ML20206F476

Region I NMSS LER Re Gauge Shipped to Unlicensed Svc Company on 990129.State of Alabama to Followup with State License

ML20206F476
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/08/1999
From:	Elizabeth Ullrich NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
MLER-RI-99-004, MLER-RI-99-4, NUDOCS 9905060141
Download: ML20206F476 (1)

Text

-

u.vaun a OM

, NMSS' LICENSEE EVENT REPORT j * .'

\ Lic:nse No. x//#

/

Docket No. 9W-. 9000/

NLER-RI F f' '/

/

LICENSEE 0 do +OS $ lzdluin /hstl EVENT DESCRIPTION y Navee

• ' S/floo-cl 4r) Clh //eenSed Serofce doet#dn V'

/

EVENT DATE /,/2 9,/99 REPORT DATE A[8/99

1. REPORTING REQUIRENENT

() 10 CFR 20.2201 Theft or Loss () 10 CFR 35.33 Hisadministration

() 10 CFR 20.2203 30 Day Report () License Condition

() 10 CFR 30.50 Report () 10 CFR 36.83 0$h$

2. REGION I RESPONSE

(.) Immediate Site Inspection Inspector /Date 8. & A q [ F V,[$y

( ( Special Inspection Inspector /Date

() Telephone Inquiry Inspector /Date

( ), Preliminary Notification () Daily Report

(.T Information Entered on the Region I Log l

([)Report x '

( Review Referred to 6 Routine at Next of Ins ection [2.[s.b4mto---

M6 (.

3. REPORT EVALUATION u '

j

([ scription of Event ( d Corrective Actions

( Levels of RAM Involved () Calculation Adequate  ;

( Cause of Event () Letter to Licensee Requesting i Additional Information

4. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR COMMENTS Shhe crF dlabams. h S%, up co Vh -Lir I. tere Completed by 8 Date v Reviewed by ] d Du Date f/96 '

G is-75 (p39010 l g:gi,'ss,ierform 3 6&M 22 h (Revised 1/6/95) 9905060141 990408 PDR STPRG ES ,

i

a . . .

?^a

• 5.* 1- February 3, 1999 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURREN93 PNO-I-99-007 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE cafety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region I staff (King of Prussia, Pennsylvania) on this date.

Engility Licensee Emeroency Classification ACUTUS GLADWIN MOLD Notification of Unusual Event Acutus Gladwin Mold Alert Oil City, Pennsylvania Site Area Emergency Dockets: 99990001 License No: GENERAL General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

GAUGE SHIPPED TO UNLICENSED SERVICE COMPANY On Friday, January 29, 1999, the State of Alabama was notified by Tuccaloosa Steel Co. (Tuscaloosa) that a Ronan Model SA-15 gauge containing a 100 millicurie cesium 137 source was inadvertently transferred to Acutus Gladwin Mold Co.(AG Mold) in Oil City, PA. The gauge.was contained in a mold caster which had been sent to AG Mold for repair. An employee of AG Mold recognized that the mold still contained the gauge and contacted Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa instructed AG Mold to move the mold caster to a remote area and wait for an engineer from Ronan Co., manufacturer and installer of the gauge, to arrive. On Saturday, January 30, a Ronan engineer arrived at the site and removed the source from the gauge and placed it in a storage container. A health physicist from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) conducted an inspection at AG Mold on Monday, February 1. The PADEP inspector determined that during the time the gauge was at AG Mold and before the Ronan engineer arrived, a number of AG Mold employees had worked in the vicinity of the gauge. The PADEP inspector interviewed workers from two shifts at AG Mold and determined that most worked about one day (6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br />) near the gauge. One individual, however, claimed that ,

he worked for two days (12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />) near the gauge. The PADEP inspector i estimated that this individual could have received greater than the public dose limit of 100 millirems based on his interviews with AG Mold perconnel and measurements provided by the Ronan engineer. AG Mold is providing for a medical examination of this individual and two other workers. 1 i Region I will have an inspector at the service company on February 3 to interview personnel, examine the gauge, and gain a better understanding

of the dose consequences, if any, of the event. Region I is prepared to l respond to media inquiries.

l l This information is current as of 7:30 a.m., February 3, 1999.

Contact:

John McGrath Pam Henderson (610)337-5069 (610)337-6952 Ma^23ww7 p

• • *M k

, ,* ' [ p, UNITED STATES D j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0, # r.EGloN I

%, ,o# 475 ALLENDALE ROAD KING oF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406-1415 10muuhu6,1999 Docket No. 99990001 1.icense No. Non-Licensee James B. Sears President Acutus Gladwin Mold Airport Office Park Building One 410 Rouser Road,5 Floor Coraopolis , PA 15108

SUBJECT:

INSPECTION NO. 99990001/99-001

Dear Mr. Sears:

l On February 3, and 4,1999, Dick Ladun of this office conducted a safety inspection at the above address. The inspection was limited to a review of circumstances surroundin of an unauthoria.3d transfer of licensed radioactive material. The findings of the inspect discussed with Mr Mosko of your organization at the conclusion of the inspection. The

! enclosed report pre:ents the results of this inspection.

l l Within the scope of this intpection, no violations were identified.

l 1 Since Tuscaloosa Steel Company is located in the State of Alabama, a State with which the l U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has entered into an effective agreement whic '

permits them to regulate radioactive material within their State, NRC Region i staff have l

contacted the State of Alabama with regard to this matter for action as they deem approptiat l l l In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's ' Rules and Practices," Part 2, Title 10, Code Federal to Regulations, this letteris required. a copy of this letter will be placed in the Public Document Roo Your cooperation with us is appreciated.

