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Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.1906, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Health Physics Program is notifying NRC of the receipt of two packages of radioactive material with removable surface contamination on the outside that exceeded NRC reporting limits. The packages were received on the morning of Tuesday, May 30, 2017, by the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. This facility is a site of use under the VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, Missouri, which holds VHA permit number 24-00144-05 under the VHA master materials license. The packages were surveyed at about 0700 CDT. The wipe tests performed on the external surfaces of the packages indicated removable contamination of about 1,450 and 1,390 dpm/cm2 as compared to the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters. The packages contained unit dosages of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. The packages were shipped from Cardinal Health in Wichita, Kansas, which was also the final delivery carrier. A facility nuclear medicine technologist notified the final delivery carrier by telephone of the contaminated packages soon after discovery of the contamination. VHA National Health Physics Program, which manages the master materials license, was notified of the incident at about 1700 CDT on Wednesday May 31, 2017. The VHA is aware that this notification does not conform to the timeliness requirements in 10 CFR 20.1906. VHA will take appropriate action regarding this apparent noncompliance. VHA will notify our NRC Region III Project Manager of this incident.

• * * RETRACTION ON 4/4/18 AT 1330 EDT FROM LYNN GRAVES TO DONALD NORWOOD * * *

On July 18, 2017, the review by the facility Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) determined the event was 'suspect' due to radiation levels from a dose calibrator inducing spurious results in the well counter used for package surveys. The package did not have external radioactive contamination. The root cause of the report of contamination was identified by the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) technologist. It was a result of counting the package wipes with a radioactive source in the adjacent dose calibrator causing crosstalk between the two instruments. Correct technique was discussed by the RSO with the PET technologist. In addition, staff training of the correct technique was provided for all department personnel. During an onsite inspection in January 2018, the root cause was verified with the inspector having a high degree of confidence that the Wichita facility did not receive an externally contaminated package on May 30, 2017. The licensee notified R3 (Parker). Notified R3DO (Orth) and NMSS Events Notification E-mail group.

The conditions for reporting under the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1906(d) have been met. QWI 14.1.10, Classification & Notification Criteria for Unusual Incidents Radiation Protection section - for shipments, bases reporting requirements on receipt of a shipment with radiation or contamination levels in excess of 10 CFR 20.1906(d). This requirement was exceeded and an NRC report is required. The truck cab sleeping area (normally occupied space) dose rate of 5.4 mrem/hr is greater than the allowable limit of 2.0 mrem/hr. The carrier drivers (2) state that they do not have dosimetry. Immediate actions that have been taken: - The area was secured. - Confirmatory measurements were taken. - Digital photographs have been taken. - The shipper has been notified. - A review of the associated regulations was performed. - The carrier has been notified. - The truck has been unloaded and released. The shipment contained Am241/Be sources sent from QSA Global in Burlington, MA for use in refurbishing sources, typically well-logging. The estimated departure time/date was 0800 EDT on 07/31/13 with estimated arrival time/date of 0800 EDT on 08/01/13. The driver team consisted of two (2) individuals during the 24-hour transit time. The shipment was off-loaded and secured following the receipt rad survey. The licensee notified the shipper, the carrier, the Commonwealth of Virginia and informed the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION FROM TONY ENGLAND TO PETE SNYDER AT 1702 EDT ON 8/5/13 * * *

This event has been reported to the Commonwealth of Virginia under Event Number VA-13-04. The material involved in this event is regulated under Commonwealth of Virginia License. Notified R2DO (King), R1DO (Trapp), FSME Event Resource (email), and FUELS OUO (email).

On March 3, 2008 at approximately 1126 EST, the Radiation Protection organization at AREVA NP Inc. Lynchburg, determined that a shipment of fuel services equipment (Box 0454) exceeded the 200 mrem/hour dose rate specified in 10 CFR 71.47 (b)(1). The equipment was being returned after use during a refueling outage. Radiation Protection surveyed the shipping container and obtained a reading of approximately 340 mrem/hour. In accordance with 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(2) the final delivery carrier has also been notified. This immediate notification is being made in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(2) and 10CFR 71.47(b)(1). The fuel cleaning equipment had been recently used during a refueling outage at Watts Bar.

• * * UPDATE FROM GEOFF WERTZ TO JOE O'HARA AT 1447 ON 3/3/08 * * *

Mr. Wertz reported that area around the hot spot on the container was smeared, and no evidence of loose surface contamination exists. Notified R1DO(Caruso), FSME(Morell), and NMSS(Giitter)

THIS IS NOT A NEW REPORT. This event report was originally withheld from public release under the NRC's policy for protecting sensitive unclassified information. The NRC has reevaluated this policy and is now making this event report available to the public with suitable redactions.

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EXTERNAL RADIATION LEVELS EXCEEDED THE TRANSPORTATION INDEX (TI) LIMIT OF 10. On 2/16/05 a radioactive Yellow - III shipment containing eight well logging sources was shipped from Baker Hughes Inteq in Houston, TX. The shipment of sources, Am-241/Be (1480 GBq), arrived at BWXT in Lynchburg, VA. On 02/21/05. Emery Worldwide indicated the shipment mode had a Transportation Index (TI) reading of 9, however, BWXT's reading was 12.6. BWXT placed the package in a restricted area to minimize exposure to personnel, which has a surface contact reading of 83.3 millirem/hr, and at one meter away it read 12.6 millirem/hr. Since this shipment had a TI >10 it was reportable under 10CFR 20.1906. (Note: Transportation Index is the radiation reading in millirem/hr at a distance of one meter.) Licensee notified NRC Resident Inspector and final carrier.

• * * UPDATE ON 05/11/08 BY H. Crouch * * *

THIS IS NOT A NEW REPORT. This event report was originally withheld from public release under the NRC's policy for protecting sensitive unclassified information. The NRC has reevaluated this policy and is now making this event report available to the public with suitable redactions.

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THIS IS NOT A NEW REPORT. This event report was originally withheld from public release under the NRC's policy for protecting sensitive unclassified information. The NRC has reevaluated this policy and is now making this event report available to the public with suitable redactions.

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THE LICENSEE RECEIVED A PACKAGE CONTAINING Cs-137 WHICH EXCEEDED EXTERNAL RADIATION LIMITS BWXT received two type A packages packed inside a larger package from Baker Hughes in Houston, TX on 1/27/04. When they opened the larger package, they discovered that one of the type A packages containing a single 2.5 curie Cs-137 source exceeded the limits (200 mr/hr) for external radiation. The package was measuring 375 mr/hr, however the surface smears were within limits and the package was intact. The seal numbers on the package and manifest matched. The licensee notified both Baker Hughes and the transport company, Emery Worldwide, of the problem. The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.

• * * UPDATE ON 05/11/08 BY H. Crouch * * *

THIS IS NOT A NEW REPORT. This event report was originally withheld from public release under the NRC's policy for protecting sensitive unclassified information. The NRC has reevaluated this policy and is now making this event report available to the public with suitable redactions.