Event Notification Report for November 20, 2020

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN CPN MOISTURE / DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was received via E-mail:

"The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for Empire Geotechnical reported that his CPN nuclear gauge was stolen from the back of his pickup truck sometime overnight between 2100 EDT on October 28, 2020 and 0630 PDT on October 29, 2020.

"CA Dept. of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) inspector contacted the Empire Geotechnical RSO by phone and confirmed the RSO left his truck parked on the street in front of his office with the gauge secured in the rear of the pickup under a locked deck lid. The RSO is in the process of reporting the theft to the Orange Police Department.

"The gauge is a CPN MC1DR, [serial] number MD90204854, that contains two special form sealed sources: 370 MBq (10 mCi) of Cs-137 and 1.85GBq (50 mCi) of Am-241/Be."

California 5010 Number: 102920
Cal OES control number: 20-6025, October 29, 2020

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR GAUGE SHUTTER STUCK CLOSED

The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) by email:

"On November 11, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that on November 10, 2020, while working at a field site, the shutter roll pin on a Berthold Technologies LB 8010 nuclear gauge fell out and the shutter vibrated closed. The gauge contains a 20 milliCurie (original activity) source. The gauge is installed on a pipe which is installed in line with existing piping at the well site for testing. The gauge was taken out of service and the RSO stated they would repair the gauge within the next few days. The RSO stated the gauge does not pose an exposure risk to any individual. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA- 300."

Texas Incident No.: I-9811

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST PACKAGE CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

The following was received via e-mail from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency):

"A 6"x6"x6" excepted package containing approximately 86 mCi of Am-241 was reported missing in transit on November 11, 2020 by the licensee. The last known location was Bridgefield, Ohio at the [common carrier] terminal. The [common carrier] is still actively searching. While a reportable quantity under DOT and NRC, this does not represent a serious public exposure hazard. There is no indication of intentional theft or diversion at this time. This quantity of material would not be immediately useful for illicit purposes.

"The Agency was contacted on November 11, 2020, by the radiation safety officer for the licensee to advise that a package scheduled to arrive at their Downers Grove, IL facility on November 10, through November 11, had not arrived. The [common carrier] could not immediately locate the package. The package contained two special form model AMC-25 sealed sources containing approximately 43 mCi of Am-241 each. Source serial numbers were 4429CW and 4475CW. Both sources were contained in a 6"x6"x6" brown cardboard box. As it was an excepted package, it only bears UN2910 and does not have radioactive labels on the exterior. Should the package be opened, there is an aluminum 5"x5" round can filled with foam and two zip lock bags. Each bag contains a shielded source holder with the Am-241 capsules therein. The bags and the can are labeled with a trefoil and the words 'Radioactive Material'. Unshielded, the two sources would yield a combined exposure rate of about 15 mR/hour at one foot. This is not an immediate hazard to workers or members of the public that locate the package.

"The package is assigned tracking number 474-473-809-5 by the [common carrier]. The package left their Buffalo, NY terminal on November 5 after a trailer switch. It was reported as arriving at the common carrier's Bridgefield, OH terminal on November 6, and leaving November 7, on the same trailer. The package was bound for the [common carrier's] Bolingbrook, IL terminal but reportedly never arrived. The [common carrier] is actively searching and Illinois staff are in contact. Ohio Radiation program staff will be notified as well."

* * * UPDATE ON 11/11/2020 AT 2025 EDT FROM DANIEL SAMSON TO BRIAN P. SMITH * * *

The following update regarding the lost package en route from New York to Illinois was received via fax from the New York State Department of Health:

"A shipment of two 45 mCi sources of Am-241/Be was misplaced in transit between Tonawanda, NY and Bolingbrook, IL. The last known location was in Tonawanda, NY. The truck went through PA/OH/IN and arrived without the package in Illinois. More information will be forthcoming as it is discovered."

Notified R1DO (Carfang), R3DO (Cameron), NMSS Events Notification (email), ILTAB (email), CSNC Canada (fax)

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

DAMAGED SOURCE RACK