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The following is a summary of information provided via email from the State of Arkansas: On February 7, 2014, the Environmental Manager of Republic Services, Inc. contacted the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) to inform the State that a gate radiation monitor at a landfill near Bauxite, AR had alarmed for an incoming garbage truck. ADH sent three health physicists to inspect the truck. Initial surveys indicated the highest reading on contact on the bottom of the truck of 3.7 mR/hr. ADH was unable to identify the specific isotope. The truck was isolated and ADH returned on February 10, 2014 to survey and evaluate the material on the truck. ADH observed removal of the trash from the truck and identified a vacuum cleaner bag inside a bag of trash that contained the radioactive material. The vacuum cleaner bag was removed and placed in a five gallon plastic bucket which was posted and securely stored in a storage room at the landfill. The survey readings on the side of the bucket were 20 mR/hr. ADH returned on February 12, 2014 to survey the vacuum cleaner bag and evaluate for radioactive decay. The plastic bucket continued to read 20 mR/hr on contact. Further radiation surveys showed highest reading on contact with the plastic bucket were 42 mR/hr and 200 mR/hr localized near the bottom of the vacuum cleaner bag. ADH notified Republic Services, Inc. of the necessity to hire a consultant for identification and disposal of the radioactive material. ADH plans to be present when the consultant is onsite. Arkansas Report Number: AR-2014-002

• * * UPDATE FROM KAYLA AVERY TO DANIEL MILLS VIA EMAIL ON 6/25/14 AT 1107 EDT * * *

On March 7, 2014, Chase Environmental Group arrived at the Saline County Landfill, owned by Republic Services, Inc. that is located in Bauxite, Arkansas. The vacuum cleaner bag was opened and the Radioactive Waste Specialists attempted to analyze the material. However, the Exploranium meter could not identify the radionuclide. The material was packaged and transported by Chase Environmental Group to Teledyne Brown Engineering in Knoxville, Tennessee for sampling and disposal. A report from Chase Environmental Group was received on June 20, 2014, which stated that the material contained Cobalt-56, but the activity could not be determined. The Department (ADH) was also not able to determine where this radioactive material came from or how the material got into the public domain. The Arkansas Department of Health considers this incident to be closed." Notified R4DO (Allen) and FSME Events Resource email.

The following information was provided by the state via email:

Nucor-Yamato Steel in Blytheville, Arkansas reported to the Arkansas Radiation Control Program on December 19, 2011, that a sealed source containing radioactive material had been found in a load of scrap metal received at their facility. The broker for this load of scrap metal was The David J. Joseph Company. The load of scrap originated in Louisiana. Survey readings on contact with the source using a sodium iodide detector were 1.0 mR/hr. Smears taken and counted using a thin window GM detector in the field indicates that the source does not appear to be leaking. The source has a glass covered flange end approximately 1.125" diameter, with a fitting on the back side of approximately 0.5" diameter. Overall length is approximately 1.0". No identifying marks have been found at this time. The source was contained within a small can, secured within a locked storage room. The steel mill is awaiting a consultant to pick-up, identify and dispose of the source.

The following information was received via email: At approximately 0830 on the morning of November 18, 2009, the RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of Terracon Consulting Inc. (ARK-0820-03121) reported the theft of a Troxler 3440 Moisture Density gauge (SN#27140) from a construction site at the Two Pines landfill in Jacksonville, Arkansas. The gauge contained an 9 mCi Cesium-137 source and a 44 mCi Americium-241/Beryllium source. According to the RSO, the gauge had been secured with two independent chains to the rear rack of an all terrain vehicle (ATV), which in turn was locked inside of a cargo shipping container after work was halted on November 17, 2009. When personnel arrived at the construction site at approximately 0700 on the 18th, they noted that the lock on the cargo container had been cut and that the ATV and gauge were missing. Local and state law enforcement were notified. At approximately 1340 on that same day, the Jacksonville Police Department reported that the gauge had been found along a roadside in Pulaski County. The gauge was examined by Department personnel and appeared to be undamaged, wipes tests were taken to further verify that the sources were not leaking. Terracon personnel were then allowed to take possession the gauge. The (Arkansas Department of Health) will keep this incident open pending the receipt of a report and corrective actions from the licensee. Arkansas Incident Number: 11-09-01

* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT PEMBERTON TO DONG PARK AT 1621 ON 12/22/09 * * * 

The following report was received via e-mail: The following are the findings of the Arkansas Department of Health, Radioactive Materials Program, concerning event Number 45509 involving the theft and recovery of a Troxler 3440 moisture/density gauge from Terracon Consulting Inc. From information provided by Terracon Consulting Inc. the Department has determined that the gauge was apparently undamaged and the sources were not leaking. The Department has received corrective actions from Terracon Consulting Inc., dated December 18, 2009, and found them to be adequate. The Department considers this incident to be closed. Notified R4DO (Walker), FSME (Villamar), and ILTAB (e-mail). 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