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[Fwd: RE: Apparent Illegal Shipment - Follow-up Clarification]
The following is posted with the permission of the author.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
-------- Original Message --------
From: "Iannaccone, Mario (DPH)" <Mario.Iannaccone@state.ma.us>
Subject: RE: Apparent Illegal Shipment - Follow-up Clarification
To: 'William V Lipton' <liptonw@dteenergy.com>
FYI: Although the discussion has been very interesting, a clarification
of
the originating circumstances is in order. I am the originator of the
DOT-E
which apparently was subsequently reported in the NRC Daily Events;
referenced in the message below. Chagrined, I'll eat crow and admit that
this was an inadvertently sent to the NRC Operation Center rather than
the
CRCPD OED - root cause - human error - mine. A follow-up was reported to
the
NRC identifying the error. In actuality this was a routine rejected "Hot
Load" reported to the MA RCP and processed through channels i.e. a CRCPD
transportation exemption (DOT-E 11406, waste) was issued. MA RCP was
fully
aware of the situation, however due to the NRC report Mr. Lipton refers
to
he was not. I routinely use the verbiage "w/o stops" to assure the load
goes
directly to the destination to be appropriately isolated until
mitigated.
After 17 yrs in the field I finally made the funny papers, my apologies
for
the ruckus.
Mario Iannaccone, RCO, MA DPH-RCP
-----Original Message-----
From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM]
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 8:20 AM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Apparent Illegal Shipment
I noticed the attached event in the NRC Daily Event Report. A truck
arriving at a waste incineration facility alarmed a radiation monitor
and was found to be reading 0.13 mrem/hr. According to the report,
"...The driver of the truck was told to return the load back to its
origin, BFI facilities, in Peabody, MA without any stops...." This
implies that the site made a radioactive materials shipment without the
required DOT controls. Assuming the material shipped would qualify as
a "Limited Quantity", they needed the required notice, and the driver
had to be hazmat employee trained. It does not seem that this was done,
although I say, "apparent," because the report may be incomplete. This
would be a violation of DOT regulations. If the contamination is
identified as NRC licensed material, this would also be a violation of
NRC regulations. It does not seem that anyone involved, including the
MA regulators, noticed this.
Recognizing that this type of shipment represents a low degree of
hazard, DOT has issued exemptions, which may allow this shipment to
procede without meeting all of the normal DOT requirements (DOT-E 11406
for waste, DOT-E 10656 for scrap metal). These exemptions require
approval by state authorities. Again, I say "apparent," since one of
these exemptions may have been used and not noted in the report.
I'd appreciate further information on this.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
General Information or Other Event Number: 40511
Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee:
Region: 1
City: HAVERHILL State: MA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MARIO IANNACCONE
HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD Notification Date: 02/10/2004
Notification Time: 11:12 [ET]
Event Date: 02/10/2004
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/10/2004
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
KENNETH JENISON (R1)
ROBERTO TORRES (NMSS)
Event Text
LOAD OF WASTE ARRIVING AT A WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITY SET OFF RADIATION
MONITORS
A load of waste or recycle materials that had been transported to
Covanta Haverhill, Inc (a waste-to-energy facility) in Haverhill, MA had
a radiation measurement of 0.13 mrem/hr when it entered the facility.
The driver of the truck was told to return the load back to its origin,
BFI facilities, in Peabody, MA without any stops. Once at the origin of
the shipment, the load is to be isolated until mitigation by a
consultant. A report detailing material identification and disposition
shall be submitted to the MA Radiation control Program.
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