Event Notification Report for February 22, 2022
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
02/21/2022 - 02/22/2022
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 55797
Rep Org: Agilent Technologies
Licensee: Agilent Technologies
Region: 1
City: Wilmington State: DE
County:
License #: 07-28762-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: David Bennett
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Kendzia
Licensee: Agilent Technologies
Region: 1
City: Wilmington State: DE
County:
License #: 07-28762-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: David Bennett
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Kendzia
Notification Date: 03/22/2022
Notification Time: 12:33 [ET]
Event Date: 02/22/2022
Event Time: 10:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 04/21/2022
Notification Time: 12:33 [ET]
Event Date: 02/22/2022
Event Time: 10:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 04/21/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen LNM>10x
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen LNM>10x
Person (Organization):
Jackson, Don (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Elizabeth Ullrich (R1)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
Jackson, Don (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Elizabeth Ullrich (R1)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 4/22/2022
EN Revision Text: LOST SOURCE
The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:
"Agilent Technologies manufacturers ECDs [Electron Capture Detectors], containing 15 millicuries each, of Ni-63 for use in Gas Chromatographs (for generation of ionized atmospheres for chemical analysis). We have a number of ECDs in use at our facility as addressed below for customer support and R&D. We are required by our license to perform wipe (swipe) tests every six months. The ECD in question was last wiped in August. We were in the process of performing our most recent wipe test last month (February) when we discovered the ECD and its host GC were no longer in the lab they were being used in. [Source was determined to be missing on February 22, 2022 at 1000 EDT when it could not be found for the scheduled swipe test.] We discovered quickly that the individual chemist with ownership of the ECD retired in November of 2021 [last date the device was accounted for]. Investigations to date have not been successful in recovering the ECD. Information pertinent to the incident to follow. I will also be submitting a letter to the appropriate address in one month if we are still unable to recover the ECD."
"ECD Model # G2397A
ECD Serial Number # U25487
Activity: 15 millicurie Ni-63
Facility security: Access to building is limited to those issued electronic badges. Labs are further secured by electronic access only to necessary personnel. [Therefore the source is not suspected to have been stolen.]"
* * * UPDATE ON 4/21/2022 AT 1244 EDT FROM DAVID BENNETT TO BETHANY CECERE * * *
The following information was provided by the licensee via phone:
The source is still lost. The licensee is submitting a written report to Region 1.
Notified R1DO (Dentel), ILTAB, and NMSS Events Notification by email.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
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
EN Revision Text: LOST SOURCE
The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:
"Agilent Technologies manufacturers ECDs [Electron Capture Detectors], containing 15 millicuries each, of Ni-63 for use in Gas Chromatographs (for generation of ionized atmospheres for chemical analysis). We have a number of ECDs in use at our facility as addressed below for customer support and R&D. We are required by our license to perform wipe (swipe) tests every six months. The ECD in question was last wiped in August. We were in the process of performing our most recent wipe test last month (February) when we discovered the ECD and its host GC were no longer in the lab they were being used in. [Source was determined to be missing on February 22, 2022 at 1000 EDT when it could not be found for the scheduled swipe test.] We discovered quickly that the individual chemist with ownership of the ECD retired in November of 2021 [last date the device was accounted for]. Investigations to date have not been successful in recovering the ECD. Information pertinent to the incident to follow. I will also be submitting a letter to the appropriate address in one month if we are still unable to recover the ECD."
"ECD Model # G2397A
ECD Serial Number # U25487
Activity: 15 millicurie Ni-63
Facility security: Access to building is limited to those issued electronic badges. Labs are further secured by electronic access only to necessary personnel. [Therefore the source is not suspected to have been stolen.]"
* * * UPDATE ON 4/21/2022 AT 1244 EDT FROM DAVID BENNETT TO BETHANY CECERE * * *
The following information was provided by the licensee via phone:
The source is still lost. The licensee is submitting a written report to Region 1.
Notified R1DO (Dentel), ILTAB, and NMSS Events Notification by email.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
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
Agreement State
Event Number: 55755
Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services
Licensee: Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc.
Region: 4
City: Cleburne State: TX
County:
License #: L 06871
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Licensee: Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc.
Region: 4
City: Cleburne State: TX
County:
License #: L 06871
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 02/24/2022
Notification Time: 12:19 [ET]
Event Date: 02/22/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/24/2022
Notification Time: 12:19 [ET]
Event Date: 02/22/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 02/24/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
O'Keefe, Neil (R4)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
O'Keefe, Neil (R4)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 3/24/2022
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DENSITY GAUGE SHUTTER FAILURE
The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (Agency) via email:
"On February 23, 2022, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that one of his crews had a failure of a shutter device on a Thermo Fisher Model 5190 density gauge containing a 20 millicurie (original activity) cesium - 137 source. The RSO stated that the shutter is a lead sheet that slides in a channel in front of the source. The RSO stated that the channel the sheet of lead slides through was damaged and the lead sheet will not stay in place if the gauge is moved (jiggled). It cannot be locked in the shield (closed) position. The workers removed the gauge and the pipe it was installed on and placed them both in storage. The RSO stated they were going to contact the manufacturer to have the gauge repaired.
"No individual received any significant exposure from this event.
"Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #: 9918
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DENSITY GAUGE SHUTTER FAILURE
The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (Agency) via email:
"On February 23, 2022, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that one of his crews had a failure of a shutter device on a Thermo Fisher Model 5190 density gauge containing a 20 millicurie (original activity) cesium - 137 source. The RSO stated that the shutter is a lead sheet that slides in a channel in front of the source. The RSO stated that the channel the sheet of lead slides through was damaged and the lead sheet will not stay in place if the gauge is moved (jiggled). It cannot be locked in the shield (closed) position. The workers removed the gauge and the pipe it was installed on and placed them both in storage. The RSO stated they were going to contact the manufacturer to have the gauge repaired.
"No individual received any significant exposure from this event.
"Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident #: 9918