ENS 57398
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
01:30 Oct 24, 2024 | |
| Title | |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) via phone and email:
The New York State Department of Health was notified by the New York State Office of Emergency Management at 0230 EDT that Materials Testing Laboratories called to report a stolen Troxler Model 4640 surface thin layer density gauge (serial number 1289) containing 10 mCi of Cs-137. The gauge was stolen at 572 11th Ave between 43rd and 44th Streets in Manhattan at 2130 EDT on 10/23/24. NYPD were immediately notified and a report was filed. The gauge recently had a tracking device affixed. They are not seeing any 'pings' on the device location probably because it is out of WIFI range and not moving. They are actively monitoring for movement and location information. NY Event Number: TBD
The following information was provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) via email: At approximately 0230 EDT, on October 24, 2024, New York State Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection (NYSDOH BERP) was notified by New York State Office of Emergency Management (NYS OEM) that the radiation safety officer (RSO) of Materials Testing Laboratories reported a stolen Troxler Model 4640 Serial number 1289, surface thin layer density gauge. The RSO reported that [the source activity] was 10 millicurie (mCi) of cesium-137 (Cs-137). According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Sealed Source and Device registry the source activity is 9 mCi of Cs-137. Based on information provided, it appears that the actual activity of the Cs-137 source was approximately 9 mCi. [Information stated in original message] At 1229 EDT, on October 24, 2024, NYSDOH BERP called the RSO. The RSO said the employee was working on 11th street and the road was blocked off due to repaving. The gauge was on a hand truck to facilitate multiple surveys at various areas along, approximately, a several mile distance. At the time of the suspected theft, the employee was closer to the east side of the road, set up the gauge, walked 100 feet to take a measurement, and when the employee turned around the gauge was gone. The employee searched the area for 20 minutes and then called the RSO. The RSO then instructed the employee to call the police. Since the incident the RSO and staff have been surveying a 30-block area, posting flyers, and [made multiple] attempts to use the tracking device program. At 1340 EDT, on October 24, 2024, NYSDOH BERP called RSO for additional clarification and assessment as the original report failed to mention whether the device was stolen with the source in an unshielded or shielded position. Additional discussion indicated that the gauge was about to be in use, but was in the source in locked position. Allegedly, by the RSO, the authorized user of the device, turned to walk 100 feet to mark the next measurement location, and then completed paperwork. Thereby suggesting that the device was in a shielded position when stolen. Please note that this is a formal follow up to the email sent by NYSDOH sent at 0350 EDT, on October 24, 2024. NYSDOH is closely monitoring this event and has assigned NYSDOH Incident No. 1504 to continue monitoring this event. Notified R1DO (Dentel), NMSS Events Notification (email), and ILTAB (email)
The following information was provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) via email: On October 25, 2024, NYSDOH received an email from the RSO stating that they has retrieved the stolen density gauge from an individual that found the device. Prior to use, the RSO stated that they will perform a leak test and send the gauge to a licensed repairer/servicer for visual and operational inspection of the device. The NYSDOH acknowledged the updated information from the RSO and is still requesting a final report of the incident. This final report will include steps to prevent recurrence. Notified R1DO (Eve), NMSS Events Notification (email), and ILTAB (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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Materials Testing Laboratories New York, New York (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | C2274 |
| Organization: | New York State Dept. Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+2.33 h0.0971 days <br />0.0139 weeks <br />0.00319 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Charles J. Burns 03:50 Oct 24, 2024 |
| NRC Officer: | Karen Cotton-Gross |
| Last Updated: | Oct 29, 2024 |
| 57398 - NRC Website | |
Materials Testing Laboratories with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 573982024-10-24T01:30:00024 October 2024 01:30:00
[Table view]Agreement State Stolen Density Gauge 2024-10-24T01:30:00 | |