hosey, Chief

Materials Licensing / Inspection Branch 1

Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

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Enclosure

9609270181 960906

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EXECUTIVE SUMARY

Edward M. Chadbourne, Inc.

NRC Inspection Report 150-00009/96-10

This special, unannounced inspection was conducted to evaluate

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Edward M. Chadbourne, Inc.'s (EMCI's) radiation safety program for moisture

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density testing activities conducted in areas of exclusive Federal

jurisdiction. Through discussions with cognizant EMCI representatives,

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reviews of documents, and direct observations of licensee equipment and

instrumentation, the inspector found EMCIs overall radiation safety program to

be adequate. The inspector also found however, that the company did not have

a specific NRC license nor did the company file for reciprocity in accordance

with 10 CFR 150.20. The company, thus, did not have an NRC license to use

byproduct material in areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

Program areas

discussed in this report are management oversight, organization and scope of

the program, leak test and inventory, training, retraining and instruction to

workers, personnel radiation protection, and transportation.

Manaaement Oversicht

The inspector identified an apparent violation regarding EMCI's failure

to file reciprocity with the NRC prior to using radioactive materials

for conducting moisture density testing at Pensacola Naval Air Station,

Florida, an area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

Oraanization and Scope of the Licensee Proaram

EMCI had a State of Florida license to possess and use radioactive

material contained in portable moisture density gauges to measure

properties of construction materials or soils. The use of byproduct

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materials was conducted at temporary job sites throughout the State of

Florida including areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

Leak Test and Inventory

EMCI's portable moisture density gauges had been leak tested by a

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company authorized to conduct such tests on a semiannual basis.

EMCI's

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Radiation Safety Officer conducted semiannual inventories of the gauges.

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Trainina Retrainina, and Instructions to Workers

EMCI personnel were found to have been properly trained in EMCI's

radiation safety program, and radiation workers had received

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instructions commensurate with their involvement in activities using

byproduct material.

Personnel Radiation Protection

EMCI's external radiation monitoring program was found to be adequate

for monitoring personnel and no external radiation exposures exceeding

NRC regulatory limits were identified.

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Postina and Labelina

The portable moisture density gauges were available for inspection,

observed by the inspector in EMCI's storage area, and found to be

properly labeled to identify the radiation hazards present.

In

addition, EMCI's storage area was observed and found to be properly

posted for the radioactive materials present at the facility.

Transoortation

The inspector reviewed EMCI's transportation activities involving

byproduct materials and found them to be in accordance with NRC and DOT

regulatory requirements.

Miscellaneous issues

During the onsite inspection the inspector determined that EMCI's had

previously been inspected by the State of Florida on two occasions with

items of noncompliance being identified.

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REPORT DETAILS

01.

Manaaement Oversiaht (87100)

10 CFR 30.3 requires in relevant part, that no person shall possess or

use byproduct material except as authorized by a specific or general

license issued by the NRC.

10 CFR 150.20(a) provides in part that any person who holds a specific

license from an Agreement State is granted an NRC general license to

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conduct the same activity in non-Agreement States subject to the

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provisions of 10 CFR 150.20(b).

10 CFR 150.20(b)(1) requires,- in part, that any person engaging in

activities in non-Agreement States shall, at least 3 days before

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engaging in each such activity, file 4 copies of NRC Form 241, " Report

of Proposed Activities in Non-Agreement States," with the Regional

Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional office.

On August 5, 1996, the inspector reviewed the conduct of activities

involving the use of byproduct material at Pensacola Naval Air Station

(PNAS), Florida with cognizant Navy representatives.

From discussions

and reviews of records for activities that involved moisture density

testing, the inspector determined that EMCI had conducted asphalt paving

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at PNAS in past years.

However, Naval representatives were not able to

confirm if EMCI utilized portable moisture density gauges (PMDGs).

Also, the inspector was unable to verify EMCI's use of PMDGs due to the

volume of documents available for review.

