ML19256C653
| ML19256C653 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/28/1979 |
| From: | Higginbotham H, Metzger J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| 37-18461-0IMD, 37-18461-IMD, PNO-79-374, NUDOCS 7910110635 | |
| Download: ML19256C653 (1) | |
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION August 28, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICAT. ION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-79-374 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility:
Elfreth Alley Apothacary Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Licensee Number-37-18461-OlMD)
Subject:
HIGH RADIATION LEVELS FROM XENON-133 SHIPMENT On August 25, 1979, the licensee received what was supposed to be one curie of xenon-133 gas shipped via Federal Express from General Ilectric Co., Vallecitos Lab o ra to ry, Pl ea s anton, Cal i f'o rn i a.
The xenon was packaged in a glass ampule shielded by lead and enclosed in a sealed can.
It is believed the ampule broke allowing the xenon to diffuse outside the shielding creating radiation levels measured by the licensee of up to 50 mr/hr at 10 feet from the package.
The can remained intact and no xenon was believed to be released to the environment.
The package is now located in a shielded hood awaiting decay of the xenon-133.
DOT, OSP, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the, tate of California have been notified.
IE:I will conduct an investigation.
General Electric Co. is tracing the route of the shipment to determine possible personnel exposures.
GE will also investigate the occurrence to identify means of preventing recurrence.
A press release is planned by the NRC.
NRC, Region I, (Philadelphia) received notification of the occurrence by a tele-phone call from the licensee at 11:00 a.m.,
August 28, 1979.
Contact:
J. R. Metzger, IE x28188 H. B. Higginbotham, IE x28188 Distribution:
Transmitted H St Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky ACRS (For Distribution)
Transmitted:
MNBB P. Bldg
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V. Stello,,IE L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. De' ton, NRR Region <
H. L. Ornstein, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR Landow N. M. Haller, MPA D. Vassallo, NRR
" J. J. Cummings, 0IA R. G. Ryan, OSP D. Eisenhut, NRR H. K. Shapar, ELD SS Bldg (MAIL)
W. J. Dircks, NMSS R. Minogue, SD
- 5. Levine, RES W
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION 1448 533
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