ENS 47251
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
12:00 Sep 8, 2011 | |
| Title | |
| Event Description | The following information was received by e-mail:
On September 8, 2011, Arrow Engineering contacted California Office of Emergency Services to report a stolen moisture/density gauge, Troxler model 3440 Plus, 8 mCi Cs-137 source and 40 mCi Am:Be-214 source, S/N 39529. The gauge was locked in the transport case, secured in the back of a vehicle, a 2001 Chevy Silverado. The gauge operator discovered the vehicle stolen at approximately [0500 PDT], when he was leaving his home, to proceed to the worksite. The operator then notified police and then the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department arrived approximately [0545 PDT] and the operator made his report of the stolen vehicle and gauge. After the operator had made the report, he then proceeded to return to work. After the RSO was notified of the incident, he proceeded to contact Los Angeles County Radiation Management and left a detailed message and then contacted the Office of Emergency Services to report the incident. Approximately [0940 PDT] a LA Co. inspector notified the ICE RAM South of the incident. An ICE inspector then contacted the RSO to obtain information on the incident. The RSO confirmed the incident took place at the residence of the operator sometime in the early morning of September 8, 2011, prior to [0500 PDT], when the operator discovered that the vehicle was missing. He stated that the operator had left the gauge in the locked transport case, locked in the bed of the pickup with two chains and three locks. He also stated that the operator had an alarm on the vehicle, but did not hear it since he was likely asleep at the time. He also stated that the vehicle was not able to be stored in the garage since it was a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The gauge was left in the vehicle since the operator had returned from a jobsite late the prior evening and had an early appointment the next morning. The RSO was informed to provide a written report within 30 days, to place an ad and a reward in the local newspaper and to notify ICE if the gauge is found. At approximately 1100 [PDT], the RSO contacted RHB reporting that the vehicle was found with the gauge and transport case still locked in the bed of the truck and with a broken drivers side window. The RSO stated that the vehicle was left in the driveway of a neighbors house. It was found by the owner while returning home from the office at approximately 1030 [PDT]. The owner then contacted the LA Co. Sheriff and was told not to touch the vehicle before the Sheriff arrived. When they arrived, he was allowed to check the gauge case to confirm that the gauge was still inside and intact. The operator was able to confirm this and the Sheriff were able to inspect the vehicle and gather evidence. The licensee was informed to take a leak test immediately and keep the gauge out of service until the leak test results were returned and confirmed to be below the contamination limit. While the investigation is still ongoing, pending licensee's findings in their 30 day report, the licensee is likely to be cited for storing the gauge in an unauthorized storage location, for improperly securing the gauge, or leaving the gauge unattended. 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Arrow Engineering Lancaster, California (NRC Region 4) | |
| Organization: | California Radiation Control Prgm |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+4.9 h0.204 days <br />0.0292 weeks <br />0.00671 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Don Oesterle 16:54 Sep 8, 2011 |
| NRC Officer: | Vince Klco |
| Last Updated: | Sep 8, 2011 |
| 47251 - NRC Website | |
Arrow Engineering with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 472512011-09-08T12:00:0008 September 2011 12:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report- Reported Stolen and Then Found Moisture/Density Gauge 2011-09-08T12:00:00 | |