CBRN event in Texas, Houston area, United States of America on Sat 20th September 2014

On September 20, 2014, the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) was notified by the licensee over the presence of two nuclear gauges in a large fire that that burned over 20 vehicles at a temporary job site in an oil field in Dimmit County, Texas. The gauges, which were held in Type A containers, were eventually recovered from the job site. Tests on one of the gauges have shown radiation measurements of 7 R/hr “on contact with [its] outer surface . . . Indicating that the lead shielding had been compromised.” The licensee plans to “add external lead around the compromised gauge for transport.” In addition to the two gauges present in the fire, two other gauges were within the site’s vicinity but outside the fire’s range. All four gauges have been secured, and are meant to be shipped to the manufacturer for inspection once permission is granted.