Originally, an Ionscan 400, S/N 10586, was sent to Smith Detection for repair in October 2011. From that time until May 2014, Security Forces personnel believed that the device was still at Smith Detection awaiting repair. In May 2014, [The Air Force] was able to determine that according to Smith Detection records, following repair, the device had been returned to Lackland AFB in October 2012. Security Forces has no record of receiving the device and no notification that the device had been shipped. Thorough searches of Security Forces storage and use areas have been conducted without finding the device. One theory is that the device was sent to an old address for Security Forces. The building at that address has been searched without finding the device.
Ionscan 400 contains a NI-63 source with an activity of 15 milliCi. The Ionscan 400 serial number is 10586. The sealed source and device registry number (SS&DR) associated with the Ionscan 400 is NR-0163-D-801-G. The device is used to screen passengers for hazardous material. The licensee will be notifying the NRC Region IV (Cook).
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