RE: Experts trying to identify radioactive substance from Manila

["Pollan, Paul B." <PBPOLLAN@southernco.com>]

Perhaps the people trying to identify the constituent isotopes in the
container should consider a "gamma cam" which is a pretty good "field GELI"
for just such an occasion.  We have used such a device here at my plant to
characterize the type and quantity of radionuclides adhering to the inside
of the reactor coolant piping without breaching the system.  The radiation
levels being emitted from the container are lower than those of the main
coolant piping here.  I would believe an accurate study could be
accomplished.

Note that the opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect
those of my employer.

Paul B. Pollan, RRPT
Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
Farley Nuclear Plant
pbpollan@southernco.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Sandy Perle [SMTP:sandyfl@earthlink.net]
> Sent:	Monday, May 01, 2000 9:22 AM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Experts trying to identify radioactive substance from Manila
> 
> Experts trying to identify radioactive substance from Manila
> 
> WAKAYAMA, Japan, May 1 (Kyodo) - Nuclear experts were trying to 
> identify the radioactive substance inside a sealed container imported 
> from the Philippines, without opening it, Science and Technology 
> Agency officials said Monday. 
> 
> The agency dispatched four experts from the Japan Atomic Energy 
> Research Institute in Tokyo to check the container at a Sumitomo 
> Metal Industries Ltd. steelworks in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture. 
> 
> Sumitomo Metal and the central, prefectural and municipal governments 
> have been at odds over what to do with the 6-meter-long, 2.6-meter-
> high container, with the steelmaker and the local governments wanted 
> the agency to cart it away before it is opened. 
> 
> The agency officials said the four experts carefully examined the 
> radiation levels of the container Monday morning from a scaffold set 
> up surrounding it, and were discussing the results. 
> 
> The container, carrying 19 tons of stainless steel waste from cutlery 
> factories in the Philippines, was unloaded at Osaka South Port on 
> Thursday and transported to Wakayama. 
> 
> The waste was to be melted and processed at the Wakayama plant, 
> Sumitomo Metal officials said. 
> 
> When the container was trucked Friday to the steelworks in Wakayama, 
> south of Osaka, a radiation detector at the gate alerted workers to 
> the presence of radioactive material inside, the officials said. 
> 
> When inspectors from the Science and Technology Agency measured the 
> radiation Friday night, they detected gamma rays of up to 75 
> microsieverts per hour as well as neutron rays of up to 6 
> microsieverts per hour emanating from the container's surface, the 
> agency said. One microsievert is one-millionth of a sievert. 
> 
> The detected levels of radiation are deemed very low and are unlikely 
> to cause health damage, according to the agency. 
> 
> Officials at Mitsui Bussan Raw Materials Development Corp., which 
> imported the container, said the company had recently imported two 
> separate containers of steel waste from Manila to the Wakayama plant, 
> but no radiation was detected from those containers. 
> 
> The company, which sells scrap metal, is a wholly owned subsidiary of 
> Mitsui & Co. 
> 
> Representatives from Sumitomo Metal, Mitsui Bussan Raw Materials, the 
> prefecture, the city and the agency will discuss how to dispose of 
> the container as soon as the experts reach a conclusion on exactly 
> what is inside it, the agency officials said. 
> 
> Sumitomo Metal, and the Wakayama prefectural and city governments 
> demanded that the agency remove the container from the company's 
> premises and from Wakayama as quickly as possible. 
> 
> Sumitomo Metal asked the agency to obtain the consent of the 
> prefectural and city governments before opening the container. 
> 
> But the local governments are demanding that the agency take 
> responsibility for any consequences arising from opening the 
> container, local government officials said. 
> 
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