Event Notification Report for November 30, 2020

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 11/30/2020

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE

The following was received from the state of Texas (the Agency) by email:

"On October 1, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that a Troxler model 3430 moisture\density gauge containing a 40 milliCurie americium-241 source and an 8 milliCurie cesium-137 source was stolen from an employee's truck. The truck was parked at the employee's residence and when they came out to go to the job site they found both chains securing the gauge in the truck were cut and the gauge was missing. The RSO stated they had notified local law enforcement and the fire department.

"The RSO stated their management group was searching social media looking for the gauge. The RSO stated they currently have people in the field looking for the gauge. The RSO stated the gauge operating arm was locked. The gauge would not create an exposure risk to any individual unless the lock was cut off the operating arm and the cesium source exposed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

TX Incident # 9803.

* * * UPDATE ON 11/27/2020 AT 1827 EST FROM ART TUCKER TO JEFFREY WHITED * * *

The following was received from the Agency via email:

"On November 27, 2020, the Agency was notified that the gauge was recovered by the Austin, Texas Police Department. The licensee has been contacted and is arranging to pick up the device. Addition information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

Notified R4DO (Kozal), NMSS Event Notification (email), ILTAB (email), and CNSNS Mexico (email).

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 - LOST AM-241 SEALED SOURCE PACKAGE

The following was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:

"The Agency was contacted on 11/23/2020 by the Radiation Safety Officer for Heuft USA, Inc. to advise that a package scheduled to arrive today at their Downers Grove, IL facility had not arrived. The carrier, [common carrier], could not immediately locate the package. The package contained (1) special form model AMC-25 sealed source containing approximately 45 mCi of Am-241. The source serial number is 1535AR. The source is contained in a 6"x6"x6" brown "U-Line" 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 a zip lock bag. The bag contains a shielded source holder with the Am-241 capsule therein. The bag and the can are reportedly labeled with a trefoil and the words "Radioactive Material". Unshielded, the source would yield an exposure rate of about 8 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 349-162302-3 by [the common carrier]. The package left their Kearny, NJ terminal on 11/19/2020. There is conflicting information on whether or not the package arrived at [the common carrier's] Akron, OH terminal. The package was bound for [the common carrier's] Bolingbrook, IL terminal but reportedly never arrived. The carrier is actively searching and Illinois staff are in contact. New Jersey program staff have been notified as well. This report will be updated as additional information becomes available."

Illinois Item Number: IL200023

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