ENS 51192
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Jun 29, 2015 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Missing Radioactive Material In Transit |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email:
Worcester Polytechnic Institute reported on 6/30/15 that a shipment of one Selenium-75 (1 curie) and two Ytterbium-169 (1.76 curies together) brachytherapy sealed sources arrived as an empty package (no radioactive material was within the package). The received Yellow-II labeled cardboard package was visibly damaged and resealed with clear shipping tape. Survey of the received package determined background radiation readings. Carrier, shipper and various government agencies have been contacted. Search for missing items is ongoing. Radiation from the unshielded sources expected to be approximately 1 R/hr at one meter distance. Agency [MA Radiation Control Program] to perform on-site investigation in Worcester today . HOO NOTE: Also reported by the common carrier to the National Response Center on 6/29/15 [Incident Report # 1121358] and by the State of Louisiana [EN # 51191].
The following update was received from the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program via email: Agency [Massachusetts Department of Public Health - Radiation Control Program] (MADPH-RCP) conducted investigation at receiving licensee facility on 6/30/15. Agency also conducted radiation surveys on 7/1/15 at the three carrier facilities in Massachusetts through which the package passed. No sources were identified and all radiation readings were at background levels. The three sources have been described by shipper as titanium capsules approximately 5 mm long and 1 mm diameter. Each source may still be individually contained within an approximate 1.5 inch tall glass vial with teal-colored plastic screw-on cap, each vial with white label taped to outside of vial describing the contents. The receiving licensee ordered a 0.2 curie Se-75 source (same physical description) and it is unknown at this time which Se-75 activity amount (0.2 or 1 curie) was shipped. Notified the R1DO (Dimitriadis), ILTAB (Johnson) and NMSS Events (via Email)
The following update from the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program was sent via email: The shipper (i.e. SPEC) provided clarification that, contrary to the activities identified in shipping papers, one Yb-169 source was actually approximately 1.74 curies, another Yb-169 source was actually approximately 1.77 curies and the third source, Se-75 was approximately 207 millicuries. The sources continue to be missing. Notified the R1DO (Cahill), ILTAB (Johnson) and NMSS Events (via email). 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massachusetts (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 03-6802 |
| Organization: | Ma Radiation Control Program |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+32.28 h1.345 days <br />0.192 weeks <br />0.0442 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Tony Carpenito 12:17 Jun 30, 2015 |
| NRC Officer: | Steve Sandin |
| Last Updated: | Jul 7, 2015 |
| 51192 - NRC Website | |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 511922015-06-29T04:00:00029 June 2015 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Missing Radioactive Material in Transit 2015-06-29T04:00:00 | |