NRC to Hold Public Meeting in Cleveland on Recent Inspection at Advanced Medical Systems

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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION III 801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532
	CONTACT:	Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663/e-mail: rjs2@nrc.gov
		Angela Greenman (630) 829-9662/e-mail: opa3@nrc.gov

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NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-98-13

February 11, 1998

NRC TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING IN CLEVELAND
ON RECENT INSPECTION AT ADVANCED MEDICAL SYSTEMS

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting on February 26 to discuss recent inspection findings at Advanced Medical Systems (AMS), Inc., in Cleveland, Ohio, and other issues related to the facility. The inspection included radiation surveys of the neighborhood surrounding the facility.

The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Redeemer School, 15720 Kipling Avenue, in Cleveland.

The NRC staff will present an update on the facility, discuss the results of its recent inspection, and respond to questions.

AMS, located at 1020 London Road in Cleveland, formerly manufactured sealed cobalt-60 sources for medical uses, an activity now discontinued. Currently, AMS is authorized only to handle sealed cobalt-60 sources and to perform routine radiation protection activities, including decommissioning work.

A special NRC inspection in December found no radioactive contamination outside the AMS property and no radiation levels above normal background radiation at nearby neighborhood locations. At the perimeter of the fence on the south side of the facility, radiation readings were approximately twice the local background readings, but this is well below the NRC limit for an unrestricted area.

NRC conducted the inspection in response to concerns expressed by Cleveland city officials and neighborhood residents. Inspectors reviewed the facility's fire detection and security systems and the storage of radioactive waste. They also performed radiation surveys and collected environmental samples at AMS, at surrounding residences, at a nearby industrial site, and at a neighborhood park. The Ohio Department of Health and the City of Cleveland Fire Department participated in portions of the NRC inspection.

There have been other special radiological inspections at the facility and the neighboring residential areas. In 1985, Oak Ridge Associated Universities and NRC staff collected facility and environmental samples. No cobalt-60 contamination was detected outside of the AMS property.

In response to concerns from the Cleveland City Council, NRC conducted a special radiological survey with the Ohio Department of Health in 1993 of the residential, public and commercial properties surrounding AMS. No cobalt-60 contamination was detected. Radiation levels were consistent with the natural local background levels, except for the brush line between the AMS property and the rail road tracks which was just slightly above the normal local background level, yet below NRC limits for an unrestricted area.

A written report on the December inspection will be issued in a few weeks, and will be available to the public.