Event Notification Report for November 20, 2021
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
11/19/2021 - 11/20/2021
EVENT NUMBERS
55596
55596
Agreement State
Event Number: 55596
Rep Org: Kansas Dept of Health & Environment
Licensee: Advantage Metal Recycling
Region: 4
City: Kansas City State: KS
County:
License #: n/a
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: David Lawrenz
HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere
Licensee: Advantage Metal Recycling
Region: 4
City: Kansas City State: KS
County:
License #: n/a
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: David Lawrenz
HQ OPS Officer: Bethany Cecere
Notification Date: 11/20/2021
Notification Time: 21:36 [ET]
Event Date: 11/20/2021
Event Time: 13:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/20/2021
Notification Time: 21:36 [ET]
Event Date: 11/20/2021
Event Time: 13:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/20/2021
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Drake, James (R4)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
Drake, James (R4)
NMSS_Events_Notification, (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
EN Revision Imported Date: 12/20/2021
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FOUND SOURCE
The following was received by email from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment:
"At approximately 1300 CST on 19 November 2021, Kansas Radioactive Material Program received a call from a corporate safety officer for a local business, Advantage Metal Recycling. Advantage Metal Recycling is located in Kansas City, Kansas. The recycling yard, not a licensee, notified the department that they had a radiation detector alarm on their metal shredder. The corporate representative was calling from out of state and did not have all the information on the handheld survey meters but they had a 'Ludlum meter with a pancake probe that was off scale at 1000 microR/hr and a model 19 that was reading approximately 2000 microR/hr.' The surveys were estimated at 2-4 feet.
"At 1415 CST on 19 November, two members of the Kansas Radiation Control Program left Topeka, Kansas to respond to the site. They arrived at approximately 1509 CST. Surveys taken by 2401-P and 451P indicated the highest exposure rate reading of a large pile of shredded metal was 26.2 mR/hr. The Kansas staff also performed surveys of the machinery which shreds the metal and did not identify any elevated exposure rate readings. Because of this it is suspected the source was not punctured and there is not residual contamination of the yard or the machinery. Given the high exposure rate and identity of the source being unconfirmed at this time (Identifinder indicated Ra-226) it was determined to report this incident to the HOO.
"The scrap yard had an appropriately licensed contractor onsite remove the material on the evening of 19 November. The contractor entered Kansas via reciprocity and confirmed they removed the material and placed it in their secured facility. More information will follow as it becomes available."
EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - FOUND SOURCE
The following was received by email from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment:
"At approximately 1300 CST on 19 November 2021, Kansas Radioactive Material Program received a call from a corporate safety officer for a local business, Advantage Metal Recycling. Advantage Metal Recycling is located in Kansas City, Kansas. The recycling yard, not a licensee, notified the department that they had a radiation detector alarm on their metal shredder. The corporate representative was calling from out of state and did not have all the information on the handheld survey meters but they had a 'Ludlum meter with a pancake probe that was off scale at 1000 microR/hr and a model 19 that was reading approximately 2000 microR/hr.' The surveys were estimated at 2-4 feet.
"At 1415 CST on 19 November, two members of the Kansas Radiation Control Program left Topeka, Kansas to respond to the site. They arrived at approximately 1509 CST. Surveys taken by 2401-P and 451P indicated the highest exposure rate reading of a large pile of shredded metal was 26.2 mR/hr. The Kansas staff also performed surveys of the machinery which shreds the metal and did not identify any elevated exposure rate readings. Because of this it is suspected the source was not punctured and there is not residual contamination of the yard or the machinery. Given the high exposure rate and identity of the source being unconfirmed at this time (Identifinder indicated Ra-226) it was determined to report this incident to the HOO.
"The scrap yard had an appropriately licensed contractor onsite remove the material on the evening of 19 November. The contractor entered Kansas via reciprocity and confirmed they removed the material and placed it in their secured facility. More information will follow as it becomes available."