PNO-III-97-020, on 970310,Cs-137 Source Found on Property of Marion Steel Co,Marion,Oh.Marion Steel Employees Found Source on 970307,under Eight Inches of Dirt Near Co Roadway During Routine Radiation Survey of Empty Rail Car

PNO-III-97-020:on 970310,Cs-137 Source Found on Property of Marion Steel Co,Marion,Oh.Marion Steel Employees Found Source on 970307,under Eight Inches of Dirt Near Co Roadway During Routine Radiation Survey of Empty Rail Car

ML20138F539
Person / Time
Site:	03019814
Issue date:	03/11/1997
From:	Madera J, Wiedeman D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-97-020, PNO-III-97-20, NUDOCS 9705050434
Download: ML20138F539 (2)

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RECEIVED March 11. 1997 1997 NG l2 PM 2: I4 '

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OPlRflBlD06Upg@U@@{CURRENCE PN0-III-97-020 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region III staff (Lisle, Illinois) on this date. '

Facility Licensee Emergency Classification MARION STEEL COMPANY Notification of Unusual Event Marion Steel Company Alert Marion,0hio Site Area Emergency License No: 34-21123-01 General Emergency X Not Applicable l

Subject:

CESIUM-137 SOURCE FOUND r

At 1:00 p.m. on March 10, 1997, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) '

informed NRC Region III (Chicago) that a 500 millicurie (18.5 gigabequerel (GBq)) cesium-137 source was found on the property of Marion  :

Steel Company, Marion Ohio. Marion Steel employees found the source on

{

l March 7,1997, under eight inches of dirt near a company roadway during a j routine radiation survey of an empty rail car, Survey readings of the 1 area indicated radiation levels above normal. Consequently, the employees isolated the location and dug up the area with the elevated readings and found the source. The source was intact and sealed. Licensee personnel proceeded to place the source inside a steel pipe and took the source to a secured building.

On March 10,-1997, the licensee contacted the Ohio Department of Health I (ODH). ODH dispatched health physicists to the location with radiation detection and shielding equipment. The ODH health physicists found the source to be reading approximately 60 rem per hour (.6 sieverts (Sv)) on contact and proceeded to place the source into a lead shielding container.

i i The lead container and source have been secured in the licensee's i facility and access has been restricted to the area, Marion Steel Company was licensed by the NRC in the 1980's to possess 500 millicurie (18.5 GBq) cesium-137 sources for nuclear gauges. Currently, 4 the company holds a specific NRC license for possession of cobalt-60 F

9705050434 970311 N -I 97-020 PDR tE3Y Oh

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PNO-III-97-020 30urces in gauging devices. Nuclear gauges are used by the licensee to measure the level of molten steel.

Region III has dispatched two radiation specialists to the licensee's facility to evaluate the incident. Regional personnel will conduct radiation surveys, interview licensee personnel, evaluate personnel radiation exposure and inspect the security of the source.

The NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and the NRC Operations Officer have been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with licensee management.

This information is current as of 8:00 a.m. (CST) on March 11, 1997.

Contact:

JOHN MADERA DARREL WIEDEMAN (630)829-9834 (630)829-9808 i

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