REPORT OF LOSS OF NI-63 SOURCES USED IN IMPROVED CHEMICAL AGENT MONITORS
The following was received from the licensee via e-mail:
"The concerned radioactive material is part of an Army Chemical Detection Equipment (CDE) and is called an Improved Chemical Agent Monitor (ICAM) NSN [National Stock Number] 6665-01-357-8502 and Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM), NSN 6665-01-199-4153. Each ICAM and CAM contains 10 mCi of Ni-63. The items with the radioactive material are under US Army NRC License 21-32838-01 issued to the Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). TACOM is located in Warren, MI.
"The reporting was based on 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(ii) (Reports of Theft or Loss of Licensed Material). Licensed material in a quantity greater than 10 times the quantity specified in Appendix C. The quantity specified in Appendix C is 100 microCi. One ICAM/CAM containing 10 mCi is 10,000 microCi. [The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)] had reported nine CDE, but after confirming the serial numbers, we determined that one of the CDE (serial number 11769) was under another NRC license 19-10306-01 issued to the US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) located in Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. This report is for eight CDE under TACOM's NRC license. We have six ICAMs and two CAMs that are lost for a total of 80,000 microCi. The serial numbers for the ICAMs are Z47-M-13972, Z47-M-13526, Z47-M-01859, Z47-M-15832, Z47-M-21980 and Z47-M-18759. The serial numbers for the CAMs are Z16-M-01075 and Z16-M-01025.
"The ICAMs/CAMs are not known to leak and do not have a leak test requirement. The Ni-63 is inside the ICAM/CAM.
"[The RSO] was notified via e-mail on February 19, 2019, at 1545 EST, by the Army Rad waste agency (Joint Munitions Command [JMC] located in Rock Island, IL) of the following:
"'A package containing nine each CDE was in route from APG, Maryland to Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA), Alabama via [a Common Carrier] and was lost in the possession of [the Common Carrier]. The CDE were being sent for demilitarization and eventual disposal of the Ni-63. The subject package was dropped off at [the Common Carrier] in Baltimore, MD on 26 Nov 2018. The tracking system showing the package as 'In [Common Carrier] Possession'.'
"Prior to the notification on February 19, 2019, JMC called PBA shipping and receiving. PBA personnel indicated that subject package was not received at their location. Also, APG personnel traveled to the [Common Carrier] facility where the items were dropped off. Personnel confirmed that the package was not at that facility.
"As of February 19, 2019, JMC indicated that [the Common Carrier] has not formally issued the a statement of loss, but that JMC will continue to track this for APG. It was a Local Project for JMC with ID number of APG 2018-001.
"On February 20, 2019, at 0847 EST, the [RSO] called [the Common Carrier] with the tracking number. [The RSO] spoke to [an individual] who indicated that a case was assigned to the shipment and a claim was put in. [The RSO] was put in contact with the Trace Department, and was then told that the shipment was considered lost. Shipments after 14 days are considered lost."
This event is related to NRC Event Number 53888.
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 |