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The following information was received by the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control (the Agency) via email: On 12/14/21, the Agency spoke with a representative of Alabama Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Auburn, Alabama regarding information in a letter related to disposal of an ECD (electron capture detector). The representative confirmed that the ECD was incinerated by an unauthorized/unlicensed company. The Agency is continuing to investigate. The Veterinary Diagnostic lab does not have a specific license; the Agency has identified it as GL registration no. 15. The device was manufactured by Varian, with source model 02-001972-00, nominal activity of 15 millicuries of nickel-63. AL incident no.: 21-35 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

• * * UPDATE ON 5/4/22 FROM CASON COAN TO KARL DIEDERICH VIA E-MAIL * * *

The State closed out this incident on May 4, 2022. The source, originally 15 mCi on 10/1999, is ascertained to have been incinerated by MedSharp Disposal on 12/6/2021. Remnants of incineration were transported to a Waste Management class 1 landfill in Campbelton, Florida. Chase Environmental Group was contracted to survey and characterize contamination of the incinerator. Contamination attributable to niclel-63 was found inside the incinerator, estimated activity 6 to 13 microcuries. It is believed that the majority, if not all remaining, of source activity is in the landfill. Chase Environmental reported that remaining material would not result in an average member of the critical group receiving over 0.016 mrem/year, and that it is highly unlikely that a member of the public would receive over 10 mrem/year from nickel-63 present in air emissions. The incinerator was free-released for use. The Alabama Office of Radiation Control issued a violation of severity category IV to Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. NMED item number 210541. Notified R1DO (Lally) and NMSS_Events_Notification and ILTAB via e-mail.

The following information was received from the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control via email: On April 20, 2021 about 1130 (EDT), Alabama licensee Building and Earth Sciences, Inc. (license number 1266) called to report that a moisture density gauge had been run over by a compactor while at a temporary job site. The licensee's representative stated that the gauge was in several pieces, and the source rod/probe could not be retracted into the safe shielded position. The licensee collected a leak test once the gauge was safely stored; exposure measurements from the leak test envelope were less than or equal to background. The gauge is a Troxler 3430 s/n 32716, with 9 milliCuries Cs-137 and 44 milliCuries Am-241:Be. The Agency is waiting on the licensee's report of this matter. More information to follow. Alabama Report No.: 21-12

• * * UPDATE ON 5/19/21 AT 1109 EDT FROM MYRON K. RILEY TO LLOYD DESOTELL * * *

The following is a summary of information that was received from the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control (the Department) via E-mail: The Department has reviewed the licensee's actions to mitigate the consequences of this event as well as their proposed corrective actions. The licensee's corrective actions include stressing radiation safety to their technicians during regularly scheduled meetings. The Department indicates that these actions appear appropriate. The dosimeter results for the gauge operator have not been received at this time. The Department considers this matter closed. Notified R1DO (Greives) and NMSS Events Notification via email.

The following information was received from the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control (the Agency) via email: Issue discovered 6/30/2022, during inspection. The licensee did not report to the Agency at the time of occurrence. The dose to patient was evaluated as a result of a wrong dose on 7/8/2022. (On 3/11/2020,) the patient was prescribed 15 mCi of Tc-99m sestamibi/Cardiolite; the patient received 24.28 mCi of Tc-99m MDP (methyl diphosphonate). The licensee reported that the nuclear medicine technician did not adequately verify dose labeling, and has been retrained in procedures. (This) appears to result in an effective dose of 512.068 mrem, and dose to bone surfaces of 5659.668 mrem. AL incident no.: 22-10

• * * UPDATE ON 9/01/2022 AT 1634 EDT FROM ALABAMA OFFICE OF RADIATION CONTROL TO KAREN COTTON * * *

Cause and Corrective Actions (States and licensees' actions) Licensee reported that the nuclear medicine tech was advised to double check dose labels prior to patient dosing. Licensee also stated personnel were unaware of misadministration reporting requirements (misadministration found during Agency inspection). Event closed Notified NMSS DAY (Rivera-Cappella) and R1DO (Gray) and via email: NMSS Event Notification A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.