Headquarters Daily Report

                         AUGUST 29, 1997

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                    REPORT             NEGATIVE            NO INPUT
                    ATTACHED           INPUT RECEIVED      RECEIVED

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PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED  MORNING REPORT - REGION II  AUGUST 29, 1997

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

                                       MR Number: 2-97-0068
Marshall, Miller & Associates          Date: 08/29/97
Bluefield,Virginia                                                        
Dockets: 03012341 License No: 45-17195-01  

Subject: POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO THE EXTREMITIES OF WELL-LOGGING PERSONNEL 

Discussion:

On August 28, 1997, the licensee informed the NRC of a potential exposure
to the extremities of two individuals performing well-logging with       
licensed materials.  On August 18, 1997, after completion of a           
well-logging procedure in Kentucky, a licensee employee removed the      
source holder from the well logging tool and placed it into a            
transportation shield aboard the well logging truck.  The 125 millicurie 
(mCi) cesium 137 (Cs-137) sealed source, however, had fallen out of the  
source holder and remained in the logging tool which was then also loaded
onto the truck.  The employee then drove the truck back to the licensee's
facility.                                                                
                                                                         
On August 19, 1997, the same employee loaded the logging tool containing 
the unshielded source onto another licensee truck and on August 20, 1997,
drove the truck to a temporary job site.  While unloading the logging    
tool from the truck, the Cs-137 source fell out of the tool and onto the 
ground.  The licensee employee picked up the source with his bare hand   
and placed it in his toolbox.  During the period of August 21-26, 1997,  
the unshielded source remained secured in the toolbox aboard the         
licensee's vehicle.                                                      
                                                                         
On August 27, 1997, another licensee employee along with a well logging  
trainee, took the truck containing the logging tool and the toolbox      
containing the unshielded sealed source to a temporary job site.  During 
setup activities, the operator discovered that the source was not in the 
source holder.  The operator then noticed that the trainee was going     
through the toolbox and that the trainee had picked up the sealed source.
The trainee dropped the source to the ground and the authorized user     
retrieved the source using remote handling tools and placed the source   
into the transportation shield.                                          
                                                                         
The licensee's initial exposure evaluation determined that the involved  
employees radiation dose was 10-30 Rem to the hand and 0.2-4.0 Rem whole 
body.  The licensee has sent the dosimetry for all involved employees to 
the dosimetry vendor for processing.  The licensee reported that the     
source had not suffered any apparent damage.                             

Regional Action:

Region II staff will conduct an inspection next week and a Confirmatory  
Action Letter is being issued today.                                     
                                                                         
The Commonwealths of Kentucky and Virginia were notified.                

Contact:  T. Decker                  (404)562-4721
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