PNO-I-97-028, A:on 970510,tritium Uptake from Broken Exit Sign Update Made.Representatives from Nrc,State of Nj & DOE Involved in Ongoing Response.Nrc Will Conduct Insps to Followup on Apparent Loss of Control of generally-licensed
| ML20141B894 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/15/1997 |
| From: | Courtemanche S, Ullrich B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-97-028A, PNO-I-97-28A, NUDOCS 9705160053 | |
| Download: ML20141B894 (1) | |
_ _ _ _ _ _.
p
- May 15, 1997 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-I-97-028A
.. yq . i This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of PO3SIBLE ccfety or public interest significance. The information is as initially rocsived without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region I staff in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this date.
Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification i Nona Notification of Unusual Event
! Private Home Alert Union,New Jersey Site Area Emergency Dockets: 99990001 General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
UPDATE: TRITIUM UPTAKE FROM BROKEN EXIT SIGN On Saturday, May 10, 1997, at 3:30 p.m., the NRC was notified by the l' State of New Jersey that a 16-year-old male in Union, New Jersey, had contaminated himself and his home after he dismantled tubes from an
" EXIT" sign containing tritium. Representatives from the NRC, the State of New Jersey and the Department of Energy (DOE) are involved in the ongoing response. Initial estimates of committed dose based on the boy's urino samples collected from Saturday through Tuesday range from 60 to 280 millirem. His uptake of tritium is continuing to be evaluated.
Survey results identified contamination in the boy's room, located in the basement,. ranging from several thousand disintegrations per minute (dpm) to 50,000 dpm per wipe. A wipe sample of the desk and a wipe sample from the knobs of a CD player each exceeded 100,000 dpm. The State of New Jersey arranged for a contractor to clean the contaminated areas beginning Wednesday, May 14. The family was moved to a hotel until cleaning is completed, which is expected within 5 days.
t The NRC confirmed that only three generally-licensed tritium " EXIT" signs are known to be distributed to the building at 1200 Commerce Avenue. DOE representatives confirmed that two intact signs were collected from the boy, and several broken tubes and a glass panel from a third sign. The signs were originally purchased in the 1980's by Company A, who manufactured automotive lights. The building was sold to Company B in 1987 which used it as a warehouse. In 1997, the building was purchased by Company C, who demolished the building and plans to build residential housing at the location. Neither Company B nor Company C were aware that
" EXIT" signs in the building contained tritium. Workers for Company C had placed the " EXIT" signs in a dumpster with other building rubble for disposal during the week of May 4, as part of the ongoing demolition.
Representatives of all three companies have been contacted by the NRC.
NRC Headquarters and Region I staff will continue to advise and assist the State of New Jersey officials. The NRC Region I Public Affairs
- Office issued a press release on May 12, 1997 and is prepared to address press inquiries. The NRC will conduct inspections to followup on the e cpparent loss of control of the generally-licensed material.
i This notification is current as of 2:00 p.m. On May 12, 1997.
Contact:
Betsy Ullrich Steven Courtemanche l (610)337-5040 (610)337-5075 /
0 9705160053 970515 PDR I&E PNO-I-97-028A PDR