This report is made under
10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(ii). A loss of permitted material by Edward Hines Jr.
VA Hospital in Hines,
Illinois, became known on February 10, 2009. Approximately 54.6 millicuries of hydrogen-3 were released in animal research wastes handled as non-radioactive over a period of 15 years (1994-2008). The maximum amount released in any one year was 12.8 millicuries. These wastes were processed by incineration at off-site facilities. The activities that generated the affected wastes ended in March 2008. Hospital staff will review disposal practices for compliance before allowing similar activities.
A written report for this event will be submitted to NRC Region III within 30 days of making this telephone notification. We have discussed with event with our NRC Project Manager (Cassandra Frazier, NRC Region III).
Additional information:
Department of Veterans Affairs holds NRC License No. 03-23853-01VA, a master materials license. Permits are issued under the license to Veterans Health Administration facilities. The permit number for the facility involved in these medical events is VHA Permit No. 12-01087-07. National Health Physics Program makes required notifications to NRC.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
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. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are 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.
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the
IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source