PNO-III-97-026, on 970319,licensee Notified NRC of Missing Chemical Agent Detector (M43A1),containing Sealed Source of 250 Uci of Am-241.Detector Last Seen When Soldier Attempted to Return Detector to Normal Storage Area
| ML20138F317 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03021073 |
| Issue date: | 03/20/1997 |
| From: | Jamnes Cameron, Phillips M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-97-026, PNO-III-97-26, NUDOCS 9705050346 | |
| Download: ML20138F317 (1) | |
..
i RECEIVED im 19 h t 28 W V2 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR ggggEgNO-lll-97-026 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 ill staff (Lisle, Illinois) on this date.
1 Facility Licensee Emergency Classification DEPT, CF THE ARMY ARMAMENT & CHEMICAL Notification of Unusual Event ACQUISITION & LOGISTICS Alert Dept. Of The Army Armament & Chemic Site Area Emergency Rock Island, Illinois General Emergency License No: 12-00722-13 X Not Applicable
Subject:
POSSIBLE MISSING CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTOR l
]
On March 19,1997, the licensee notified the NRC of a missing Chemical Agent Detector (M43A1), containing a sealed source of 250 microcuries (9.25 MBq) of americium-241. The loss occurred inside a company garrison building at Ft. Lewis, Washington, on March 13,1997. The source does not i
represent a significant safety hazard due to its radiological characteristics and sealed form.
j The detector was last seen when a soldier attempted to return the detector to the normal storage area. When he found the area inaccessible, l
he gave the detector to the company supply sergeant who then lost track i
of it. The licensee is continuing to search for tho device. The post military police have been notified. Because of the location of the loss, the licensee believes that there is a high probability of recovery of the j
device.
i NRC Region 111 (Chicago) is monitoring the licensee's investigation into the missing detector.
The Stetes of Illinois and Washington and the NRC Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards have been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with licensee management.
1 The licensee reported the missing detector to the NRC Operations Center at 4:01 p.m. (CST) on March 19,1997. This information is current as of j
l 3:15 p.m. on March 20,1997.
d
Contact:
JAMNES CAMERON MONTE PHILLIPS l
I (630)829-9833 (630)829-9806 1
9705050346 970320 ^
PDR I&E PNO-III-97-026 PDR
\\ E.3Y o/l