ENS 51876
ENS Event | |
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05:00 Apr 21, 2016 | |
Title | Agreement State Report - Radiation Level on Package Greater than Limits |
Event Description | The following information was obtained from the State of Texas via email:
On April 21, 2016, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was contacted by the Environmental Protection Agency in response to a notice it had received regarding excessive dose rates coming from a package in shipment. The package was being carried by [a common carrier] and was located at one of its facility in Houston, Texas. The Agency contacted the radiation safety officer (RSO) for [the common carrier]. He stated they had been informed by Customs and Border Patrol that one of their packages was reading higher than expected and they had responded. The RSO stated their surveys indicated dose rates at three feet were 41 mrem per hour and 7 rem per hour on contact with the package. The RSO stated their surveys were not consistent with the dose rates reported by Customs. The RSO stated the package contained a 2.79 (11.84 original activity) curie iridium 192 source being returned to the manufacturer. The source was from a high dose rate after loader being returning from outside the United States. The shipping container was opened and the source was found sitting on top of the shield. The source was placed in a different shield and returned to a safe storage location. While the shipper was investigating the event, a person inside the facility called 911. When the hazmat team arrived they performed a radiation survey and decided the dose rates warranted evacuating all the workers from the building. The building was evacuated for more than an hour, but less than two hours. [The common carrier] is investigating the event and any possible exposures to their workers. The RSO stated he did not believe any individual of the general public would have exceeded any limits. The RSO and this Agency has scheduled a call on April 22, 2016, to exchange additional information. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident No.: I-9391
The Agency contacted the Houston Texas Hazmat Team leader (HTL). They stated their surveys at 200 feet indicated the radiation readings were background. The HTL stated when they arrived the bucket containing the source was on a pallet held in place with plastic wrap and a cinch strap. The HML stated the bucket containing the source was the only item on the pallet. The Hazmat Team (HMT) removed the plastic wrap from the bucket and removed the bucket from the pallet. The bucket (containing the source) was then placed in a 30 gallon container. The container was filled with a dry material containing clay. That container was sealed and placed in a 55 gallon drum. The 55 gallon drum was filled with water and the top placed on the drum. The manufacturer's representative who retrieved the source was contacted. They stated dose rate on the side of the 55 gallon drum was 7 rem/hr (this dose rate was reported as on the side of the package in the initial report.) The dose rate on the top of the source container (package) was 15 rem/hr. He stated he noted the end of the drive cable near and past the source had been damaged. He found that the source was not inside the shield and both security seals were missing from the shipping container. Notified R4DO (Groom) and NMSS Events Notification via email. |
Where | |
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Unknown Houston, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
Reporting | |
Agreement State | |
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+16.32 h0.68 days <br />0.0971 weeks <br />0.0224 months <br />) | |
Opened: | Art Tucker 21:19 Apr 21, 2016 |
NRC Officer: | Dong Park |
Last Updated: | Apr 25, 2016 |
51876 - NRC Website | |
Unknown with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 572262024-07-15T12:59:00015 July 2024 12:59:00
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Radioactive Material Identified in Arc Furnace Ash ENS 427092006-07-15T05:00:00015 July 2006 05:00:00 Agreement State Louisiana Agreement State Report of Radioactive Source Found at Old Texaco Site ENS 419492005-08-26T05:00:00026 August 2005 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State - Tritium Exit Signs Found in Recyclables ENS 419302005-08-15T04:00:00015 August 2005 04:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Source of Unknown Origin Found in Railcar ENS 409302004-08-05T05:00:0005 August 2004 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State - Recovered Device Containing Radioactive Material ENS 408512004-06-30T22:30:00030 June 2004 22:30:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report from the New York City Bureau of Rad Health ENS 402392003-10-10T04:00:00010 October 2003 04:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Discovery of Nuclear Gauge in Scrapyard ENS 401542003-09-09T07:00:0009 September 2003 07:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving a Recovered Source 2024-07-15T12:59:00 | |