PNO-I-97-021, on 970407,RSO Contacted NRC Headquarters Operations Officer About Missing Electron Capture Detector Containing 15 Mci of Ni-63 as Sealed Source.Region I Ofc Contacted Licensee for Addl Info on 970408
| ML20137P200 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03032792 |
| Issue date: | 04/08/1997 |
| From: | Courtemanche S, Joustra J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-97-021, PNO-I-97-21, NUDOCS 9704090170 | |
| Download: ML20137P200 (1) | |
April 8, 1997 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-I-97-021 This' preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety 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 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this date.
Facility Licensee Emercency Classification
-Hawlett-Packard Company' Notification of Unusual Event Hewlett-Packard Company Alert Little Falls Center Site Area Emergency 2850 Centerville Road General Emergency Wilmington, Delaware 19808 X Not Applicable Dockets: 03032792 License No: 0728762-01
Subject:
LOSS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL I On April 7,-1997 at 2:54 p.m., the licensee's RSO contacted the NRC l Headquarters Operations Officer about a missing Electron Capture Detector j (ECD) containing 15 millicuries of nickel-63 as a sealed source. The
-licensee subsequently contacted the State of Delaware and the NRC Region ;
.I office at 4:00 p.m. The licensee determined that the ECD was missing ;
at 10:00 a.m. on March 24, 1997. The licensee conducted a review of the !
records and interviews of personnel, which indicated that the ECD had ;
-been received from the supplier (Amersham) on March 5, 1997, and placed '
in a safe for storage.
l The Region I office contacted the licensee for additional information on f April 8, 1997. The licensee stated that they had completed a search of l
the facility and waste bins. The licensee further stated that only tLa j lower half of the' ECD had been lost and has not been recovered. l The licensee described the ECD as being sealed in a cylindrical plastic !
container 2.25 inches by 1.5 inches in diameter. The container is grey with a white cap. The label on the container states " Nickel-63, 15 :
millicuries, Caution - Radioactive Material, and a yellow and red I radiation caution symbol" (i.e., three-bladed foil). The label also i contains the Amersham and Hewlett-Packard serial numbers but the licensee had information only on the Hewlett-Packard serial number (i.e., K4022).
The lower half of the ECD is a cylinder about 1.75 inches long by 1.5 inches in diameter made of stainless steel and is unpainted. The lower ,
portion of the ECD is etched with the radiation caution symbol, Ni-63, 15 l millicuries, Caution - Radioactive Material, and SN K4022. l 1
The State of Delaware has been notified. The Region I Public Affairs Office is prepared to address press inquiries. The NRC Region I office ;
in continuing to follow-up on the licensee's efforts to recover the ECD. '
This notification is current as of 3:45 p.m. on April 8, 1997.
Contact:
Steven Courtemanche Judy Joustra (610)337-5075 (610)337-5355 ,
9704090170 970400 di \
PDR I&E PNO-I-97-021 PDR