For those records sampled,

the inspector was not able to determine if EMCI had conducted activities

using PMDGs.

On August 8-9, 1996, the inspector conducted an onsite inspection of

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EMCI to determine if EMCI had conducted activities requiring an NRC

licensee at PNAS, Florida. The inspector discussed those activities

with EMCI representatives and reviewed those EMCI records available at

the time of the onsite inspection.

From those discussions and reviews,

the inspector independently verified that EMCI had used a PMDG for

moisture density testing purposes at PNAS, Florida.

EMCI

representatives stated that the last time the PMDG had been used at PNAS

was on one hot day for approximately one half to one hour, probably

during the summer of 1992 or 1993 at PNAS, Florida. However, the

inspector was not able to determine the exact dates of use for those and

other activities in past years. Activities conducted under EMCI's State

of Florida radioactive materials license did not require them to

maintain a utilization log.

Furthermore, EMCI used the PMDGs for

quality control purposes and was not required to document each time the

PMDGs were used at PNAS. During discussions with the inspector < EMCI

representatives could not recall the exact dates but only an estimate of

when the PMOGs had been used at PNAS.

EMCI representatives stated that

they were under the assumption that they had a State of Florida

radioactive materials license which allowed them to conduct moisture

density activities at temporary job sites in the State of Florida

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including PNAS.

EMCI representatives also stated that they were not

aware of the requirement for filing reciprocity with the NRC. Although

the inspector could not independently verify the use of EMCI's PMDGs at

PNAS, the inspector concluded based on those discussions with EMCI

representatives that EMCI had not filed for reciprocity to conduct

licensed activities at PNAS, areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

Failure of the licensee to file for reciprocity for licensed activities

conducted in areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction was identified as

an apparent violation of 10 CFR 30.3.

02.

Oroanization and Scone of the Licensee Proaram (87100)

Through discussions with cognizant licensee representatives, the

inspector determined that EMCI was licensed by the State of Florida to

possess and use radioactive materials contained in PMDGs.

EMCI was

authorized to possess and use the PMDGs for measuring properties of

construction materials or soils. Through those discussions and from a

review of records, the inspector determined that EMCI possessed and used

three PMDGs that contained millicurie quantities of cesium-137 and

americium-241. Also, the inspector determined that four individuals

were trained to use the PMDGs; they included the Radiation Safety

Officer (RS0) and three laboratory technicians.

EMCI representatives

stated that company activities primarily involved asphalt paving of

roads.

EMCI used the PMDGs at temporary job sites located throughout

the State of Florida including areas of Federal exclusive jurisdiction.

EMCI representatives stated that the PHDGs were used for quality control

purposes at these temporary job sites. When conducting asphalt paving,

EMCI was required to use an independent testing laboratory to verify the

density of the materials tested.

03.

Leak Tests and Inventories (83822)

The inspector reviewed leak test and inventory records from June'1990 to

March 1996 and discussed those records with EMCI representatives.

From

those reviews and discussions, the inspector determined that EMCI

conducted leak tests and inventories of the PMDGs on a semiannual

frequency.

EMCI utilized leak test kits supplied by a leak testing

consultant authorized to conduct such tests.

Upon completion of the

leak test, EMCI sent the leak test samples to the consultant for

analysis.

From a review of those leak tests results, the inspector did

not observe any sample results greater than 0.005 microcuries.

04.

Trainina Retrainina, and Instructions to Workers (83822)

Through discussions with cognizant EMCI representatives and a review of

training records, the inspector determined that EMCI personnel

authorized to use the PMDGs had received appropriate radiation safety

training from the PMDG manufacturer. The inspector noted that EMCI

maintained each PMDG user's training certificates in the RS0's office.

The inspector reviewed and discussed EMCI's operating and emergency

procedures with those EMCI representatives available at the time of the

onsite inspection. During those discussions and reviews, the inspector

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found the individuals to be knowledgeable in those procedures to ensure

that appropriate and adequate actions be taken in the event of an

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emergency at a temporary job site.

