A trailer containing a Humboldt 5001EZ Density
gauge was found missing/stolen by a technician staying at the Holiday Inn Express in
Oklahoma City, OK. The
gauge was chained and locked to the trailer. The licensee reported that there have been no press or media inquiries and no rewards are currently being considered for the return of the density
gauge. The licensee was performing work in OK under reciprocity.
The gauge is a Humboldt 5001EZ model, Serial Number: 3309 containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am-241/Be.
The local police department and the State of Oklahoma were notified.
- * * UPDATE FROM JOE HONICH TO CHARLES TEAL AT 0920 EST ON 1/5/15 * * *
The Oklahoma Police Department located the gauge. It was dumped on the side of the road in a cardboard box. The gauge was fully intact and did not appear to be tampered with. The gauge is currently in the possession of an Oklahoma licensee until arrangements can be made for a transfer back to Midwest Testing.
Notified R3DO (Cameron), R4DO (Pick) and NMSS Events via email.
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