ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:00 Aug 8, 2025 | |
| Title | Lost Sources |
| Event Description | The following is a summary of information provided by the New Mexico Environment Department via phone and email:
On January 12, 2026, the licensee, holder of a New Mexico academic broad scope 'A' license, reported that during a comprehensive physical inventory, conducted on August 8, 2025, for its license renewal application submittal, sixteen (16) discrete sources could not be located. The licensee's review of program records confirmed that the listed materials were not present in their last recorded locations, and no documentation exists indicating authorized transfer, disposal, or decay-in-storage for these items. The exact disposition of the materials is unknown. An exhaustive search of laboratories, storage rooms, and radioactive waste collection areas was conducted by the licensee. No additional radioactive materials were identified. Based on historical program review by the licensee, plausible scenarios include improper disposal as non-radioactive waste, undocumented transfer, or continued onsite storage in an unidentified location, including the licensee's radioactive materials storage location, pending final disposal. The licensee attributed the loss to a systemic failure in inventory accountability that occurred over an extended period. The licensee's evaluation concluded that based on the isotopic properties, maximum quantities, and dosimetry review, it is highly improbable that any individual, either staff or public, received a dose exceeding limits. 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 | |
|---|---|
| Nm Inst. Of Mining And Technology Socorro, New Mexico (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | AA373-21 |
| Organization: | New Mexico Environment Department |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+4204.48 h175.187 days <br />25.027 weeks <br />5.759 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Carl Sullivan 12:29 Jan 30, 2026 |
| NRC Officer: | Robert A. Thompson |
| Last Updated: | Jan 30, 2026 |
| 58138 - NRC Website | |
Nm Inst. Of Mining And Technology with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 581382025-08-08T07:00:0008 August 2025 07:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Lost Sources 2025-08-08T07:00:00 | |