AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST DENSITY GAUGE
The following report was received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via fax:
"On April 8, 2019, the [Department of Environmental Protection] DEP was notified of a Cs-137 source that was discovered at a metal recycler, reportable per 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i).
"On April 8, 2019, a radiation portal monitor alarmed at a metal recycling facility in Slippery Rock, PA. The load was reading approximately 4 mR/hr at a distance of 4 ft through scrap metal. The load was transferred back to its origin at Mercer Lime and Stone where it could be off-loaded and sorted. DEP representatives oversaw the emptying of the load at Mercer Lime and Stone. An intact gauge was found bolted to a plate. A representative noted bolts for another gauge, but no gauge was found. The found gauge, Nuclear Chicago, series: PNA, model: 5193, serial number: 219, manufactured: 2/8/74, containing 200 mCi of Cs-137, was secured in a building on site. The current activity is 70.7 mCi. The remaining site has been cleared except for a few remaining buildings.
"Mercer Lime and Stone has a general license with DEP but did not notify the DEP of intent to terminate their license nor to vacate their licensed location. Upon later review of their license, it was noted they possessed two of the same model gauges, serial numbers 219 and 220. The whereabouts of serial number 220 are unknown at this time. The DEP is currently working to locate the owner of the site, and location of the (still) missing gauge. The DEP will update this event as soon as more information is provided."
Event Report ID No.: PA190012
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
Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9) |