The following was received from the
Arkansas Department of Health (the Department) via email:
The Department received notification on January 12, 2021, from licensee Mid-Continent Laboratories, Inc., that a Troxler gauge model 3411-B [(S/N: 4794; Activity: Am-241 (44 mCi); Cs-137(9 mCi))] had been stolen from a licensee while at his residence.
Upon review of the event, the Authorized User checked the portable gauge out of its permanent storage location at approximately 0600 CST to travel to Colorado for work. Before leaving, the Authorized User returned to his place of residence. While at his residence the chains securing the gauge to the truck were cut and the portable gauge was stolen from the vehicle.
This event has been reported to Law Enforcement, in addition, Arkansas Department of Health inspectors are currently working with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Radiological Health, to investigate and report. [West Memphis, AR is on the border with Tennessee.] Arkansas Department of Health will be issuing a Press Release.
The Arkansas Department of Health considers this investigation open pending receipt and review of any further information that may become available.
Arkansas Event Report ID No.: AR-2021-001
- * * UPDATE ON 01/13/2021 AT 1401 EST FROM CHRIS TALLEY TO OSSY FONT * * *
The following update was received from the Department via email:
The Authorized User was allowed to store the gauge overnight in his vehicle at his place of residence. The theft occurred between 2130 CST, January 11, 2021 and 0730 CST, January 12, 2021. The Authorized User noticed the disappearance of the gauge while leaving his residence to go to work.
Notified R4DO (O'Keefe) and NMSS Events Notification and ILTAB 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