A shipment of a pulse neutron generator containing a 1.5 curie
tritium source was determined to be lost by the shipper (Federal Express) and reported to the licensee on 8/17/05. The neutron generator originated in
New Jersey and was shipped to
Texas where it was used under a well logging source license. Upon completion of use, the generator was to be returned to
New Jersey from
Texas. The shipment in question originated in Webster,
Texas, and was destined for the licensee's Princeton Technology Center in Princeton Junction,
New Jersey. The shipping date was 7/12/05. The licensee stated that the neutron generator failed to arrive as scheduled and that on or about 7/15/05 the shipper initiated an internal incident report to investigate the shipment. The neutron generator was tracked to the shipper's Trenton,
New Jersey site. The licensee also reported that the shipper reported finding packaging related to the neutron generator shipment but that the contents were missing.
The tritium source in the neutron generator is less than the quantity of an IAEA Category 3 source.
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.
For some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are IAEA 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.
- * * * UPDATE FROM T. BRACKE TO M. RIPLEY 1640 EDT 09/19/05 * * * *
The licensee stated that the device and source have not yet been found. The shipper has, however, exhausted their search of their facilities in Webster, TX, Houston, TX, Trenton, NJ and Woodbridge, NJ.
Notified R1 DO (J. White) and
NMSS EO (M. Burgess)