Event Notification Report for October 21, 2021

EN Revision Imported Date: 10/21/2021

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST GAS CHROMATOGRAPH SOURCE

The following is a synopsis of information received via email:

In early September, the radiation safety officer (RSO) sent a leak test kit to the Center for Applied Isotopes Department to smear test the gas chromatograph. He was informed that the gas chromatograph had been declared "surplus" on March 1, 2021. The Surplus Department decided it had no economic value and sent it to the state surplus scrap metal dealer. The device was shredded and pulverized with other scrap equipment from the university. It is believed the Ni-63 source was shredded with the equipment. The RSO did not find out that the source was missing until 6 months after it was shredded. Exposure risk is considered low because it would need to be ingested. The RSO has sent a letter to the Surplus department to remind their employees to contact the RSO before processing surplus equipment that may contain radioactive materials. The RSO has also reminded University researchers to check their equipment to make sure they have the appropriate signage.

Georgia incident number: 46

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 10/21/2021

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT- LOST/STOLEN GAUGE

The following was received Texas Department of State Health Services, via email:

"On October 13, 2021, a licensee reported a moisture density gauge was stolen overnight. The gauge was taken from the back of a truck between 18:00 (EDT) on October 12, 2021 and 06:00 (CDT) October 13, 2021. The gauge was stored and locked within the carrying case but was not secured to the truck. The gauge is a Troxler model 3411 serial 11111 containing 8 mCi of Cs-137 with serial 47- 6513 and 40 mCi of Am-241 with serial 40-8612. Because the gauge was secured within the case it is not expected to provide any significant dose to anyone. The incident was reported to the local police department. More information will be provided per SA 300 as it is obtained."

Texas Incident Number: 9890




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

EN Revision Imported Date: 10/21/2021

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE

The following was received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP/Department) by email:

"The Department received notification from a licensee on October 13, 2021, that a Troxler 3430 portable gauge (serial number 18794) was lost. The gauge typically contains 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241:Be. The authorized user completed his work at approximately 1800 EDT and prepared to secure the gauge in a case on the back of his truck by ensuring that the source rod was locked. He departed the site without properly securing the gauge in its storage case. When the authorized user approached the center of Loganton, a person alerted him that the tailgate on the truck was down. The authorized user realized that the gauge was missing and traveled back to the work site. He did not detect the gauge along the return to the work site and inquired if anyone had seen the gauge at the work site. He noted that there was traffic from employees leaving a nearby factory at the end of their shift. The employee contacted the licensee Radiation Safety Officer and informed him of the incident. The State Police Barracks at Lamar were also alerted. The licensee deployed an additional employee to search for the missing gauge. The search was hampered by poor visibility in the darkness. The source has not been recovered at this time. A press release is in the process of being drafted, and the licensee will be offering a monetary reward for the safe return of the gauge. The DEP is currently in contact with the licensee and will update this event as soon as more information is provided."

PA Event Report ID No: PA210015

* * * UPDATE ON 10/18/2021 AT 1503 EDT FROM JOHN CHIPPO TO LLOYD DESOTELL * * *
The following was received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) via email:

"The gauge was recovered on October 15, 2021, at a private residence unrelated to the licensee. An individual found it alongside Interstate 80, (a route not traveled by the employee who lost the gauge) took it home and contacted the Pennsylvania State Police. It is believed that the gauge was picked up from where the employee lost it and then discarded along this highway. The gauge was stored on the front porch of the residence where it was collected by the licensee, accompanied by the Pennsylvania State Police. The electronics were damaged, but leak testing revealed no radiological leakage. The gauge will be sent to a service provider for further evaluation and repair or replacement."

Notified R1DO (BICKETT), ILTAB (via email) and NMSS Events Notification group (via 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