PNO-IV-97-004, on 970108,Region IV Was Notified by State of AR That Radioactive Container Was Detected in Shipment of Scrap at Nucor Steel in Blytheville,Ar.State of AR Investigating How Many People Handled Container
| ML20133E083 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/08/1997 |
| From: | Cain C, Hackney C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-97-004, PNO-IV-97-4, NUDOCS 9701100187 | |
| Download: ML20133E083 (1) | |
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- January 8,1997 1
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-97-004
- 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 1 known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date. '
l' Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification 4 Arkasas Agreement State Notification of Unusual Event Nurco Steel Alert Blytheville, Arkansas Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
AGREEMENT STATE NOTIFICATION - RADIOACTIVE CONTAINER DISCOVERED IN SCRAP METAL SHIPMENT ,
I Region IV was notified by the state of Arkansas on January 8,1997, that i i a radioactive container was detected in a shipment of scrap at NUCOR
- Steel, located in Blytheville, Arkansas. The container does not have any identifying labels or information and is approximately 5 inches in diameter (described as being about the size of an automobile oil filter).
The material was shipped to NUCOR Steel from Southern Scrap located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Southern Scrap dispatched their consultant, Sun
- Track, to NUCOR Steel and performed a swipe test for external contamination which indicated no external radioactive contamination. A radiological survey was performed and the container read 200 mr/h on contact. Sun Track and NUCOR Steel plan to fabricate a container which would reduce exposure to persons handling the material. Present plans by 1 Sun Track are to contact Hake in Memphis, Tennessee (Hake has assisted i 4
NUCOR Steelin similar situations in the past) to determine what l isotope (s) are in the container and assist in final disposition of the I radioactive source. NUCOR Steel may complete required DOT paper work, and l the container fabrication for shipment by January 15,1997.
f The state of Arkansas is continuing their investigation into the origin of the radioactive material and how many people may have handled the container.
i The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 6 has been notified.
The EPA Region 6 office is the lead federal agency for this event.
4 a This information is current as of 2:10 p.m. CDT, January 8,1997.
Region IV has notified OSP, NMSS, OCA and EPA Region 6.
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Contact:
Charles Hackney Charles Cain (817)860-8267 (817)860-8186 l )( (: 4- Mhk y um t 3 9701100187 970108 PDR I&E
%3N y PNO-IV-97-004 PDR Ol