ENS 46210
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Aug 27, 2010 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report Involving Orphaned / Missing General License Sources |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the State of Pennsylvania via fax:
Event Report ID No: PA100020 License No: PA-G0241, PA-G0029, PA-G0141 Licensee(s): New Castle Rolling Mills, Sharon Strip Steel and/or Cedar Mills Event date and time: Unknown Event location: 902 North Cedar Street, New Castle, PA 16102 Event type: Five (5) missing [licensed material] GL sources and shutter function failure Notifications: July 2010 PA DEP Southwest Regional Office Inspection Event Description: Since becoming an Agreement State in March 2008, DEP has transitioned hundreds of NRC specific and general licenses (GL) to PA state control. Recently, working from an NRC spreadsheet, DEP has been issuing GL certificates of registration for certain category GLs, and tracking unresponsive GL owners. The original information we had from the NRC indicated 11 sources had been distributed to the above location over time. The current facility owner is not a steel manufacturer, and was unaware these GL sources were on their property. An inspection in July 2010 noted 6 of potentially 11 'C-frame' thickness gauge GL sources could be accounted for, with 4 onsite and 2 recently transferred back to a gauge manufacturer. Each of the 11 GL gauges contained a one (1) curie americium-241 sealed source. Since there is no NRC data on possible return or transfer of GL sources, and two manufacturers are no longer in business, the tracking of 5 GL sources appears to be impossible. The event location noted above has had three different owners / GL licensees over the years, two of which are known out of business. A third firm may still be in business, and will be pursued regarding the 5 unaccounted for sources. Lastly, 1 of the 4 GL sources was found to have an open shutter. All 4 'orphan' sources have been registered with the DOE/LANL OSRP [Off-Site Source Recovery Project] program for transfer. Due to the unaccountability of the five 1 Ci Am-241 GL sources, DEP believes this to be reportable under 20.2201 (a)(1)(i). And, since one of the six sources that were accounted for had an open shutter, DEP finds this to be reportable under 30.50(b)(2)(i). CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Improper transfer of GL sources and ineffective regulatory control. ACTIONS: Two of the devices have been returned to a manufacturer. Four of the sources remain at the facility in New Castle, PA in a secured location. More investigation is being done to track the five unaccountable GL devices. Media attention: None at this time
The following information was received by facsimile: After a PaDEP [Pennsylvania Department] teleconference with the NRC on August 31,2010, it was determined that all gauges associated with this event are accounted for, and this update is needed to retract the notification of five (5) missing one (1) curie Am-241 GL sources. Apparently a duplication of data error occurred on the NRC's GL spreadsheet, resulting in the miscalculation of eleven (11) total gauges, when in fact only six (6) gauges were transferred to this site over the years. Two (2) gauges have been returned to a manufacturer while four (4) gauges remain at the location, securely stored, awaiting disposal or transfer. These sources are registered with the DOE/LANL OSRP program, and will soon be registered on the CRCPD's 'source exchange' program for possible reuse or recycle. However, due to the fact that one of the four GL sources was found to have an open shutter and this remains reportable under 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2)(i). The current property owner was instructed to contact a gauge service vendor to correct the open shutter, and inform the [Pennsylvania] Department when complete. CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Improper tracking of GL sources, and failure to control the GL sources on the part of the licensees. ACTIONS: Two of the devices have been returned to a manufacturer. Four of the sources remain at the facility in New Castle, PA in a secured location. Media attention: None at this time Notified R1DO(Cook) and FSME EO(Foster) 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 This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Multiple New Castle, Pennsylvania (NRC Region 1) | |
| Organization: | Pa Bureau Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+13.55 h0.565 days <br />0.0807 weeks <br />0.0186 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | David J. Allard 17:33 Aug 27, 2010 |
| NRC Officer: | Steve Sandin |
| Last Updated: | Sep 11, 2010 |
| 46210 - NRC Website | |
Multiple with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 462102010-08-27T04:00:00027 August 2010 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Orphaned / Missing General License Sources 2010-08-27T04:00:00 | |