ENS 48135
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Jul 24, 2012 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Missing or Abandoned and Found Radioactive Materials |
| Event Description | During conversion of the former Waltham Watch Co. property to offices and apartments the property owner discovered sub-floor areas to be contaminated with radium-226 and americium-241.
The consultant submitted that the property had functioned as a watch factory; that during World War II the site was used to support the war effort; and that radium was used in self-luminous paints for watches, nuclear panels, aircraft switches, clocks, and instrument dials starting in the early 1900s and was still used as late as the 1960s. The americium was likely not part of the dial painting process and may have been associated with a former tenant. The consultant reported on radioactive waste manifest dated July 24, 2012 that a total of 890 microCuries (approximately 727 microCuries of americium-241 and approximately 163 microCuries of radium-226) was removed from the property. These materials are in addition to 10 microCuries of radium-226 that was removed from the property on May 23, 2012. In aggregate, the activities of materials meet the reporting requirements of 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1). Radioactive materials discovered and removed were mostly found under layers of flooring in areas of original wood subflooring materials in apartments not yet inhabited. The americium-241 was confined to two areas whereas the radium-226 was discovered in many areas. Final status surveys performed by the consultant indicate that no radioactivity is present above natural background levels in post-remediation areas. The Agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] continues to investigate this incident and has performed on-site inspection of the specifically licensed person providing decontamination and decommissioning services to the property owner of the site. 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 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Waltham Watch Company Waltham, Massachusetts (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | none |
| Organization: | Ma Radiation Control Program |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+57.33 h2.389 days <br />0.341 weeks <br />0.0785 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Josh Daehler 13:20 Jul 26, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Pete Snyder |
| Last Updated: | Jul 26, 2012 |
| 48135 - NRC Website | |
Waltham Watch Company with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 481352012-07-24T04:00:00024 July 2012 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Missing or Abandoned and Found Radioactive Materials 2012-07-24T04:00:00 | |