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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 43248 | 16 March 2007 04:00:00 | Information Only | Orphan Source Found in State of Pennsylvania During Scrap Metal Recycling | A truck carrying a load of scrap metal set off a rad alarm at a metal recycling facility. The truck returned to its origin (Kampner Iron and Steel) where the source of the radioactivity was found to be a TN Technologies gauge Model 5191 (Serial number B927) containing a 200 millicurie source of Cs-137. TN Technologies was contacted and it was determined that the gauge was purchase under a general license by Rapco Inc of Tennessee in 1977. It is believed that the gauge was used for process measurements of fluidized coal flow. A health physics contractor for Kampner Iron and Steel (Applied Health Physics) and a representative for the State of Pennsylvania were present when the gauge was recovered. Field testing indicated that the source was intact and no contamination present. The gauge was place in a drum and locked in a secured location at Kampner Iron and Steel and posted per regulations. Based on radiation measurements, the health physics contractor does not believe that the source resulted in any personnel exposures. Kampner Steel has been in contact with TN Technologies on options for retrieval of the gauge. Investigation into the status of Rapco Inc and how the gauge wound up as scrap are also in progress. The NRC Region 1 Office (Lodhi) has been notified. THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Less than Cat 3 event. Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 3" is different than the calculated value "Less than Cat 3 | ||
| ENS 43205 | 1 March 2007 05:00:00 | Information Only | Orphan General License Source Discovered at Scrap Metal Dealer | A scrap metal dealer, Sims Hugo Neu, discovered a radioactive source during metal sorting activities at their facility. The source is identified as a Krypton-85 Ohmart Gauge; S/N 2862 B X; Source Holder ID BAL; SO# NJ 940602681B. The activity of the source was 65 milliCuries on 10/94. The owner of the source is currently unknown. The source was received at the dealer from a "feeder facility" and so the origin of scrap is not easily traced. The scrap dealer notified the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. New Jersey has been in contact with NRC Region 1 (D. White and D. Janda) and is attempting to track the owner via the serial number. The source has been isolated and secured. Sims Hugo Neu is located at 1 Linden Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey is reporting this for information only. THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source | ||
| ENS 40527 | 17 February 2004 15:27:00 | Information Only | Radioactive Material Discovered at Landfill | West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) notified the NRC Operations Center that at 1022 hrs. EST on 2/17/04, they received a call from Northwest Landfill, Waste Management, Inc., located on Drybranch Road in Parkersburg, W.VA., stating that a truck full of household refuse alarmed a radiation monitor at the landfill. WVBPH responded to the landfill and took radiation measurements on the outside of the vehicle. The highest dose measured was 1200 microRem/hr. The truck was dumped and the trash searched until the source of the radiation was discovered. The inspectors discovered a metallic object approximately 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide that was the source. The object was odd-shaped and its use and origin is unknown. The material was bagged and isolated at the landfill where it will remain to decay away. Radiation readings at 1cm were 5000 microRem/hr. Spectrum analysis indicates that the material is an iodine, possibly Iodine-131. Notified R1DO (Henderson). | ||
| ENS 40274 | 1 October 2003 05:00:00 | Information Only | Radioactive Source Discovered in Surplus Vehicle | On 10/01/03, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) office in Oklahoma City, OK obtained a van from government surplus. When they received the vehicle, they discovered a Shimadzu series GC-14A gas chromatograph in the back of the van. The chromatograph contains a 10 milliCurie nickel-63 source. USGS contacted the van's previous owner but was not able to return the chromatograph. The chromatograph is presently secured in locked storage. USGS will leak test the source and return the chromatograph to the manufacturer for proper disposal. |