ML20237B662
| ML20237B662 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/13/1984 |
| From: | Hornor J, Lubenau J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-RV-84-002, PNO-RV-84-2, NUDOCS 9808190130 | |
| Download: ML20237B662 (3) | |
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Date: February 13, 1984 S
Notice of NON-ROUTINE EVENT INVOLVING AGREEMENT STATE OR AGREEMENT MATERIAL 02 This NOTICE constitutes an early report of events occurring in._an Agreement State 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 State' Agreement Program staff as of this date.
AGREEMENT STATE:
TEXAS a
FACILITY:
Not applicable o
SUBJECT:
Cobalt-60 Contaminated Steel Update - Situation in Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas This notice serves to supplement the following PN0's concerning contaminated steel that has entered the U.S. from Mexico:
IV-84-01, III-84-11, III-8411A, I-84-12, and III-84-11B.
The following information was provided by Region V staff to OSP on February 10,11, and 12,1984.
It was based upon the verbal debriefing reports of Mr. G. Yuhas, a Region V inspector who visited Juarez, Mexico last week. The purpose of his visit was to provide technical consultation to representatives of the (Mexican) National Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Commission (CNSNS) on cleanup of the Co-60 contamination.
Supplementary information has been provided by Texas. The State of Texas has expressed concern to OSP over possible tracking of the cobalt-60 across the border into Texas.
Sixty of the 1 mm by imm diameter Co-60 pellets have been found in o
the streets of Juarez. A measurement of one disclosed 22R/hr at 5 cm.
The pellets can stick to shoes, tires, etc.
The pellets can easily be degraded resulting in removable surface o
contamination and produce a potential airborne contamination
- hazard, o
As of Friday, February 10, 1984, there are limited radiation monitoring controls at the border crossing points into El Paso.
U.S. Customs was provided with a survey meter and instructions in its use by Region IV.
Its use is apparently limited to surveys of l
large truck shipments at one border crossing point. The l
possibility of contaminated metal products or cobalt pellets inadvertently entering the U.S. cannot be discounted.
There are 2 to 3 persons in Juarez employed at the junkyard who o
have received estimated whole body doses in the range of 100 to 450 One such individual is a 16 year old male who stood very rem.
close to the source at his work station.
This individual also likely received biologically significant extremity doses. These individuals are being treated on an outpatient basis.
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9808190130 840213 PDR I&E PNO-RV-84-002 PDR L __ _____ ___
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0 In addition, another individual who had contact with the source is showing severe radiation burns on one hand.
I o
As estimated 200 persons may have received significant doses which merit further evaluation. Most are members of the public.
Workers at the foundries where the Co-60 was mixed with scrap metal o
that was melted may have been exposed to airborne contamination in the form of contaminated metal fumes as well as to direct radiation. There is one whole body counter located in Mexico and i
that is located in Mexico City.
o The pickup truck in which the teletherapy source was breached is impounded in Juarez.
It reads about 50R/hr at 1 meter. The dose rate at 100 meters which is about the boundary of the impoundment is 10 mR/hr. The impoundment adjoins a public park. The impoundment is patrolled. The truck had been parked in close proximity to a house in a residential area for a period of up to 2 months.
.o CNSNS staff in Juarez have a limited amount of field radiation detection instruments. They have no laboratory capability in Juarez.
Initial OSP and Region V staff-assessments of these data are that extremely serious health physics problems exists in Juarez. CNSNS staff are competent.and receptive to recommendations but are limited by staff and equipment resources.
In addition, recommended medical procedures would call for specialized hospitalization for the most seriously exposed individuals.
In light of these developments radiation monitoring at U.S. border crossing points is not sufficient to provide adequate assurance that additional contamination, either in the form of products or pellets, will not enter the U.S.
Notwithstanding Mr. Yuhas' visit, as of Saturday, February 11, 1984, Mexican authorities have not accepted formal offers of assistance from the U.S.
Contact:
J. Lubenau, OSP 49-29837 J. Hornor, Region V, FTS 463-3760 Distribution:
Chairman Palladino S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Gilinsky C; C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Roberts H. H. Plaine, GC Commissioner Asselstine i
Commissioner Bernthal W. J. Dircks, EDO R. DeYoung, IE J. Fouchard, PA H. Denton, NRR L. Cobb, IE J. Davis, NMSS G. Gunningham, ELD All Regions C. Heltemes, Jr., AE00 R. Minogue, RES Revision 1 2/7/84 1
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l-Originator i
G. W. Kerr, OSP D. A. Nussbaumer, OSP J. Saltzman, OSP J. Crooks, AE0D 1
Non-Routine Event file (Orig. + Icc) (0SP) l SAReadingFile(OSP) l All SA Staff DCS/PDR M/S W548
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K. Black, AE00 All RSLO's All RSAR's R. Hartfield, RM J. Hornor, Region V G. Yuhas,-Region V'
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