PNO-III-97-033, on 970407,radioactive Scrap Metal & Radium Instrument Dials Found at Cozzi Iron & Metal,Chicago Il.Shop Accepts Shipments of Scrap Metal for Recycling.Us EPA Region V Notified
| ML20137Q940 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/14/1997 |
| From: | Lickus R, Jeffery Lynch NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-97-033, PNO-III-97-33, NUDOCS 9704110177 | |
| Download: ML20137Q940 (2) | |
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- ADril 14, 1997 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-97-033 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 C0ZZI IRON AND METAL Notification of Unusual Event Cozzi Iron And Metal Alert Chicago. Illinois Site Area Emergency License No: NON-LICENSEE General Emergency X Not Applicable l
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Subject:
RADI0 ACTIVE SCRAP METAL AND RADIUM INSTRUMENT DIALS FOUND i
On April 10, 1997, the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (IDNS) informed NRC Region III (Chicago) that on April 7,1997, a truck with a load of scrap metal set off a radiation monitor at Cozzi Iron and Metal, i
Chicago, Illinois. The shop accepts shipments of scrap metal for recycling.
IDNS inspectors went to the shop and found several items in the scrap metal shipment with detectable levels of contamination: a lead shield in a coffee can with a thickness of about two inches yielding a contact i
radiation level of.7 millirem per hour (mR/hr) from cobalt-60; a cylinder with wires yielding a contact radiation level of 3.8 mR/hr from radium-226: a test tube with a stopper containinc everal metal pieces yielding a contact radiation level of 80 mR/hr f sm radium-226: and two one-inch cubes labeled " source top" which was yielding a contact radiation level of 12 mR/hr from radium-226.
IDNS inspectors surveyed the driver and truck and found no contamination.
The contaminated scrap metal items were put in a sealed container and placed in a locked building at the shop.
On April 8,1997. IDNS inspectorn accompanied by City of Chicago police officers and a staff person from the Chicago Environmental Health Department went to a private residence in Chicago where the shipment of scrap metal had originated. The inspectors surveyed the inside of the house, a garage and a vehicle and founc no contamiation. However, they did find approximately 30 old radium instrument dials. Outside of the house, a small amount of dirt was found to be contaminated. The contaminated dirt and radium dials were taken by the IDNS inspectors to an IDNS office for proper securing and disposition.
The NRC Region III Agreements State Officer will monitor the IDNS investigation of the contaminated items.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V (Chicago) has been b
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notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety.
This information is current as of 10:00 a.m. on April 11, 1997.
Contact:
JAMES LYNCH ROLAND LICKUS (630)829-9661 (630)829-9660 l
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