05.

Personnel Radiation Protection (83822)

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10 CFR 20.1502 requires monitoring of occupational exposures to

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radiation to demonstrate compliance with radiation dose limits specified

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in 10 CFR 20.1201, 20.1207, and 20.1208.

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The inspector reviewed external radiation dosimetry reports from January

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1990 to June 1996 and discussed those reports with cognizant EMCI

representatives. Through those discussions and reviews, the inspector

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determined that EMCI utilized external radiation dosimetry supplied by a

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National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program approved vendor for

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monitoring personnel.

EMCI exchanged the dosimetry on a quarterly

frequency.

From a review of those dosimetry reports, the inspector

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observed annual total effective dose equivalent radiation exposures

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ranging from 0 to 159 millirem.

Based on those discussions and reviews,

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the inspector determined that EMCI had no external radiation exposures

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exceeding NRC regulatory limits.

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06.

Postina and Labelina (83822)

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10 CFR 20.1904 and 10 CFR 71.5 require that containers of licensed

material contain certain information.

10 CFR 20.1401 requires that

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areas containing licensed materials be posted with warning signs.

10 CFR 20.1302 requires that radiation dose rates in unrestricted areas

be limited.

The inspector observed the PMDGs that EMCI possessed and independently

verified that the PMDGs. were properly labeled to ensure compliance with

NRC and DOT regulatory requirements.

In addition, the inspector

conducted independent radiation surveys of the PMDGs and storage area

with measurements ranging from 0.0 to 0.3 millirem / hour.

Based on those

independent measurements the inspector observed that the licensee

adequately posted and labeled the storage area and PMDGs in accordance

with NRC and DOT regulatory requirements.

07.

Transportation (86740)

10 CFR Part 71 requires that licensed materials be transported in

accordance with specified requirements, including referenced Department

of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

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Through discussions with cognizant EMCI representatives and a review of

transportation records,

e inspector determined that EMCI transported

the PMDGs in the bed of

pany pickup trucks.

EMCI representatives

informed the inspector that when transporting the gauges, the

individuals would chain and lock the gauge transportation boxes to the

beds of the pickup trucks. The inspector reviewed EMCI's transportation

records maintained for each gauge and discussed those records with EMCI

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representatives.

EMCI representatives informed the inspector that the

transportation records were kept in the front of EMCI's vehicles within

arms reach of the driver. From those discussions and reviews, the

inspector determined that EMCI maintained appropriate documentation to

ensure compliance to NRC and DOT regulatory requirements.

08.

Miscellaneous Issues (87100)

Through discussions with EMCI representatives and from a review of

records, the inspector determined that EMCI had previously been

inspected by the State of Florida on November 19, 1992 and November 21,

1995. During the November 19, 1992 inspection, EMCI had been cited for

two items of noncompliance:

1) Unavailability of personnel records; and

2) Inventory records did not include all of the required information.

During the November 21, 1995 inspection, EMCI had been cited for three

items of noncompliance:

1) Leak test records did not include all of the

required information; 2) Licensee did not advise radiation workers of

their annual exposure; and 3) Inventory records were not available at

the time of the onsite inspection. At the time of the onsite

inspection, the inspector did not identify any items similar to the

findings of the state.

EXIT MEETING SUMMARY

An exit meeting was held with EMCI representatives on August 9, 1996.

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overall findings from the inspection, including the apparent violation were

discussed. No dissenting comments were received from EMCI, and EMCI did not

specify any information reviewed during the inspection as proprietary in nature.

LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED

Licensee

R. Kelly, Laboratory Technician

T. Perry, Vice President

J. Strother, Laboratory Foreman, Radiation Safety Officer

INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED

IP 87100:

Licensed Materials Program

IP 83822:

Radiation Protection

IP 86740:

Inspection of Transportation Activities

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

OPENED

96-001

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FAILURE TO OBTAIN A LICENSE TO POSSESS AND USE RADI0 ACTIVE

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MATERIAL

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