The following was received from the state via e-mail:
On Saturday, 02/19/2005, 1430 CST, the licensee's representative received notification that a technician had lost a Troxler Model 4640-B, Thin layer Density Gauge, S/N 1880. The device contains a double encapsulated source of 10mCi of Cs-137 that was last leak tested on 12/09/04. The source rod handle was padlocked and key was removed according to the technician. The shipping/transport case was lost in the Brownsville, TX area where it was being used at a temporary jobsite.
Per company protocol and as discussed during loss notification to TX DSHS, a $500.00 'no-questions-asked' reward for the recovery of the device to be issued to area media outlets.
Texas Incident No: I-8213
- * * UPDATE FROM R. JISHA TO J. KNOKE AT 12:41 EST ON 2/23/05 * * *
The gauge was apparently lost off the back of a pick-up truck at a job site in the vicinity of FR511 and EXPWY. 77 an incorporated area northwest of Brownsville proper. Since the gauge was not secured in the case which was secured to the vehicle, it was not lost but presumably the device had bounced off the truck on a rough section of road. Multiple attempts were made to retrace the route but none were successful in recovering the device. The manufacture (Troxler) has been notified.
Notified R4DO (D. Powers) and
NMSS (S. Moore) and
CNSNS Mexico via fax.