ENS 55645
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Dec 14, 2021 | |
| Title | Unauthorized Disposal of Radioactive Materials |
| Event Description | The following information was received by the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control (the Agency) via email:
On 12/14/21, the Agency spoke with a representative of Alabama Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Auburn, Alabama regarding information in a letter related to disposal of an ECD [electron capture detector]. The representative confirmed that the ECD was incinerated by an unauthorized/unlicensed company. The Agency is continuing to investigate. The Veterinary Diagnostic lab does not have a specific license; the Agency has identified it as GL registration no. 15. The device was manufactured by Varian, with source model 02-001972-00, nominal activity of 15 millicuries of nickel-63. AL incident no.: 21-35 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
The State closed out this incident on May 4, 2022. The source, originally 15 mCi on 10/1999, is ascertained to have been incinerated by MedSharp Disposal on 12/6/2021. Remnants of incineration were transported to a Waste Management class 1 landfill in Campbelton, Florida. Chase Environmental Group was contracted to survey and characterize contamination of the incinerator. Contamination attributable to niclel-63 was found inside the incinerator, estimated activity 6 to 13 microcuries. It is believed that the majority, if not all remaining, of source activity is in the landfill. Chase Environmental reported that remaining material would not result in an average member of the critical group receiving over 0.016 mrem/year, and that it is highly unlikely that a member of the public would receive over 10 mrem/year from nickel-63 present in air emissions. The incinerator was free-released for use. The Alabama Office of Radiation Control issued a violation of severity category IV to Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. NMED item number 210541. Notified R1DO (Lally) and NMSS_Events_Notification and ILTAB via e-mail. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Auburn, Alabama (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 15 |
| Organization: | Alabama Radiation Control |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+11.57 h0.482 days <br />0.0689 weeks <br />0.0158 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Cason Coan 17:34 Dec 14, 2021 |
| NRC Officer: | Brian Lin |
| Last Updated: | May 4, 2022 |
| 55645 - NRC Website | |
Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 556452021-12-14T06:00:00014 December 2021 06:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Unauthorized Disposal of Radioactive Materials 2021-12-14T06:00:00 | |