Event Notification Report for March 27, 2023
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
03/26/2023 - 03/27/2023
EVENT NUMBERS
56443
56443
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 56443
Rep Org: Defense Health Agency
Licensee: Defense Health Agency
Region: 4
City: San Antonio State: TX
County:
License #: 45-35423-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Ricardo Reyes
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Licensee: Defense Health Agency
Region: 4
City: San Antonio State: TX
County:
License #: 45-35423-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: Ricardo Reyes
HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West
Notification Date: 03/31/2023
Notification Time: 00:01 [ET]
Event Date: 03/27/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/31/2023
Notification Time: 00:01 [ET]
Event Date: 03/27/2023
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 03/31/2023
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen LNM>10x
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - Lost/Stolen LNM>10x
Person (Organization):
Taylor, Nick (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
Schroeder, Dan (R1DO)
CNSNS (Mexico), - (FAX)
Taylor, Nick (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
ILTAB, (EMAIL)
Schroeder, Dan (R1DO)
CNSNS (Mexico), - (FAX)
LOST RADIOACTIVE SEED
The following is a synopsis of information that was provided by the licensee via phone:
On 27 March, 2023, the Brooke Army Medical Center discovered a missing I-125 radioactive seed containing between 144 and 209 microcuries of activity missing during a routine inventory. The seed was last accounted for on 24 February, 2023, when it was distributed to histology/pathology. The seed was intended to be used in radioactive seed localization. The licensee interviewed the responsible providers and conducted a search of the hospital with negative results. The licensee checked the alarm log and found none to have been activated. The licensee contacted the land fill and they had no radiation alarms from hospital waste during this time period. The licensee is continuing to search for the seed and will update the NRC with the results of their investigation.
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 is a synopsis of information that was provided by the licensee via phone:
On 27 March, 2023, the Brooke Army Medical Center discovered a missing I-125 radioactive seed containing between 144 and 209 microcuries of activity missing during a routine inventory. The seed was last accounted for on 24 February, 2023, when it was distributed to histology/pathology. The seed was intended to be used in radioactive seed localization. The licensee interviewed the responsible providers and conducted a search of the hospital with negative results. The licensee checked the alarm log and found none to have been activated. The licensee contacted the land fill and they had no radiation alarms from hospital waste during this time period. The licensee is continuing to search for the seed and will update the NRC with the results of their investigation.
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