AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOSS OF CONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via E-mail:
"On May 29, 2020, at approximately 0130 [CDT], the licensee notified the Agency that at approximately 2300 [CDT] on May 28, 2020, one of its industrial radiography crews was crossing a river southeast of Fredericksburg, Texas, when their vehicle was washed off the road and into the river. Their SPEC 150 exposure device, containing a 47 curie Iridium-192 source, is secured in the vehicle locked inside a robust overpack container, which is held by locked metal brackets which are bolted to the truck. The two radiographers and two licensee staff who responded, aided by county law enforcement with a helicopter, are looking for the vehicle. The river is flowing full and swift and making their search difficult and the truck appears to be being carried downstream.
"The roof of the darkroom was seen by helicopter at approximately 0440 [CDT]. At this time, it is unlikely that an exposure could result to persons in unrestricted areas. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."
Notified DHS SWO, DOE Operations Center, FEMA Operations Center, HHS Operations Center, USDA Operations Center, EPA Emergency Operations Center, DHS CISA IOCC Watch Officer, FDA Emergency Operations Center (email), Nuclear SSA (email), FEMA National Watch Center (email) and DNDO Joint Analysis Center (email).
Texas Incident No.: I-9722
* * * UPDATE ON 5/30/2020 AT 1924 EDT FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO BRIAN P. SMITH * * *
The following updated information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via E-mail:
"On May 29, 2020, the pickup was found almost totally submerged approximately 1 mile downstream from where it entered the [Pedernales River at Goehmann Lane southeast of Fredericksburg, Texas]. On May 30, 2020, the darkroom, which had separated, intact, from the vehicle, was found approximately 11 miles downstream from where it entered the river. Both were recovered May 30, 2020 by the licensee and will be transported to one of their licensed facilities on May 31, 2020. Neither the exposure device nor the overpack in which it was stored in the darkroom were in the vehicle or darkroom. The licensee has attempted to continue search operations to locate the device, but the river levels and water current are prohibitive at this time. They will continue the search as conditions permit, which will improve as the water recedes. Media and public attention are increasing. The Agency has released and the county will release statements (press releases). Exposure risk is still considered low at this time."
In the update email a correction has been made in that the device is an INC IR100 and not a SPEC 150 as previously reported. The source information remains the same.
Notified R4DO (Werner), ILTAB (Clark), IRD (Kennedy), INES (Milligan), NMSS (Williams), NMSS Events Notification (email), CNSNS (email)
* * * UPDATE ON 5/31/2020 AT 1933 EDT FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO BRIAN P. SMITH * * *
The following updated information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:
"The device has been found on the riverbank and recovered by the licensee approximately 13 miles from where the truck entered the river. It was still secured inside the overpack container. No exposures to any member of the public."
Notified R4DO (Werner), ILTAB (Clark), IRD (Kennedy), INES (Milligan), NMSS (Williams), NMSS Events Notification (email), CNSNS (email), DHS SWO, DOE Operations Center, FEMA Operations Center, HHS Operations Center, USDA Operations Center, EPA Emergency Operations Center, DHS CISA IOCC Watch Officer, FDA Emergency Operations Center (email), Nuclear SSA (email), FEMA National Watch Center (email) and DNDO Joint Analysis Center (email).
* * * UPDATE ON 6/3/2020 AT 0904 EDT FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO THOMAS KENDZIA * * *
The following updated information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:
"GPS coordinate mapping has provided more accurate information on the locations of the truck, darkroom, and industrial radiography device recovery locations. From the bridge where the truck entered the water: the truck was located within 1 mile, the radiography device was approximately 8.5 miles and the darkroom was approximately 9.9 miles."
Notified R4DO (Proulx), ILTAB (Clark), IRD (Gott), INES (Milligan), NMSS (Rivera-Capella), NMSS (Williams), NMSS Events Notification (email), CNSNS (email), DHS SWO, DOE Operations Center, FEMA Operations Center, HHS Operations Center, USDA Operations Center, EPA Emergency Operations Center, DHS CISA IOCC Watch Officer, FDA Emergency Operations Center (email), Nuclear SSA (email), FEMA National Watch Center (email) and DNDO Joint Analysis Center (email).
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |