ENS 52770
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
14:52 May 24, 2017 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Found Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the State of Texas by email:
On October 16, 1998, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified that a Humboldt model 5001 moisture/density gauge containing a 10 millicurie cesium - 137 and a 40 millicurie americium - 241 source was lost during transport from San Antonio to Laredo, Texas. The gauge was to be delivered to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). A search of the transportation companies warehouses and delivery locations along the transportation route did not find the gauge. The investigation was placed in "Inactive" status. On May 17, 2017, the Agency received an email string showing that a moisture/density gauge was for sale on the internet site 'eBay'. A search of the eBay site found that the gauge serial number matched the serial number of the gauge reported missing in 1998. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was contacted and a request was made for assistance in gathering information on the seller. Using the information gathered by the Agency and the FBI, the Agency was able to contact the seller. The seller removed the posting off of eBay immediately. The seller stated they purchase materials from companies who are going out of business and resell them. The seller stated they did not remember when or where the gauge was purchased. The seller stated they had just moved all the materials they store in a large warehouse into two smaller warehouses and that is when they discovered the gauge. They did some research on the use for the gauge online and decided to sell it. The seller turned the gauge over to TXDOT on May 24, 2017. Dose rates taken on the gauge by TXDOT were normal. The gauge will be leak tested and returned to the manufacturer. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Event #35040 initially reported the event on 11/16/1998 as a lost source while in transit. Texas Incident: I-7394 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 | |
|---|---|
| Humboldt Scientific Raleigh, North Carolina (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | UNKNOWN |
| Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+-2.53 h-0.105 days <br />-0.0151 weeks <br />-0.00347 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Arthur Tucker 12:20 May 24, 2017 |
| NRC Officer: | Vince Klco |
| Last Updated: | May 24, 2017 |
| 52770 - NRC Website | |
Humboldt Scientific with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 527702017-05-24T14:52:00024 May 2017 14:52:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Found Moisture Density Gauge 2017-05-24T14:52:00 | |