Event Notification Report for February 24, 2009
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
02/23/2009 - 02/24/2009
EVENT NUMBERS
44879
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 44879
Rep Org: IDAHO DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUAL
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: POCATELLO State: ID
County: BANNOCK
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID JONES
HQ OPS Officer: KARL DIEDERICH
Licensee: UNKNOWN
Region: 4
City: POCATELLO State: ID
County: BANNOCK
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID JONES
HQ OPS Officer: KARL DIEDERICH
Notification Date: 02/25/2009
Notification Time: 17:28 [ET]
Event Date: 02/24/2009
Event Time: 08:30 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/25/2009
Notification Time: 17:28 [ET]
Event Date: 02/24/2009
Event Time: 08:30 [MST]
Last Update Date: 02/25/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
VINCENT GADDY (R4)
PATRICE BUBAR (FSME)
VINCENT GADDY (R4)
PATRICE BUBAR (FSME)
FOUND ORPHAN SOURCE - SUSPECTED WELL LOGGING SOURCE
On 2/24/09 around 0830 MST, an orphaned source was found at Pacific Recycling, 3575 Highway 30 West, Pocatello ID 83204, in Bannock county. The source was observed from a distance on a dirt pile on the back part of the facility, and was not approached by Pacific Recycling personnel. Expected exposure to Pacific Recycling personnel is zero. Pacific Recycling does not hold an NRC license.
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality responded. The senior health physicist determined by spectral analysis that the source was Cs-137. No plates or identifying markings remain on the source, but it is suspected to be a well logging source. It has an on-off shutter. Radiation levels for the source are 2 mrem on contact except for the plate believed to be the source access cover, which is 22 mrem on contact. There was no removable contamination. The source was quarantined on the site. Disposition will be determined. The senior health physicist has consulted with regional personnel, and a regional inspector will respond to the site.
The curie content of the source is unknown. However well logging Cs-137 sources typically contain less than 2.7 Curies which is a "Less than Cat 3" level.
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.
Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Less than Cat 3 event.
Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 3" is different than the calculated value "Less than Cat 3"
On 2/24/09 around 0830 MST, an orphaned source was found at Pacific Recycling, 3575 Highway 30 West, Pocatello ID 83204, in Bannock county. The source was observed from a distance on a dirt pile on the back part of the facility, and was not approached by Pacific Recycling personnel. Expected exposure to Pacific Recycling personnel is zero. Pacific Recycling does not hold an NRC license.
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality responded. The senior health physicist determined by spectral analysis that the source was Cs-137. No plates or identifying markings remain on the source, but it is suspected to be a well logging source. It has an on-off shutter. Radiation levels for the source are 2 mrem on contact except for the plate believed to be the source access cover, which is 22 mrem on contact. There was no removable contamination. The source was quarantined on the site. Disposition will be determined. The senior health physicist has consulted with regional personnel, and a regional inspector will respond to the site.
The curie content of the source is unknown. However well logging Cs-137 sources typically contain less than 2.7 Curies which is a "Less than Cat 3" level.
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.
Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Less than Cat 3 event.
Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 3" is different than the calculated value "Less than Cat 3"