Shortly after noon on September 29, 2004, the Agency was notified by the Harris County Hazmat Team of a contaminated 55-gallon drum/Pig that had been 'spilled' on the side of the road by a Bank building several blocks from the city police station. (Deleted) and (deleted) noted the radiation markings and loaded the device into their Ford F150 truck,
Texas License Plate # (Deleted). They transported the device to the Humble Police Department for assistance. Upon arrival, the Humble Police requested assistance from the Harris County Hazmat Team. Due to radiation markings on the container the Hazmat Team took readings on the container. The container was examined by two technicians dressed out in protective clothing and
SCBA. When reported to this Agency there was some confusion in the initial readings obtained by the Hazmat Team. The reported level initially reported was 70 R/hr. Two Department of State Health Service's Radioactive material inspectors were dispatched to assist in the identification of the device. The bright yellow box with embossed lettering '
TROXLER' immediately identified the device as a
Troxler moisture density gauge. The shipping container appeared to have a broken hinge. Initial confirmatory readings on the case indicated 1.5 millirem on the sides of the case and 9 millirem on the top of the package. Upon opening the case the
gauge appeared to be intact. A brief search of the case located a calibration sheet from
Texas Licensee (L02243-000) Component Sales and Services. The
gauge was transported to the Regional Headquarters. After determining that the
gauge was a
Troxler 3430, Serial Number 23700, with two seal sources -
Cs-137, Serial No 75-5786 and Am-241/Be, Serial No 47 19622.
The gauge was initially reported by Troxler as belonging to the New Hampshire Department of Health. However, a later check with Component Sales and Services indicated that the gauge belonged to Texas Licensee - L05180-000, GeoScience Engineering and Testing, Inc. The Licensee was contacted and arrangements were made to pickup the gauge on September 30, 2004. During return of the gauge, the Licensee verbally reported that the gauge had been stolen while the gauge operator stopped at a Subway sandwich shop near Houston Intercontinental Airport.
Texas Incident No. I-8170