The following information was provided by the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency (
IEMA, The Agency) via email:
On 05/17/22, a shipment of scrap metal being hauled from Sallisaw, OK to Rogers, AR tripped a portal monitor at the receiving recycling company. It was returned to Oklahoma under DOT-SP AR-OK-22-007. The load was surveyed once returned to Oklahoma and a Thermo Measure Tech model 5201 fixed gauge containing 50 mCi of Cs-137 (s/n B4473) was identified.
The gauge has since been isolated in a drum and secured in a shed at the Oklahoma recycling facility. Efforts to identify the owner resulted in a call from Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (OK DEQ) to the Illinois program on 5/27/22. IEMA staff were able to identify Mid America Dredging in Good Hope, IL as the owner. Mid America Dredging is registered with the Agency under #9223884 and last reported the gauge as present on 2/15/22.
Agency staff requested the licensee confirm the gauge was on site and send pictures. Apparently, the `device' the registrant has been exercising control over since 2015 was the outer housing for the gauge which may have a secondary label according to the Sealed Source and Device (SSD) sheet. The licensee suspects the gauge was inadvertently disposed of or abandoned during work in Sallisaw, OK in or around 2015.
IEMA will address noncompliance with the registrant. This device is generally licensed and registered under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 330.220(a)(4). Due to the activity involved, any loss, theft or diversion is immediately reportable under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 340.1210(a). The registrant did not report, nor was seemingly aware of the loss.
OK DEQ notified the Headquarters Operations Officer on 5/18/22, and provided an update on 5/27/22. This NMED entry is made to document IEMA actions and track until the gauge is properly returned and/or disposed of. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Reference Event Number 55900 for the initial notification from OK
DEQ to the NRC.