PNO-II-88-040C, on 880607,leak of Cs-137 Source Occurred.Nrc Met W/Mgt on 880609 to Discuss Recovery & Cleanup of Facility.Rsi Pool Last Sampled on 880429 & Determined to Be Clean
| ML20245A718 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/10/1988 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20245A615 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-89-205 PNO-II-88-040C, PNO-II-88-40C, NUDOCS 8906220133 | |
| Download: ML20245A718 (1) | |
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June 10, 1988 P3ELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-II-88-40C
'This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information is as initially received without verifi-cation or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region II staff on this date.
FACILITY: Radiation Sterilizer, Incorporated Licensee Emergency Classification:
State of Georgia Licensee Notification of Unusual Event Decatur, Georgia Alert Site Area Emergency General-Emergency X Not Applicable
SUBJECT:
LEAKING WESF CESIUM-137 SOURCE - THIRD UPDATE This PN updates PNO-II-88-40, issued June 7,1988, PNO-II-88-40A, issued June 8,1988, and PNO-II-88-408, issued June 9, 1988.
Late in the afternoon of June 9, NRC State and Regional representatives met with the management of Radiation Sterilizer,. Inc. (RSI) to discuss recovery and cleanup of the l
facility.
the following is a summary of the highlights of this meeting:
l The RSI pool was last sampled and analyzed on April 29, 1988, and determined to be l;
a.
clean at that time (the pool is sampled quarterly).
b.
There was no early warning system in place at the facility to immediately identify pool contamination levels, i.e., an area monitor alarmed on June 6,1988, which triggered this event.
There-is evidence that slightly contaminated cartons may have been shipped during L
c.
l the period April 29, 1988 through June 3, 1988.
i A
Shipping logs are being reviewed to determine customers of the shipped products.
d.
l shipping embargo was imposed on June 8,1988, and the licensee notified all customers l
and put a hold on products.
Applicable States and Regions and the country of Canada have b'een notified that e.
l product surveying will be required.
f.
The operations area is quarantined and controlled access is limited to emergency l
workers.
l Surveys of RSI employees (homes, autos, and residences) are expected to be completed l
g.
i this weekend.
Surveys have been completed on two of the ten homes scheduled.
One was clean, the other had a hot spot on the carpet measuring 200,000 cpm, and a 500 cpm reading'on a pair of shoes.
i The licensee has The Region and State are continuing to monitor the licensee's actions.
provided a detailed action plan to the State today which is now under review.
The State requested DOE-IRAP assistance from the Savannah River Plant to aid in performing l
cff-site personnel and product surveys. Their estimated time of arrival is this evening.
I
- A senior representative of DOE Oak Ridge is on site at the RSI facility.
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DCS No: 03006931890424 i
Date:
April 27, 1989 e
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-89-35 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 the Region I staff on this date.
Facility:
Licensee Emergency Classification:
Defense Nuclear Agency Notification of Unusual Event Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Alert Institute Site Area Emergency Bethesda, Maryland General Emergency Docket No. 030-06931 X Not Applicable
Subject:
LEAK FROM IRRADIATOR POOL On April.24, 1989, Region I received telephone notification from the Facility Manager at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Irradiator that there was an appar-ent leak in the h" stainless steel liner in the irradiator pool. The licensee has-experienced an unexplained water loss since March 31, 1989 and has performed tests to characterize the uture and quantity of the water loss. The licensee reported that the pool was losing 140-150 gallons per day, approximately three times the expected evapor-ative losses. The volume of water in the pool is 12,000 gallons; and approximately 2.8E5 curies of cobalt-60 are currently installed. The Facility Manager indicated that the licensee's water makeup capability is sufficient to handle the current leakage.
An irradiator pool water sample was collected from the pool on April 25, 1989, and evaluated. The concentration of cobalt-60 in the water was less than the licens?e minimum detectable activity of 3.3E-9 vCi per milliliter. This concentration it 0.001 percent of the maximum permissible concentration of cobalt-60 in water that may be released to an unrestricted area. The licensee has collected and assayed daily water samples since April 1, 1989, and has stated th6t they will continue this practice until the leakage is stopped. While the facility is still in operation, the licensee is taking actions to locate the leak and effect repairs. However, as of this date, the location of the leak has not been determined.
The Region I staff is tracking the situation and there is no threat to public health I-I and safety. The State of Maryland has been notified.
l CONTACT:
J. Miller J. White (346-5304)
(346-5102)
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