PNO-I-99-002, on 990113,Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Representative Notified Region I That Package Received with Removable Contamination in Excess of Applicable Limits at Anniston Army Depot Facilities in AL on 990104
| ML20199D186 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03033261 |
| Issue date: | 01/13/1999 |
| From: | Henderson P, Elizabeth Ullrich NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-99-002, PNO-I-99-2, NUDOCS 9901190364 | |
| Download: ML20199D186 (2) | |
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January 13. 1999 l PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PND-I-99-002 lThis 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 4 kncwn by Region.I staff in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this date. l Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification Defense Logistics Agency Notification of Unusual Event
- New Cumberland. Pennsylvania Alert
- Dockets
- 03033261 License No: 37-30062-01 Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
CONTAMINATED PACKAGE
- 0n the afternoon of January 13, 1999, a representative of the Defense
' Logistics Agency (DLA), New Cumberland. Pennsylvania, notified the Region I office that a package was received with removable contamination !
in excess of the applicable limits at the DLA facilities at the Anniston l Army Depot in Alabama. The DLA license issued to the headquarters office ;
in New Cumberland authorizes activities with radioactive material at DLA l
- depots across the United States. Removable external contamination levels I on-the outside of the shipping package ranged from 760 disintegrations '
per minute (dpm) per 100 square centimeters (100 cm2) to 2,850 dpm/100 cm2; the limit is 2.200 dpm,/100 cm2. The package contained a 10-curie tritium source in a collimator used on a military tank. This item is authorized for use under a license issued to the Department of the Army, Rock Island, Illinois. The Jackage was shipped from the 29 Palms Marine Corps Base in California on )ecember 23. 1998, and the item was
! identified with " Classification Code H" indicating an unserviceable item.
- The package was ship)ed using the common carrier, RPS. The package was
- received by DLA at t1e Anniston Depot on January 4. 1999. Surveys of the package were 3erformed by DLA representatives on January 12, 1999,
' identifying t1e contamination. The collimator was wrapped in two layers lofplasticbags: a DLA representative opened the bags and verified that the collimator was broken. A wipe of t1e collimator identified removable sontamination greater than 2.500,000 dpm/100 cm2. The DLA subsequently transferred the broken item to the Department of the Army at the Anniston Army Depot. which will dispose of it as radioactive waste. l
$urveys were subsecuently performed of the radioactive materials package l
$pening area (Builcing 365), and the receiving area (Building 513), and Roth buildings were determined to be free of contamination. Bioassay tamples were collected from the individual who opened the package,
@ other individuals working in the area, and the driver of the delivery !
yehicle. Results of bioassay sam)les are not yet available. The DLA is borking with RPS to identify whic1 truck was used for delivery of the Jackage, and plans to survey the truck. The DLA also notified the
)epartment of the Army'in Rock Island, so that they can follow up on possible contamination in California, and other related issues.
}egion I will continue to monitor the licensee's actions relevant to the tortaminated shipment. The States of Alabama and California have been Rot i fied. The Region I Public Affairs Office is prepared to respond to
/7) 990119o364 99o113 PDR I&E E
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l PNO-I-99-OO2 PDR i
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incuiries. ,
All'information is current as of 2:00 p.m. on January 13, 1999.
Contact:
PAMELA HENDERSON (610)337-5040 (610)337-6952 I
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