OL.4 L '

Pamela J. He de n, Acting Chief Nuclear Mate 'als afety Branch 2 Division of Nuc ear Materials Safety

Enclosure:

Inspection Report No. 99990001/99-001 L

440 jt W/Yi l

< j U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I INSPECTION REPORT Report No.

99990001/99-001 Docket No. 99990001 License No. Non-Licensee Licensee: Acutus Gladwin Mold Location: Airport Office Park Building One 410 Rouser Road,5 Floor Coraopolis, PA 15108 inspection Dates: February 3, and 4,1999 Inspector: .

OA <

f[

Richard LadQ '/ date Health Physiclst Approved By:

97 Pamela J. He'pderp6ri, Acting Chief date Nuclear MatehalerSafety Branch 2 Division of Nuclear Materials Safety i Document Name: B:ONMS DocumentsMnsp ReportRNon-Lloonsee.99401.wpd l

h u $ i ?CI'A Qp) .

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

l l

l Acutus Gladwin Mold NRC Inspection Report No. 99990001/99-001 An announced, reactive inspection was performed on February 3, and 4,1999, at Acutus Gladwin Mold (AG Mold) in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The inspection was conducted in respor.se to a report that AG Mold had received a fixed gauge containing a 100 millicurie cesium-137 source. AG Mold does not have an NRC license authorizing possession or use of the gauge. The gauge was inadvertently transferred to AG Mold by Tuscaloosa Steel Compa (TSC) located in Alabama. TSC sent a mold caster to AG Mold for repair and did not remove the gauge from the mold caster prior to transfer. An AG Mold employee who was in the process l of disassembling the mold, believing the gauge had been removed, noticed the gauge. Once l AG Mold determined that they were in possession of the gauge they contacted TSC who

! instructed them to move the mold caster to a remote area of the AG Mold facility. TSC arranged l

for an engineer from the Ronan Engineering Company to travel to AG Mold and remove the i

source from the gauge and package it for retum to TSC. The fixed gauge is a Ronan Model l

SA-15 which is specifically licensed. TSC used the gauge in order to determine liquid level detection of molten steel.

The State of Alabama was notified by TSC of the inadvertent transfer on January 29,1999. On Saturday January 30,1999, a Ronan engineer arrived at AG Mold and removed the source from the gauge and placed it in a storage container. On February 1,1999, an inspector from the l

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection arrived at AG Mold. On February 3, 1999, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Region I issued a Preliminary Notification describing the event and dispatched an inspector to AG Mold. The gauge was shipped back to TSC on February 5,1999.

l Based on the results of the inspection, the inspector concluded that the maximum dose received by an AG Mold employee working in the vicinity of the gauge approached but did not exceed l annual dose limit forindividual members of the public of 100 mrem.

i l

i i l

l l

l ii inspection Report No. 99990001/99-001 B:ONMS Documentsunsp ReportVINon-Ucensee.99-001.wpd i

. ,s REPORT DETAILS

1. Report of Unauthorized Transfer

a. Inspection Scone The inspector met with the AG Mold, Human Resource Manager and explained the purpose of the inspection, which was to verify survey results obtained by the Ronan engineer, interview AG Mold personnel, and determine if any individuals received an exposure due to the presence of the gauging device. The inspector interviewed the Ronan engineer, several AG Mold employees, and the inspector from 'Jw Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The inspector observed the mold which had contai the Ronan gauge,

b. Observations and Findinas The Ronan engineer informed the inspector that the highest exposure rate he had measured was 35 mR/hr at one foot from the mold face, with a calibrated and operable Radiation Alert Model Monitor 4 survey ;r.otrument. The Ronan gauge was located within the mold and not readily accessible. The inspector determined that, of the AG Mold employees interviewed, two had worked on the mold after it had been opene These two workers each spent approximately two hours around the mold and about h that time was spent at the opposite side of the mold away from the source. One employee spent cpproximately one hour near the mold. Another employee spent approximately ten hours at an average distance between one and two feet from the gauge. The employee who spent approximately ten hours performed duties which did not require him to spend any significant time in any one location near the mold.

The Ronan engineer also performed a wipe test of the source cavity and adjacent area of the mold. The engineer sent the wipe to Ronan Engineering Company for analys The analysis of the wipe indicated that there was no removable radioactive contamination present.

c. Conclusions '

Based on the design of the gauge, its location within the mold, information obtained during interviews of AG Mold employees involved, and direct radiation measuremen the inspector concluded that the maximum dose received by an AG Mold employee approached but did not exceed the annual dose limit for individual members of the publ of 100 mrem. Since TSC is located in the State of Alabama, an Agreement State, NR Region i staff have contacted the State of Alabama with regard to this matter for action as they deem appropriate.

1 Inspection Report No. 99990001/99-001 BADNMS DocumentsVnsp RepomRNon-Uoensee.99 001.wpd

F .

4,-

PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED

! Licensee l James Sears, President Richard J. Mosko, Human Resource Manager Daniel J. Roser, Senior Manager Pennavivania Danartment of Environmental PratMion John P. Winston, inspector Sonan Enaineerina Company Larry Baker, Engineer 1

, i l

l l

l i

l l l l

2 Inspection Report No. 99990001/99-001 B;ONMS Documentsunsp h.M1.wpd L