Document Details
Title:
LOCATING A LOST RADIOACTIVE SOURCE
Author(s):
UNK, [* EG+G]
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
OTHER
Document Type Other:
AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL
Publication Date:
1969 Dec 31
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0002
Accession Number:
NV0097498
Document Number(s):
AEC698482
Originating Research Org.:
* EG+G
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 27
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
LOCATING A LOST RADIOACTIVE SOURCE WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME KNOWN DONE W ITH AN AIRPLANE DURING JUNE 1968. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SALT LAKE CITY UT AH AND KANSAAS CITY MISSOURI A RADIOCOBALT SOURCE BELONGING TO AN AEC LICENSEE ROLLED OUT OF ITS OVERTURNED SHIPPING CASK. THE SOURCE WAS N OT IN THE TRUNK OR TERMINAL. THE QUESTION WAS "WHERE?" THE INTERSTAT E CARRIER ALERTED THE AEC AND A SPECIAL AEC AIRCRAFT WAS PRESSED INTO SERVICE. WORKING EASTWARD IT RETRACED THE 1,100 MILE ROUTE FLYING 500 FEET ABOVE THE HIGHWAY. ITS SENSITIVE INSTRUMENTS SORTED OUT NATURAL RADIATION. AS THE PLANE PASSED OVER A BEND IN THE HIGHWAY AT ST JOSE PH MISSOURI A SUDDEN RISE AND FALL OF THE NEEDLE INDICATED MANMADE RAD IOACTIVITY (SEE ARROW IN THE PHOTO). THE PLANE LANDED AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT AND THE CREW WENT TO THE SITE. THE COBALT-60 SOURCE 2 INCHES BY ONE-HALF INCH WAS LOCATED BY HAND METER--2 FEET DOWN THE HIGHWAY EM BANKMENT--AND PLACED IN A SHIELDED CONTAINER. IT WAS TURNED OVER TO T HE AEC. THE TINY 325 MILLICURIE SOURCE WOULD NOT HAVE ENDANGERED PASS ERBY UNLESS POCKETED AND CARRIED FOR A FEW HOURS. THE AERIAL RADIOLOG ICAL MEASURING SYSTEM (ARMS) PLANE USED IN AEC BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IS OPERATED FOR THE AEC BY EG&G LAS VEGAS NEVADA. THE LOST SOURCE WAS FO UND WITHIN 3-1/2 DAYS OF THE REQUEST FOR HELP AND LESS THAN 48 HOURS A FTER THE "ARMS" PLANE WAS AIRBORNE. SUCH RADIOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE IS A SSISTANCE IS ADMINISTERED UNDER THE AEC OPERATIONAL SAFETY PROGRAM.