The following information is provided by the State of
Alabama via facsimile:
On Thursday, June 28, 2012, representatives of Eastern Technologics, Inc. (ETI) notified the Alabama Office of Radiation Control of the discovery of a leak in the sewer drain that handles the waste water discharge from ETI's nuclear laundry facility in Ashford, Alabama. At that time, ETI was determining the extent of contamination caused by the leak. ETI is authorized to possess and use the radioactive material as part of their operations under Alabama Radioactive Material License No. 947. Under the conditions of this license, ETI is required to restrict effluent releases to sewers to ten percent of the maximum permissible concentrations specified in Appendix B, Table III of Agency [Alabama Office of Radiation Control] Rule 420-3-26-.03 for all radioisotopes (except Co-60). For Co-60, the licensee is required to restrict releases to 20 milliCuries each calendar year.
ETI excavated the area and determined that the source of the leak was an elbow in the drain pipe. Access to the area identified as contaminated was restricted and controlled. Samples were taken by Alabama Office of Radiation Control personnel on July 1, 2012. The results of the analysis of those samples were made available on July 9, 2012 and identified contamination in the soil at levels greater than five times the lowest annual limit of intake (ALI) as specified in the Agency [Alabama Office of Radiation Control] rules.
ETI is currently decontaminating the site by excavating the contaminated soil. Personnel from the Alabama Office of Radiation Control are monitoring activities and taking confirmatory samples to verify clean up standards. The cause of the incident and the corrective measures by the licensee are pending at this time. The information is accurate as of 0900 CDT, July 10, 2012.
Alabama Incident # 12-51