Event Notification Report for November 18, 2009
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
11/17/2009 - 11/18/2009
EVENT NUMBERS
45509
General Information or Other
Event Number: 45509
Rep Org: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: TERRACON CONSULTING INC.
Region: 4
City: BRYANT State: AR
County:
License #: ARK082003121
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TAMMY KRIESEL
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Licensee: TERRACON CONSULTING INC.
Region: 4
City: BRYANT State: AR
County:
License #: ARK082003121
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TAMMY KRIESEL
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 11/19/2009
Notification Time: 08:58 [ET]
Event Date: 11/18/2009
Event Time: 08:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2009
Notification Time: 08:58 [ET]
Event Date: 11/18/2009
Event Time: 08:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2009
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
DAVID PROULX (R4DO)
LANCE ENGLISH (ILTA)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
DAVID PROULX (R4DO)
LANCE ENGLISH (ILTA)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A STOLEN/RECOVERED TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was received via email:
"At approximately 0830 on the morning of November 18, 2009, the RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of Terracon Consulting Inc. (ARK-0820-03121) reported the theft of a Troxler 3440 Moisture Density gauge (SN#27140) from a construction site at the Two Pines landfill in Jacksonville, Arkansas. The gauge contained an 9 mCi Cesium-137 source and a 44 mCi Americium-241/Beryllium source. According to the RSO, the gauge had been secured with two independent chains to the rear rack of an all terrain vehicle (ATV), which in turn was locked inside of a cargo shipping container after work was halted on November 17, 2009. When personnel arrived at the construction site at approximately 0700 on the 18th, they noted that the lock on the cargo container had been cut and that the ATV and gauge were missing. Local and state law enforcement were notified.
"At approximately 1340 on that same day, the Jacksonville Police Department reported that the gauge had been found along a roadside in Pulaski County. The gauge was examined by Department personnel and appeared to be undamaged, wipes tests were taken to further verify that the sources were not leaking. Terracon personnel were then allowed to take possession the gauge.
"The [Arkansas Department of Health] will keep this incident open pending the receipt of a report and corrective actions from the licensee."
Arkansas Incident Number: 11-09-01
* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT PEMBERTON TO DONG PARK AT 1621 ON 12/22/09 * * *
The following report was received via e-mail:
"The following are the findings of the Arkansas Department of Health, Radioactive Materials Program, concerning event Number 45509 involving the theft and recovery of a Troxler 3440 moisture/density gauge from Terracon Consulting Inc. From information provided by Terracon Consulting Inc. the Department has determined that the gauge was apparently undamaged and the sources were not leaking. The Department has received corrective actions from Terracon Consulting Inc., dated December 18, 2009, and found them to be adequate. The Department considers this incident to be closed."
Notified R4DO (Walker), FSME (Villamar), and ILTAB (e-mail).
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
The following information was received via email:
"At approximately 0830 on the morning of November 18, 2009, the RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of Terracon Consulting Inc. (ARK-0820-03121) reported the theft of a Troxler 3440 Moisture Density gauge (SN#27140) from a construction site at the Two Pines landfill in Jacksonville, Arkansas. The gauge contained an 9 mCi Cesium-137 source and a 44 mCi Americium-241/Beryllium source. According to the RSO, the gauge had been secured with two independent chains to the rear rack of an all terrain vehicle (ATV), which in turn was locked inside of a cargo shipping container after work was halted on November 17, 2009. When personnel arrived at the construction site at approximately 0700 on the 18th, they noted that the lock on the cargo container had been cut and that the ATV and gauge were missing. Local and state law enforcement were notified.
"At approximately 1340 on that same day, the Jacksonville Police Department reported that the gauge had been found along a roadside in Pulaski County. The gauge was examined by Department personnel and appeared to be undamaged, wipes tests were taken to further verify that the sources were not leaking. Terracon personnel were then allowed to take possession the gauge.
"The [Arkansas Department of Health] will keep this incident open pending the receipt of a report and corrective actions from the licensee."
Arkansas Incident Number: 11-09-01
* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT PEMBERTON TO DONG PARK AT 1621 ON 12/22/09 * * *
The following report was received via e-mail:
"The following are the findings of the Arkansas Department of Health, Radioactive Materials Program, concerning event Number 45509 involving the theft and recovery of a Troxler 3440 moisture/density gauge from Terracon Consulting Inc. From information provided by Terracon Consulting Inc. the Department has determined that the gauge was apparently undamaged and the sources were not leaking. The Department has received corrective actions from Terracon Consulting Inc., dated December 18, 2009, and found them to be adequate. The Department considers this incident to be closed."
Notified R4DO (Walker), FSME (Villamar), and ILTAB (e-mail).
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