ML20135C738

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Insp Rept 15000009/96-15 on 961105.Violation Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Licensee Radiation Program for Moisture Density Testing Activities
ML20135C738
Person / Time
Site: 15000009
Issue date: 11/26/1996
From:
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
Shared Package
ML20135C716 List:
References
15000009-96-15, NUDOCS 9612090063
Download: ML20135C738 (5)


See also: IR 015000009/1996015

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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

Docket No.:

150 00009

Report No.:

150 00009/96 15

Organization:

Tri-State Testing

Location:

Cottondale, Florida

Date:

November 5, 1996

Inspector:

Wade T. Loo, Health Physicist

Approved by:

Charles M. Hosey Chief

Materials Licensing / Inspection Branch 1

Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

Enclosure

9612090063 961126

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tri-State Testing

NRC Inspection Report 150 00009/96 15

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This special, unannounced inspection was conducted to evaluate Tri-State

Testing's (TST's) radiation safety program for moisture density testing

activities conducted in areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction. Through

discussions with cognizant TST representatives, reviews of documents, and

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direct observations of licensee equipment and instrumentation, the inspector

found that TST did not have a specific NRC license nor did the company file

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for reciprocity in accordance with 10 CFR 150.20. The company, thus, did not

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have an NRC license to use byproduct material in areas of exclusive Federal

jurisdiction. Program areas included in this report are management oversight

and organization and scope of the program.

Manaaement Oversicht

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The inspector identified an ap)arent violation regarding TST's failure

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to file for reciprocity with t1e NRC prior to using radioactive

materials for conducting moisture density testing at Eglin Air Force

Base, Florida, an area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

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.Oraanization and Scope of the Licensee Proaram

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

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materials contained in oortable moisture density gauges to measure

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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

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Florida including areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

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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 grante an NRC general license to

conduct the same activity in non Agreement States subject to the

provisions of 10 CFR 150.20(b).

10 CFR 150.20(b)(1) requires, in part, that any person engagir.g in

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

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 Eglin Air Force Base (EAFB),

Florida with cognizant Air Force representatives.

From discussions with

Air Force representatives for activities that involved moisture density

testing, the inspector determined that Tri-State Testing (TST) had

conducted moisture density testing at EAFB in past years. However, Air

Force representatives were not able to confirm the exact dates TST

utilized the portable moisture density gauges (PMDGs). Also, the

inspector was unable to verify TST'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 TST had conducted activities

using PMDGs.

On November 5, 1996, the inspector conducted an onsite ins >ection of TST

to determine if TST had conducted activities requiring an iRC license at

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EAFB, Florida. The inspector discussed those activities with TST

representatives and reviewed those TST records available at the time of

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the onsite inspection.

From those discussions and reviews, the

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inspector independently verified that TST had used a PMDG for moisture

density testing purposes at EAFB, Florida. TST representatives stated

that the PMDG had been used over the last five years at EAFB, Florida.

During that five year period TFT used the PMDG for a >eriod of one and

a half years, averaging two times a month. However, t1e inspector was

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

activities in past years. Activities conducted under TST's State of

Florida radioactive materials license did not require them to maintain a

utilization log.

During discussions with the ins)ector, TST

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

when the PMDGs had been used at EAFB. TST 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

including EAFB. TST representatives stated that they did recall

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reveiving within the last month information from the State of Florida

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regarding the requirement for filing for reciprocity with the NRC.

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However, prior to receipt of the State of Florida information. TST

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representatives were not aware of the requirement for filing for

reciprocity with the NRC. TST representatives informed the innector

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that since receipt of the State of Florida information. TST had not

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conducted activities at EAFB or other military installations. Although

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the ins

tor could not independently verify the exact dates of use of

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TST's P

s at EAFB, the inspector concluded, based on discussions with

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TST representatives, that TST had not filed for reciprocity to conduct

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licensed activities at EAFB, Florida, areas of exclusive Federal

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jurisdiction.

Failure of the licensee to file for reciprocity for

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licensed activities conducted in areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction

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was identified as an apparent _ violation of 10 CFR 30.3.

02.

Oraanization and Scooe of the Licensee Proaram (87100)

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Through discussions with cognizant licensee representatives, the

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

possess and use radioactive materials contained in PMDGs for measuring

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properties of construction materials or soils. Through those

. discussions and from a review of records, the inspector determined that

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TST possessed and used four PMDGs that contained millicurie quantities

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of cesium 137 and americium 241. Also, the inspector determined that

three individuals were trained to use the PMDGs. TST representatives

stated that company activities primarily involved soil testing. TST

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used the PMDGs at temporary job sites located throughout the State of

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Florida including areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

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EXIT MEETING SUMMARY

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An exit meeting was held with TST representatives on November 5, 1996. The

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overall findings from the inspection, including the apparent violation, were

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discussed. No dissenting commerts were received from TST, and TST did not

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

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LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED

Licensee

Art Pettis, President

Cindy Pettis, Secretary

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INSPECTION PROCEDURE USED

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IP 87100:

Licensed Materials Program

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ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

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OPENED

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96 001

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FAILURE TO OBTAIN A LICENSE TO POSSESS AND USE RADI0 ACTIVE

MATERIAL

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