ENS 50758
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Jan 23, 2015 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Load of Garbage Rejected at Landfill Due to Elevated Radiation Readings |
| Event Description | The following information was obtained from the State of New Jersey via email:
A Pennsylvania landfill rejected a load of garbage based on elevated radiation readings (188 uR/h) and sent it back to NJ. PA identified the nuclides as Mn-54 and Co-57. [A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)] inspector went to the NJ garbage facility to verify the readings and nuclides. [NJDEP informed] the waste facility that [they] would be coming to observe the separation/isolation process, but [before the] inspector got there, they had already done everything. According to the facility personnel, there was a bag of metal parts (they opened it up), but had double bagged it by the time [the inspector] got there. [The] inspector got 23 mR/h on contact, 849 uR/h at 1 foot and 62 uR/h at 1 meter. Discussions revealed that no one picked it up with their hands and they were not near the source for very long. [NJDEP] identifier/Ortec readings confirm Co-57 and Mn-54 also Co-60 and Co-56. It appears to be activated metal. [A certified contractor] has been hired to package [the material]. He will be there sometime later next week. [The inspector did] not see any identifying markings. [The inspector] also took wipes of the bag and the floor area where it was dumped. These were clear. The garbage that was taken out along with the source was scanned and found to be background. That material will remain in NJ. [The] inspector surveyed the original truck with the remainder of the garbage, and [it] was found to be clear. They are running [the truck] through their portal monitor and if ok, will send [it] back to PA. The truck did not leave from this facility originally so it did not go through a monitor before going to PA. The activated metal has been isolated and secured.
The following update was received via email from the State of New Jersey via email: Upon NJDEP arrival at the waste facility on 1/23/15, the [landfill] facility staff had already isolated the material causing the radiation levels. The bag of waste they isolated measured as follows with a 1.5 by 1.5 NaI probe: Near contact: 23 mR/hr At ~1 foot: 840 microR/hr At ~3 feet: 62 microR/hr At ~6 feet: 10 microR/hr Background: 3-4 microR/hr The tipping floor, where material had been laid out, and the three individuals involved in sorting the load were surveyed with a pancake probe. No radiation levels above background were detected. A wipe of the bag revealed no removable contamination. [NJDEP] surveyed the truck carrying the remainder of the MSW [Municipal Solid Waste] load and detected no elevated [radiation] levels. The truck was released to return to the PA landfill. [NJDEP] has not received an update from the facility to confirm acceptance of that material. [NJDEP] obtained a spectrum with the Ortec Detective-EX which identified Co-56, Co-57, Co-60, & Mn-54. A manual review of the spectrum additionally indicated Co-58. These isotopes are typical for metal activated from operation of an accelerator. Today, [NJDEP] contacted the DNDO [Domestic Nuclear Detection Office] JAC [Joint Analysis Center] for secondary reachback analysis of the spectrum. [NJDEP] received verbal confirmation of the isotopes detected. A written report is expected by tomorrow. Subsequently, [NJDEP] received a telephone call from an FBI bomb tech who had been informed of [NJDEP's] request for analysis. [The FBI] was seeking confirmation that there was no suspicious packaging or other threat associated with the package. [NJDEP] explained that we routinely find items in the waste stream and there was no specific threat or suspicious packaging. [NJDEP] is still awaiting follow-up from the waste facility to confirm acceptance of the remainder of the load released Friday and details for their plans for disposal. [NJDEP] will plan to return when their consultant packages the material to see if any other information can be gathered to identify a possibly point of origin for the material. Notified R1DO (Cahill), ILTAB (Wray), and NMSS Events Notification via email.
On 2/18/2015 the facility's consultant removed the material for proper disposal. The radioactive item was determined to be a small metal foil. No specific point of origin could be determined. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection considers their investigation closed. Notified R1DO (Powell), ILTAB (Whitney) and NMSS Events Notification via email. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| N/A Jersey City, New Jersey (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | G/L |
| Organization: | Nj Rad Prot And Rel Prevention Pgm |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+11.03 h0.46 days <br />0.0657 weeks <br />0.0151 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Jenny Goodman 16:02 Jan 23, 2015 |
| NRC Officer: | Howie Crouch |
| Last Updated: | Feb 23, 2015 |
| 50758 - NRC Website | |
N/A with Agreement State | |
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