Licensee: Pacific EcoSolutions
LLC (PEcoS) - Richland,
Washington
City and State: Richland, Washington
PEcoS Radioactive Materials license Number: WN-I0393-1
Type of License: Industrial- Radioactive Waste Processor
Date and Time of Event: The licensee (PEcoS) notified the Department of Health on November 10, at approximately 5:00pm.
Location of Event: The leaking container was found on a shipment that arrived at the PEcoS facility at 2025 Battelle Blvd. Richland, Washington
Involved Persons: Pacific EcoSolutions LLC (PEcoS) - Richland, Washington, ADCO Services, Inc.-Tinley Park, Illinois
ABSTRACT: (where, when, how, why; cause, contributing factors, corrective actions, consequences, Dept. of Health (DOH) on-site investigation; media attention):
On Thursday November 10, 2005 the Department of Health was notified by the licensee that a shipment from ADCO Services, Inc. arrived at their facility. During offloading of the packages one drum on the shipment was found to be leaking liquid. The leak was not contained to the inside of the closed trailer. Evidence of the leak was also seen on the underside of the trailer's wood floor and undercarriage. The I beam of the trailer was visibly stained. There was no evidence that the container had tipped over.
The shipping papers for this load indicated that the shipping date from ADCO was 29 October 2005 and that the drum contained approximately 21.0 millicuries of tritium. The physical and chemical form is listed as solid NETA Plates. The container was shipped as Radioactive Material - Limited Quantity. The generator of the waste was identified as Agouron Pharmaceuticals located in San Diego, California.
The shipment arrived in Richland and was parked at a local hotel for approximately 5 days prior to arriving at the PEcoS facility. The department identified the location where the trailer was parked and have obtained samples of parking lot material and performed paper smear surveys. The licensee also obtained samples and performed smear surveys. Initial results showed contamination levels in the parking lot and on the frame of the trailer as 3,000 4,000 dpm/100 cm2. The contamination on the trailer floor prior to removal was approximately 118,000 dpm/cm2.
Discussions with ADCO indicated that a container from the same lot of drums was found leaking at the time of shipment preparation. That drum was over-packed (put into a larger drum and filled with sorbent material) and shipped. ADCO had also indicated that the drums from this generator were new and not reconditioned. According to ADCO, the generator of this waste is no longer in business. It was sold to another pharmaceutical company. ADCO also indicated that the containers from this company was picked up in California and trucked to the Illinois facility. The drums were at the Illinois facility for approximately 4-5 months after arrival.
This shipment entered the state of Washington through the Spokane Port of Entry, however personnel at the Port who conducted an inspection of the truck, including the undercarriage did not observe any leakage.
Corrective Actions:
The shipper (ADCO) has been notified that they are not to ship to the state of Washington until further notice. They must submit a root cause analysis, and a quality assurance program acceptable to the department that assures further shipments into the state of Washington will be in full compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations, as well as the PEcoS license.
No known media attention yet.
Notification Reporting Criteria: WAC 246-221-160.
Isotope and Activity involved: Tritium, 7.9039 E+2 MBq (21.362 millicuries).
Overexposures? (number of workers/members of the public; dose estimate; body part receiving dose; consequence): None
Lost, Stolen or Damaged? Not Applicable.
Disposition/recovery: Unknown
Leak test? Not Applicable
Vehicle: Not Applicable.
Release of activity ? Exact amount unknown
Activity and pharmaceutical compound intended: Not applicable.
Misadministered activity and/or compound received: Not applicable.
Device (HDR, etc.) Mfg., Model; computer program: Not applicable.
Exposure (intended/actual); consequences: Not applicable.
Was patient or responsible relative notified? Not applicable.
Was written report provided to patient? Not applicable
Was referring physician notified? Not applicable
Consultant used? No.