ENS 46141
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Jul 16, 2010 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Nuclear Gauges Left in Warehouse by Bankrupt Business |
| Event Description | The following information was received via facsimile:
On 7-16-2010, MSDH DRH [Mississippi State Department of Health Division of Radiological Health] received a call from a gentleman who owns a warehouse in Columbus, MS. He stated that as he was going through the contents of his warehouse to determine what could be sold as used equipment or as scrap metal, he discovered a nailed-shut wooden crate with the word 'Radioactive' written in marker on the side. On 7/19/10, DRH inspectors went to the warehouse and discovered that 2 fixed nuclear gauges were in the wooden box. Both gauges were the same model, FM1R-1, manufactured by Mahlo. Labels indicated that each had been loaded with one 100 mCi Pm-147 (Promethium) source. According to the assay dates found on the labels on the gauges, both sources were decayed to less than 0.1 mCi. One other gauge was found in the warehouse. This one was still bolted to a piece of manufacturing equipment. It was an Ohmart fixed gauge loaded with a 60 mCi Kr-85 source in 1994, therefore it is decayed to approximately 10 mCi. DRH inspectors brought the three gauges to DRH office for safe storage until proper disposal can be arranged. Note: The man who reported the box with 'Radioactive' marked on it, had been leasing to a company involved in textile manufacture. The leasee went bankrupt and owed the warehouse owner substantial payments. The owner is legally selling the contents of the warehouse to recoup some of his losses. The owner has no knowledge or background with nuclear gauges. Gauge info follows: Manufacturer Model Gauge Ser # Isotope Mahlo FMIR-1 610/61/U1 Pm-147 Mahlo FMIR-1 610/61/IU2VG89 PM-147 Further investigation revealed that the Ohmart gauge was identified on a General License in Alabama, licensed to Crown Textile Co.(now out of business). Also a former employee of a company named American Nonwovens (now out of business) said that all three gauges were brought from Alabama to the warehouse in Columbus, MS where they were found. MSDH Div of Radiological Health continues to keep the abandoned gauges for safe-keeping and has contacted a disposal company to dispose of the gauges. MSDH DRH Report: MS-10005. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| N/A Columbus, Mississippi (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | N/A |
| Organization: | Mississippi Div Of Rad Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+348.75 h14.531 days <br />2.076 weeks <br />0.478 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Danny Brantley 17:45 Jul 30, 2010 |
| NRC Officer: | Donald Norwood |
| Last Updated: | Jul 30, 2010 |
| 46141 - NRC Website | |
N/A with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 570222024-03-11T22:07:00011 March 2024 22:07:00
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