ENS 40941
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
14:20 Jul 28, 2004 | |
| Title | Marine Corp Tritium Device Incident |
| Event Description | On 28 July 2004, at approximately 0920 hours0.0106 days <br />0.256 hours <br />0.00152 weeks <br />3.5006e-4 months <br />, the installed Tritium-in-Air monitor for the Tritium Instrument Repair Room (TIRR) at Maintenance Center Albany [(MCA), Georgia] abruptly alarmed.
On 27 July 2004, the six counter sources (0.45 Curies each/2.7 Curie total) contained within the gear box of an M137 panoramic telescope had been replaced. The M137 unit was placed on an alignment fixture on the morning of 28 July. Upon alarm actuation, the TIRR and the Optics/Fire Control Shop were evacuated. Assembly of personnel was in a common area exterior to the shop. The MCA radiation protection assistant (RPA) and the Base radiation safety officer (BRSO) were summoned. Entry into the TIRR was made with the use of a Johnston Labs Model 111 portable tritium-in-air monitor. Suspicions were satisfied when the portable tritium-in-air monitor indicated 30-microCuries/m3 of tritium gas in the immediate vicinity of the test fixture and mounted M137 panoramic telescope. The TIRR utilizes a negative pressure ventilation system, which is directly ducted to the environment. The door to the TIRR was opened and within approximately one-half hour, the gaseous tritium levels had been reduced to background. The M137 was double bagged and placed within the TIRR vent hood. Two workers were present in the TIRR when the evacuation alarm sounded. The shop supervisor entered the area to assess the accuracy of the alarm condition. These three individuals were sent to the on-base medical clinic for urine collection. Samples were taken at time zero plus four hours, time zero plus eight hours, and for the-twenty-four hour period immediately following the time zero plus eight hour sample. The primary worker received a slight uptake of gaseous tritium. Dose calculations for that uptake proved the uptake to be [statistically] less than 0.0 milliRem. The other worker and the supervisor showed no evidence of any tritium uptake. Contamination wipes revealed no contamination of the test fixture or the wall.
The licensee is retracting this report based on the following: This note is to rescind the incident report number 40941. The event occurred at a Marine Corp Base in Albany, GA. The initial call into the NRC Operation Center on 10 August, 2004, stated that this was a potential incident under Part 30.5. After further review of the incident we have concluded and concurred with by Mr. Darrel Wiedeman, Region III, that the release of tritium was very minimal resulting in no closure of work areas, no surface contamination of work areas, or radiation dose to employees involved. The event therefore is determined to be non-reportable. Notified R1DO(Jackson), R2DO(Julian), R3DO(Clayton) and NMSS (Essig). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Us Army Rock Island, Illinois (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 12-00722-06 |
| Organization: | Us Army |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+333.77 h13.907 days <br />1.987 weeks <br />0.457 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Thomas Gizicki 12:06 Aug 11, 2004 |
| NRC Officer: | Mike Ripley |
| Last Updated: | Aug 17, 2004 |
| 40941 - NRC Website | |
Us Army with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 427132006-07-06T04:00:0006 July 2006 04:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) Unplanned Tritium Contamination During Maintenance ENS 412112004-11-17T18:00:00017 November 2004 18:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) Unplanned Contamination Due to a Broken M1A1 Collimator ENS 409412004-07-28T14:20:00028 July 2004 14:20:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) Marine Corp Tritium Device Incident 2006-07-06T04:00:00 | |