Event Notification Report for September 10, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/09/2023 - 09/10/2023
Agreement State
Event Number: 56732
Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services
Licensee: University of Texas Anderson Cancer
Region: 4
City: Houston State: TX
County:
License #: L00466
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Licensee: University of Texas Anderson Cancer
Region: 4
City: Houston State: TX
County:
License #: L00466
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Art Tucker
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 09/10/2023
Notification Time: 15:31 [ET]
Event Date: 09/10/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/12/2023
Notification Time: 15:31 [ET]
Event Date: 09/10/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/12/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Azua, Ray (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Azua, Ray (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TELETHERAPY UNIT SOURCE STUCK IN UNSHIELDED POSITION
The following report was received via telephone and email by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department):
"On September 10, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that while testing a MDS Nordion Model Eldorado 8 teletherapy unit, the 1,000-curie cobalt 60 source became stuck in the unshielded position. The RSO stated that room has been isolated and the dose rates taken outside the room do not create an exposure risk to any individuals. The RSO stated that a request for service has been sent to a service contractor. Access to the room has been posted to prevent inadvertent entry into the room. The licensee will update the Department as soon as the plans for corrective actions have been completed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident Number: 10049
Texas NMED Number: TX230040
* * * UPDATE ON 09/12/23 AT 1520 EDT FROM ART TUCKER TO THOMAS HERRITY * * *
"On September 12, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee that the source had been returned to the fully shielded position by a service provider. The licensee stated the individual retracting the source received less than 10 millirem during the process. The service provider is trying to determine the cause for the failure. Additional information will be provided as it is received IAW SA-300."
Notified R4DO (Warnick) and NMSS_Events via email.
The following report was received via telephone and email by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department):
"On September 10, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that while testing a MDS Nordion Model Eldorado 8 teletherapy unit, the 1,000-curie cobalt 60 source became stuck in the unshielded position. The RSO stated that room has been isolated and the dose rates taken outside the room do not create an exposure risk to any individuals. The RSO stated that a request for service has been sent to a service contractor. Access to the room has been posted to prevent inadvertent entry into the room. The licensee will update the Department as soon as the plans for corrective actions have been completed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident Number: 10049
Texas NMED Number: TX230040
* * * UPDATE ON 09/12/23 AT 1520 EDT FROM ART TUCKER TO THOMAS HERRITY * * *
"On September 12, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee that the source had been returned to the fully shielded position by a service provider. The licensee stated the individual retracting the source received less than 10 millirem during the process. The service provider is trying to determine the cause for the failure. Additional information will be provided as it is received IAW SA-300."
Notified R4DO (Warnick) and NMSS_Events via email.
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
!!!!! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RETRACTED !!!!!
Agreement State
Event Number: 56733
Rep Org: Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency
Licensee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
Region: 3
City: Decatur State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01506-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Gary Forsee
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Licensee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
Region: 3
City: Decatur State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01506-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Gary Forsee
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith
Notification Date: 09/11/2023
Notification Time: 13:48 [ET]
Event Date: 09/10/2023
Event Time: 19:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/29/2023
Notification Time: 13:48 [ET]
Event Date: 09/10/2023
Event Time: 19:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/29/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Szwarc, Dariusz (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Rivera-Capella, Gretchen (NMSS DAY)
Szwarc, Dariusz (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Rivera-Capella, Gretchen (NMSS DAY)
EN Revision Imported Date: 10/2/2023
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIRE AT FACILITY CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE GAUGES
The following report was received via telephone and email by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency [the Agency]:
"At approximately 1900 [CDT] on 9/10/23, a fire/explosion was reported at the Archer Daniels Midland facility located at 4666 East Farie Parkway in Decatur, IL. Information available at this time indicates a flammable hexane environment may have contributed to the incident. The Agency contacted the facility at approximately 2100 [CDT] on 9/10/23 to determine the status of the 23 radioactive gauges located within the building. The gauges contain a quantity of radioactive material that if impacted by the fire could present non-life threatening but elevated exposure rates to first responders. At 0945 [CDT] on 9/11/23, the Agency made contact with the Radiation Safety Officer at the facility. He stated the gauges are in an adjacent part of the facility (shared wall) which remains to be determined if impacted. It was noted that the area containing the gauges has an elevated hexane concentration. The Agency is actively coordinating with the facility's radiation safety staff and the Macon County Emergency Management Agency to provide information to first responders and coordinate a site visit to determine the status of the devices. If additional information regarding integrity of the devices is not available by midday, the Agency will coordinate a site visit. Reportedly, site access is still limited and information is still forthcoming to emergency managers.
