Event Notification Report for October 23, 2026

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED GAUGE

The following information was provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via email:

"At 1335 EDT on 10/15/26, the radiation safety officer (RSO) for Whitestone Associates reported that a Troxler portable moisture/density gauge containing Cs-137 and Am-241/Be was crushed by a backhoe at a job site in Paramus, New Jersey. The Cs-137 source rod was stuck in the exposed position in the soil. Immediate precaution was taken to cordon off the area to 50 feet and wait until the RSO and responders could reach the scene. The source was still intact.

"Hazmat officials were contacted to discuss potential response, and Bergen County was able to visit the site to take measurements. Background (3-6 microR/h) was observed at 100 feet. 17 microR/h was seen at around 4 feet. Closer readings were not obtained.

"The RSO contacted QC Resource Technical Services (CT license no. 06-30610-01) to perform source retrieval, packaging, and transport. At 2055 the same evening, QC was able to shield the source by placing a lead pig around the end of the rod. After removing all ancillary equipment from the Troxler transport case (calibration block, sledgehammer, etc.) the shielded source rod and all other damaged gauge components, including the Am-241/Be source, were able to be secured in the case. A reading on contact with the gauge box was below the Transport Index level (0.3 mR/h). At a meter away, background levels were seen. Readings were also taken of the soil where the source was extracted, and nothing above the background level was seen. The gauge is enroute back to the QC Resources office in Connecticut, where it will be leak tested and prepared for disposal."

New Jersey Incident ID: C1002579

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

The following is a summary of information provided by the New Mexico Radiation Control Program via email:

New Mexico is reporting an unlocated shipment of radioactive material involving their licensee. The shipment consists of two containers of zero-wash beads, each containing 1.48 GBq (40 mCi) of Sc-46. The shipment originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 2, 2026, and was scheduled to arrive at its destination in Anchorage, Alaska, on October 5, 2026. The two packages are currently unlocated but are believed to be at the common carrier's hub in Memphis, Tennessee.

The remaining 28 containers in the shipment arrived without incident. New Mexico will provide additional information as it becomes available.

* * * UPDATE ON 10/21/2026 AT 1142 EDT FROM CARL SULLIVAN TO ROBERT THOMPSON * * *

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone:

The packages were located at the common carrier's hub and are being returned to the licensee in New Mexico. The licensee will be cited for the late notification.

Notified NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB (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