ENS 47131
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
22:30 Aug 5, 2011 | |
| Title | Material Discovered in an Unanalyzed Container |
| Event Description | Condition Description: During the morning of 8/05/2011, Radiation Protection personnel discovered potentially contaminated waste being stored in an unmarked container in the mass spec room. Radiation Protection Management and Criticality Safety personnel were notified. Upon learning at 4:30 pm [that] the unmarked container was not a Safe By Design [SBD] container, a criticality anomalous condition was declared at approximately 4:30 pm, in accordance with CR-3-1000-04, based on a violation of Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) guidelines and procedural requirements. Thus, at 4:30 pm, a cognizant individual was notified of the potential safety significant condition and, therefore, understood the condition could adversely impact safety. This report is being submitted as a conservative measure as the volume of waste, mostly gloves and wipes, was much less than 12 liters and could easily fit into a SBD container. The material that could be surveyed was cleared as non-radioactive material, and placed in a clean waste container. The material that could not be surveyed was transferred to a SBD container pending further analysis. The initial analysis of the material placed in the SBD container did not indicate the presence of any trace uranic material. At no time was there ever a concern of imminent criticality or for the health and safety of workers at URENCO USA.
(1) Radiological or chemical hazards involved, including isotopes, quantities, and chemical and physical form of any material released: Potential Uranium 235 contaminated PFPE oil ampules in a solid state. (2) Actual or potential health and safety consequences to the workers, the public, and the environment, including relevant chemical and radiation data for actual personnel exposures to radiation or radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals produced from licensed materials (e.g., level of radiation exposure, concentration of chemicals, and duration of exposure): None. Radiological surveys were taken on the material in the container. No radiation levels or contamination levels were noted above background. All of the material, except for 4 ampules, were released as non-radioactive. Although the ampules did not have radiation levels above background, there was a slight potential for a trace level or uranic contamination. (3) The sequence of occurrences leading to the Condition, including degradation or failure of structures, systems, equipment, components, and activities of personnel relied on to prevent potential accidents or mitigate their consequences: One 24 liter container was placed in the mass spec room. Instead of a 24 liter container, a 12 liter SBD container should have been utilized. Chemistry personnel used the 24 liter container to store potentially radioactive material. The actual quantity of material in the 24 liter container was less than 12 liters. Personnel should not have used the 24 liter container to store potentially radioactivity contaminated material. This was a violation of site procedure RW-1003-09, Rev. 5. (4) Whether the remaining structures, systems, equipment, components, and activities of personnel relied on to prevent potential accidents or mitigate their consequences are available and reliable to perform their function: The structures, systems, equipment, components, and activities of personnel relied on to prevent potential accidents or mitigate their consequences are available and reliable to perform their function. (5) External conditions affecting the Condition: None. (6) Additional actions taken by the licensee in response to the Condition: Radiation Protection Technician notified her supervisor who notified criticality safety, who then notified the shift manager. The 24 liter container was removed from the mass spec room. Radiological surveys were taken and all material released as clean except for 4 potentially contaminated ampules. Initial surveys did not find radiation levels above background on the 4 ampules. The 4 potentially contaminated ampules were placed into a 12 liter SBD container until they undergo a final analysis to determine if they contained trace uranic material or not. Actions have been initiated to establish a waste accumulation area in the mass spec room in accordance with RW-3-1000-09. Meetings have been set up with Chemistry personnel to review control of potentially contaminated material. The Criticality Safety Officer generated Condition Report 2011-2560 -- Use of non-SBD Container to collect potentially uranic contaminated waste. (7) Status of the condition (e.g., whether the condition is on-going or was terminated): The condition is not ongoing as the material has been placed in a SBD container. (8) Current and planned site status, including any declared emergency class: Plant is operational; condition is non-emergency. (9) Notifications, related to the condition that were made or are planned to any local, State, or other Federal agencies: None (10) Status of any press releases, related to the Condition that were made or are planned: None. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Energy Services Eunice, New Mexico (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | SNM-2010 |
| Reporting | |
| Part 70 App A (B)(1) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+14.87 h0.62 days <br />0.0885 weeks <br />0.0204 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Kevin Slavings 13:22 Aug 6, 2011 |
| NRC Officer: | Karl Diederich |
| Last Updated: | Aug 6, 2011 |
| 47131 - NRC Website | |
Louisiana Energy Services with Part 70 App A (B)(1) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 566702023-08-08T20:22:0008 August 2023 20:22:00
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