"The 23 Texas Nuclear Model 5205 gauges range in activity from 50 to 100 mCi of Cs-137. Information available indicates 4 gauges contain 100 mCi of Cs-137 and 19 gauges contain 50 mCi of Cs-137. 8 additional gauges containing up to 500 mCi of Cs-137 are located in other onsite buildings, but are not anticipated to have been impacted. It is unclear if the Texas Nuclear Model 5205 gauges or their containers have been impacted by the fire/explosion at this time. On scene assessment is not immediately possible and may not be within the 24-hour reporting timeframe. The matter is being reported at this time and will be retracted if the gauges are found to be undamaged."
Illinois Incident Number: IL230024
* * * UPDATE ON 9/12/2023 AT 1501 EDT FROM IEMA TO LAWRENCE CRISCIONE * * *
The following is a summary of an update received via email from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency:
The licensee's hazmat response staff was able to enter the building late yesterday (9/11/23) and indicated none of the 23 radioactive gauges appear impacted by the fire. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) nuclear safety staff still plan to perform confirmatory surveys and wipes once the building can be safely accessed. IEMA staff are working with the licensee and county Emergency Management Agency officials to coordinate that site visit. Based on the information available, IEMA staff do not have any radiation exposure or accountability concerns at this time. This incident will be kept open until Agency staff have conducted a site visit and confirmed the integrity of the 23 devices.
Notified the Region 3 duty officer and NMSS events.
* * * RETRACTION ON 09/29/23 AT 1357 EDT FROM GARY FORSEE TO SAMUEL COLVARD * * *
Agency staff conducted a reactionary inspection with Macon County Emergency Management Agency officials on 9/28/23. The gauges were assessed and determined to not have been damaged by fire or percussion. Therefore, this event is requested to be retracted.
Notified R3DO (Orlikowski), NMSS Events (email).
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FIRE AT FACILITY CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE GAUGES
The following report was received via telephone and email by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency [the Agency]:
"At approximately 1900 [CDT] on 9/10/23, a fire/explosion was reported at the Archer Daniels Midland facility located at 4666 East Farie Parkway in Decatur, IL. Information available at this time indicates a flammable hexane environment may have contributed to the incident. The Agency contacted the facility at approximately 2100 [CDT] on 9/10/23 to determine the status of the 23 radioactive gauges located within the building. The gauges contain a quantity of radioactive material that if impacted by the fire could present non-life threatening but elevated exposure rates to first responders. At 0945 [CDT] on 9/11/23, the Agency made contact with the Radiation Safety Officer at the facility. He stated the gauges are in an adjacent part of the facility (shared wall) which remains to be determined if impacted. It was noted that the area containing the gauges has an elevated hexane concentration. The Agency is actively coordinating with the facility's radiation safety staff and the Macon County Emergency Management Agency to provide information to first responders and coordinate a site visit to determine the status of the devices. If additional information regarding integrity of the devices is not available by midday, the Agency will coordinate a site visit. Reportedly, site access is still limited and information is still forthcoming to emergency managers.
"The 23 Texas Nuclear Model 5205 gauges range in activity from 50 to 100 mCi of Cs-137. Information available indicates 4 gauges contain 100 mCi of Cs-137 and 19 gauges contain 50 mCi of Cs-137. 8 additional gauges containing up to 500 mCi of Cs-137 are located in other onsite buildings, but are not anticipated to have been impacted. It is unclear if the Texas Nuclear Model 5205 gauges or their containers have been impacted by the fire/explosion at this time. On scene assessment is not immediately possible and may not be within the 24-hour reporting timeframe. The matter is being reported at this time and will be retracted if the gauges are found to be undamaged."
Illinois Incident Number: IL230024
* * * UPDATE ON 9/12/2023 AT 1501 EDT FROM IEMA TO LAWRENCE CRISCIONE * * *
The following is a summary of an update received via email from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency:
The licensee's hazmat response staff was able to enter the building late yesterday (9/11/23) and indicated none of the 23 radioactive gauges appear impacted by the fire. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) nuclear safety staff still plan to perform confirmatory surveys and wipes once the building can be safely accessed. IEMA staff are working with the licensee and county Emergency Management Agency officials to coordinate that site visit. Based on the information available, IEMA staff do not have any radiation exposure or accountability concerns at this time. This incident will be kept open until Agency staff have conducted a site visit and confirmed the integrity of the 23 devices.
Notified the Region 3 duty officer and NMSS events.
* * * RETRACTION ON 09/29/23 AT 1357 EDT FROM GARY FORSEE TO SAMUEL COLVARD * * *
Agency staff conducted a reactionary inspection with Macon County Emergency Management Agency officials on 9/28/23. The gauges were assessed and determined to not have been damaged by fire or percussion. Therefore, this event is requested to be retracted.
Notified R3DO (Orlikowski), NMSS Events (email).