The following was received via email:
The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] called in a preliminary notification at 4:05 PM [CST] on 01/09/2018. The notification was, Citgo Petroleum Corp (CPC) had lost a XRF unit overboard while working in the Calcasieu River (CR) in Lake Charles, LA. [The RSO] stated the Citgo had a Dive team working in the CR to recover the XRF unit. On 01/10/2018 recovery efforts continued. On 01/11/2018 the update indicated the Dive Team effort was unsuccessful and the individuals from CPC would continue the recovery effort. The NRC notification of the 'LOST SOURCE/ UNRECOVERABLE' is being made by LDEQ with this report.
The XRF device, a Niton, Model XLP-703A, loaded with a Cd-109 source with the decayed activity of 12.34 mCi. The Cd-109 source S/N is 10722 and was last leak tested on 10/27/2017. The unit was being used for analysis when it slipped from the operator's control into the CR. A Dive Team Contractor was contacted and an effort made efforts to recover the device on 01/10/18 and 01/11/2018. The sonar and diving search effort was unsuccessful. The source was not recovered, the Dive Team abandoned the effort, and CPC will continue attempts to recover the device.
On 01/11/2018 CPC notified they had lost a XRF Device, Niton Model XLP-703A in the CR that has not been recovered. The battery pack remained with the operator and the shielded device with the Cd-109 source sank into the CR. Scaled back recovery efforts for the device will continue. It is unlikely that the XRF device will be recovered.
This lost Cd-109 source is in a shielded device with river water shielding. This lost source does not pose a health and safety threat to the General Public or the Employees of CPC.
LA Event number: LA-180002
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