N.C. Radiation Protection Section has confirmed the N.C. Division of Emergency Management and local law enforcement were included in initial notifications and remain engaged in the ongoing event evaluation.
N.C. Radiation Protection Section was notified on 30 November 08 by an unrecorded source from UNIMIN Corporation that there was a major fire in one of their mineral processing facilities in Spruce Pine, NC. Initial reports from the licensee indicate four industrial nuclear gauges containing Cs-137 sealed sources (3 gauges contain 2 mCi each and the fourth contains 50 mCi) were present in the facility at the time of the fire. The damage to the facility exceeds $200,000 and the facility will be out of operation for over one week, so this incident is a reportable event under NC Code 15A NCAC 11.1646(a)(3) & (4).
Command of the site was taken by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (for fire investigation). Preliminary radiation surveys of the exterior of the facility indicated radiation levels equivalent to background. An inspector from N.C. Radiation Protection was dispatched to the scene on 4 December 08, but was not allowed access to the interior of the facility or to any records maintained by the RSO of UNIMIN Corporation. The inspector was allowed to examine and survey the exterior of the affected facility; he found the structural damage to be significant and that radiation levels about the perimeter of the affected facility were background. The UNIMIN RSO has been able to visually identify three of the four gauges from a vantage point exterior to the facility. Security at this facility is adequate.
The investigation will be continued on 12/9 or 12/10 by the inspector from the N.C. Radiation Protection Section.
North Carolina Report # NC-08-51.