ML20248H690
| ML20248H690 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001216 |
| Issue date: | 04/27/1978 |
| From: | Higginbotham L, Metzger J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-78-096, PNO-78-96, NUDOCS 9806080208 | |
| Download: ML20248H690 (1) | |
Text
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B<=6' PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION
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nM (y:h April 27, 1978
' PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-96 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility:
Department of the Navy, Naval Ocean Systems Center San Diego, California, License No. SNM-1154 Docket No. 70-1216
Subject:
IMMEDIATE ACTION LETTER - LEAKING PLUT0NIUM-238 HEAT SOURCES An Immediate Action Letter was issued by the Region V (San Francisco) office on April 26, 1978, to the Naval Ocean Systems Center.
The letter confirmed the Navy's telephone commitment on April 26, 1978, to immediately remove two nominal 40 gram Plutonium-238 heat sources from service and not put them back into service until their integrity had been assured and proper NRC and Navy
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. authorization had been obtained.
IMG During a routine inspection conducted on April 21, 1978, Region V inspectors
. obtained information which indicated the sources were leaking or contaminated.
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)wereinprogressatthetimeoftheinspection.
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However, the sources were still in use for marine environmental tests which These tests involved exposure i
of the sources to a sea water environment in the Pacific Ocean and the potential release of Plutonium-238 to the environment.
The license requires that sources be removed from service if leakage is detected.
Also, the use and users were not approved by the licensee's Ionizing Radiation Control Committee nor by the Radiation Safety Officer as required by the NRC license.
These matters will be handled by later enforcement correspondence from Region V.
4 No publicity has occurred and no press release will be made by the NRC nor the licensee.
The State of California has been informed.
The Immediate Action Letter was issued by Region 'V on April 26, 1976.
Information on the use of the sources was obtained during a routine inspection on April 21, 1978.
Contact:
JRMetzger IE x28188 LBHigginbotham, IE x28098 m
g Distribution'h:
Transmitted H St /Dl/0 W7q' Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Kennedy S. J. Chilk, SECY C. C. Kammerer, CA
/
Commissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)
Transmitted:
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J. J. Fouchard, PA SS Bldg Lqi G (MAIL)
N. M. Haller, MPA C. V. Smith, NMSS T. J. McTiernan, OIA R. G. Ryan, OSP R. Minogue, SD H. K. Shapar. ELD 990600020e 790427 Q7gg
'RELIMINARY NOTIFICATION