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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 53543 | 9 August 2018 04:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Failed Gauge Shutter | The following information was received via email from the State of North Carolina: NC RMB (North Carolina Radioactive Materials Branch) was notified by an authorized service provider, Systems Service Corporation (License Number: 090-1071-1), that they had repaired a failed shutter on a fixed nuclear gauge located at International Paper located in Riegelwood, NC on 8/9/18. The shutter detent spring was corroded and dissolved due to its corrosive environment. The service provider removed the gauge and rebuilt it on site with another source housing. No known overexposures occurred during this event and it is unknown at this time whether the shutter was in an open or closed position. However, this investigation is still ongoing at the time of this report. No other generic implications at this time. No other notifications made. Source & Device Information: TBD. This report will be updated once RMB completes its investigation. North Carolina Report Number: 180034 | ||
| ENS 52910 | 16 August 2017 15:30:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Fixed Gauge Lost Shutter | The following report was received via e-mail: The licensee called to notify the state that during their annual inventory review, they found that one of their Thermo Measure Tech 5192 fixed gauges had lost its shutter. Upon searching, the shutter was later found on the floor. The call to the state was made on August 17, 2017 at 1010 (EDT). The Radiation Safety Officer stated that surveys were done and that the highest reading around the gauge was less than 0.5 mR/hr. He also stated that a consultant has been called to replace the shutter and to evaluate the damaged gauge and several other gauges throughout the plant. The licensee stated that a written report will be sent within 30 days of the event. Updates to this event will be made through the NMED system. | ||
| ENS 52875 | 27 July 2017 04:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Fixed Nuclear Gauge Shutter Stuck in Closed Position | The licensee, International Paper, provided notification to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control of a stuck shutter on a Berthold Model LB7440 fixed gauging device. The shutter is stuck in the closed position. Corrosion was found on the shutter roll pin causing the shutter mechanism to fail. The gauging device contains 10 mCi of Cs-137. A measurement of 20 mR/hr was detected in front of the gauge. The licensee has removed the gauge from service and is awaiting a shipping container to return the gauge to the manufacturer. SC license # 060. | ||
| ENS 52653 | 22 March 2017 04:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stuck Gauge Shutter | The following report was received from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control via email: The licensee provided notification of a stuck shutter on a Berthold Model LB7440 fixed gauging device. The shutter was stuck in the open position. The gauging device contains 100 mCi of Cs-137. A licensed contractor found the shutter stuck in the open position on March 22, 2017, and the licensee notified the State (of South Carolina) on March 30, 2017. The contractor proceeded with corrective maintenance on the shutter mechanism. The licensee stated that a written report will be sent within 30 days of the event. Updates to this event will be made through the NMED system. | ||
| ENS 51823 | 23 March 2016 04:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Fixed Nuclear Gauge Shutter Stuck in Closed Position | The following information was provided by the State of South Carolina via email: The licensee (International Paper) provided notification (to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control) of a stuck shutter on a Berthold Model LB7440 fixed gauging device. The shutter is stuck in the closed position. The gauging device contains 15 mCi of Cs-137. A licensed contractor has been contacted and will proceed with corrective maintenance on the shutter mechanism within the next 30 days. Updates to this event will be made through the NMED system. | ||
| ENS 51744 | 19 February 2016 02:27:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Two Unused Process Gauges Sent to Scrap Yard | International Paper performed an inventory of their sources and realized that while performing demolition work at their facility, two unused process gauges were removed from the site. The removal of the gauges was outside the scope of the demolition work. The two process gauges were located on long poles, were removed from the site using a crane, and were sent to a nearby scrap yard. The South Carolina Division of Health and Environmental Control sent an inspector to the scrap yard and he was able to find and recover both gauges. The shutter on one gauge had remained closed and the second gauge shutter was partially open and reading 50 mR/hour on contact. The first gauge was recovered at 1220 EST and the second gauge was recovered at 1315 EST and the shutter was shut. Wipe tests on both gauges were negative. The gauges were returned to International Paper and are locked in a secure location. No personnel exposures were expected from this incident. Gauges: Cs-137 50 mCi each (in 1988) TN Tech Model 5219 Serial Numbers: TNB61 and TNB64 | ||
| ENS 48833 | 1 March 2005 05:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Lost Gauge Containing Radioactive Material | The following report was received from the State of Alabama Department of Public Health via facsimile: On March 19, 2013, the Environmental Health & Services (representative) for International Paper of Pine Hill, Alabama notified the Alabama Office of Radiation Control that they had lost accountability of a fixed gauge. The gauge is a Kay Ray model 7062BP serial 27137, containing 100 mCi of Cs-137. During a routine inspection on February 7, 2013, it was noticed by the inspector that the device had been missing since the March 2005 inventory. The inspector requested that (the) Radiation Safety Officer investigate the incident due to several changes within the department and inconsistencies in record keeping. The licensee was issued two violations, one involving the loss of the accountability of radioactive material. The (licensee's response to the) notification (of violation) letter included both the response to the violations and a attachment. The attachment was a memorandum dated September 12, 2010, referencing losing the gauge, and indicating the loss had been discussed with the (Alabama of Public Health) Director of Licensing. This was discussed with (Director) and he does not recall this conversation nor could this memorandum be found in any of the (Alabama of Public Health) International Paper files. Due to this, the (Alabama of Public Health) considers the response letter the notification of the device being lost. As of today (March 20, 2013), at 7:15 AM CDT, the device containing radioactive material has not been recovered. This incident remains open until further investigation can be completed. Alabama Incident 13-06 THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |