ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Feb 20, 2026 | |
| Title | Damaged Source |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) via email:
On February 20, 2026, an incident involving a sealed radioactive source at the University of Maryland Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability & Risk reported to the Maryland Department of the Environment Radiological Health Program (MDE/RHP), that an electron capture device (ECD) sealed source was found to be leaking. The issue was identified during a leak test conducted by the licensee on February 18, 2026, and one of their sources, Model No.19233, serial No. U1669 containing 12.5 mCi of Ni-63 (current activity of 12.49 mCi on February 18, 2026) was found to have elevated removable contamination, but below 0.005 microcuries. A follow-up leak test conducted on February 19, 2026, after this elevated result, found that the source was leaking, with removable contamination greater than 0.005 microcuries. It was reported that no contamination was found outside the ECD unit. Upon detection of the issue, the leaking source was isolated by the licensee and placed into double bagged containment and secured at their licensed university waste building. The licensee will dispose of the source via the appropriate radioactive waste stream. Upon completion of the disposal process, all relevant documentation will be submitted to MDE/RHP. MDE/RHP will follow up with this reactive investigation until the source is securely disposed. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| University Of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | MD-33-004-01 |
| Organization: | Maryland Dept Of The Environment |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+77.6 h3.233 days <br />0.462 weeks <br />0.106 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Atnatiwos Meshesha 10:36 Feb 23, 2026 |
| NRC Officer: | Karen Cotton |
| Last Updated: | Feb 23, 2026 |
| 58169 - NRC Website | |
University Of Maryland with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 581692026-02-20T05:00:00020 February 2026 05:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Damaged Source ENS 529872017-09-22T04:00:00022 September 2017 04:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Irradiator Access Controls Inoperable 2026-02-20T05:00:00 | |