ML20141G848
| ML20141G848 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/19/1997 |
| From: | Scarano R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | David Strickland AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20141G851 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990004-970519 99990004-97-01, 99990004-97-1, NUDOCS 9705230029 | |
| Download: ML20141G848 (5) | |
Text
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p 4 UNITED STATES k !eM4\. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION R EGloN IV
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1A f 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE. SulTE 400
- S, ...../ AR LINGTON. T E XAS 76011-8064 May 19, 1997 Mr. Douglas K. Strickland Safety and Environmental Compliance Officer Sheffield Steel Corporation P. O. Box 218 Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT 999-90004/97 01
Dear Mr. Strickland:
c On March 7,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your facility in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The inspection included a review of an incident reported to the NRC by you in February 1997 involving the discovery of a nuclear gauge in a shipment of scrap steel received at your facility. The enclosed Inspection Report 999-90004/97-01 presents the scope and results of that inspection. A telephonic exit briefing was st,bsequently conducted with you on March 7,1997.
The inspection included a review of information p wided by you to the NRC Region IV office, interviews with members of your staff ano others, and a review of a written report maintained by your office documenting Sheffield Steel's review of the incident, in addition, several other f acilities were visited in conjunction with the inspection as noted in the enclosed report.
Our inspection determined that the nuclear density gauge found in a shipment of scrap metal received at your facility was originally sold to and installed at the Somex facility if ,
Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in 1981. The Somex plant was subsequently shut down in 1983. l Apparent!' the plant was jointly owned by several other companies until 1990, when it l was purchased by Zinc Corporation of America, it appeared that the gauge remained in it's j original location from 1981 until January 1997 when demolition of the former Somex f acility commenced. A scrap metal shipment from this f acility, which contained the
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gauge, was transported via truck to Twelfth Street Scrap Company in Joplin, Missouri, where it remained for a short time. The gauge was then transported by rail car to Sheffield .
Steelin Sand Springs, Oklahoma, where it activated radiation alarms. During the ;
I inspection, interviews were conducted with individuals involved in the scrap handling / l process who might have been in close proximity to the gauge to evaluate any potential I radiation dose received by these individuals.
As discussed with you during the exit briefing, the gauge that was inadvertently
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transferred to your f acility was originally obtained by Somex under a general license I pursuant to 10 CFR Part 31. The general license does include specific provisions for proper transfer of devices possessed onder the license, as specified in 10 CFR 31.5(c)(8) ;
and (9). The NRC considers improper ' msfer of generally-licensed devices to be a matter of regulatory concern, particularly when such devices are released to the public domain 220055 <
9705230029 970519 REO4 GA999 ENV***** %. = * *h*
99990004 PDR
4 Shef field Steel Corporation where they may inadvertently enter the scrap raetal recycling stream. However, due to the time elapsed since the Somex facility was closed and the subsequent transfer of the property to several other companies, which remain unidentified, we are unable to identify which general licensee improperly transferred the device. Our inspection confirmed that Zine Corporation of America had not used the former Somex facility and was not aware of the presence of the gauge before the building was dismantled and the gauge was discovered in the shipment of scrap metal re~:ad at your facility. Therefore, no violation is being cited at this time.
Your cooperation in assisting us in tracing the origin of the scrap metal shipment is appreciated. This report is being released to document the efforts taken to identify the origin of the device and to evaluate radiation doses which may have been received by individuals who worked with, or in the vicinity of, the scrap metal shipment. Should you or your staff have any questions concerning the irdctmation provided in the enclosed report, we will be pleased to discuss them with you. Any questions regarding this matter should be directed to Ms. Linda Howell at (817) 860-3213.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Ruler of Practice," a copy of this letter will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
Sincerely, A fl koss A. Scarano, Director Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Docket No.: 999-90004 License No.: NA
Enclosure:
NRC Inspection Report 999-90004/97-01 cc w/ enclosure:
Oklahoma Radiation Control Prograto Director
E i
Shef field Steel Corporation E Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK) bec to DCD (IE07) bec distrib. by RIV:
RIV Regional Administrator CLCain DBSpitzberg
'LLHowell FAWenslawski
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' MIS System
- RIV Nuclear Materials File - 5th Floor "W/lFS Form l
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\NMIS.O\RAB\SHEFF.RPT To receive copy of document. Indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy wth enclosures "N" = No copy RIV:NMi&FC/DB C:NMi&FC/DB .
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'RABrown LLHoweliggjgd4# DDChamberlain RAScarano 03/25/97 04(F/97' ' 04/ /97 04/ /97 04/ /97
- Previously concurred OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Sheffield Steel Corporation 3 Mr. Greg Fauvergue Zinc Corporation of America Twelfth Street Scrap Company Twelfth & loua Joplin, Missouri 64801 Mr. Larry B. Mills Engineering and Mrintenance Manager Zinc Corporation of America Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74005-0579 Mr. Kevin R. Blackwell Office of Safety Assurance & Compliance Hazardous Materials Division, RRS-12 FoJeral Railroad Administration 400 7th Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20590 l
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- Sheffield Steel Corporation' E Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK) bec to' DCD (IE07) bec distrib. by RIV:
RIV Regional Administrator CLCain DBSpitzberg
'LLHowell FAWenslawski
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'RIV Nuclear Materials File - 5th Floor
- W/lFS Form i
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4 DOCUMENT NAME: G:\NMIS 0\RAB\SHEFF.RPT l To receive copy of document. Indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = Nc, copy
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- RABrown LLHowellgp;&# DDChamberlain RAScarano l
03/25/97 _
04(F/97' ' 04/ /97 04/ /97 04/ /97 j
'Previously concurred OFFICIAL RECORD COPY t i
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