PNO-I-93-072, on 931220,Region I Notified That Radiation Monitor Alarmed on 931212.Source of Radiation in 2x2x3 Bondle of Scrap Steel Was Located When Preparing to Load Charge Bucket at Facility.Commonwealth of Ma Notified
| ML20058P930 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/22/1993 |
| From: | Bondick J, Pasciak W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990001-931222 PNO-I-93-072, PNO-I-93-72, NUDOCS 9312280017 | |
| Download: ML20058P930 (2) | |
d' DCS No:
99990001931212 Date:
December 22,1993 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN1-9372 This preliminary notincation constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The infonnation is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.
Facility:
Licensee Emergency Classification:
Lukens Steel Company Notification of Unusual Event Coatesville, Pennsylvania Alert (Non-Licensee)
Site Area Emergency General Emergency X
Not Applicable Docket Na.
N/A License No.
N/A Event M..
None Event Locuion Ne: MAT
Subject:
SOURCE OF RADIATION FOUND IN SCRAP STEEL BUNDLE On December 20,1993, the NRC Region I staff was notined by a representative of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER), Southeastern Regional Office, that a radiation monitor alanned on December 12,1993 at Lukens Steel Company. A source of radiation in a 2'x2'x3' bundle of semp steel weighing 1 to 2 tons was located when they were preparing to load a charge bucket at their facility. Initial radiation measurements perfonned by Lukens Steel indicated appmximately 5 mR/hr. Subsequently, Lukens Steel contacted a consultant to assist in the resolution of the problem. The consultant visited the site on December 12, and again on December 16. The first survey by the consultant indicated that the contact reading was 20 to 30 mR/hr. On his second visit to t
the site, the consultant utilized instmmentation in an attempt to identify the mdioactive material. The source has not been quantified and the consultant has ruled out the presence of mdium, cesium-137, and cobalt-60. As reponed by the consultant, the preliminary analysis of the source in the steel indicates the presence of purified uranium-238, which he believes to be a shield or slug.
The steel bundle containing the source has been moved by a magnet to another rail car. This rail car has been moved to a remote area of the site and secured. The area has been cordoned off and posted. A survey of the exterior of the rail car indicates a dose mte of 0.15 millimentgen per hour. Personnel have been advised to avoid the area, according to Lukens Steel Company procedures.
i NRC Region I staff has been infonned by DER representatives that the contaminated steel bundle will be returned to the sender, Recycle Metals, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, today. NRC Region I staff will be sent to Recycle Metals to follow the actions taken and planned by Recycle Metals to detennine the identity and eventual proper disposition of the radioactive material, j
-l 1
2700 9 9312280017 931222 PDR ILE u'
PND-I-93-072 PDR 7
1 s
i S DCS No:
99990001931212 Date:
December 22,1993 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN1-9372 On December 21,1993, NRC Region I staff were also notified of a second shipment to Lukens Steel that was rejected on December 20,1993, due to the alanning of their radiation monitor. This material was apparently received from a facility in Boston named Ogden - Manin. Lukens Steel informed NRC that the shipment was returned to Ogden - Martin.
NRC staff are following both of these incidences. The Commomvealth of Massachusetts has been notified.
Region I Public Affairs officers are prepared to respond to media inquires.
This notification is current as of December 22,1993.
CONTACT:
J. M. Bondick W. J. Pasciak (215) 337-6951 (215) 337-5258 DISTRIBUTION:
OWFN MNBB L-St.
EI, Mail:
ADM:DMB Chainnan Selin AEOD PDR RES DOT:Tr ms only**
Comm. Rogers IRM Comm. Remick OIG NRC Ops Ctr Comm. de Planque i
OCAA INPO** b 0[/h OIP NSAC** () I ofh Phillips OCA EDO ACRS OGC NMSS OPA NRR** (Phone Verif: A. Byrdsong 964-1168 or 964-1166)
OE OSP Regional Offices RI Resident Office EWW OIG Licensee:
(Reactor Licensees)
" General but for kendmg P% by F AX Region I Fonn 83
(.Rev. August 1993) 4