Final resting place of a cesium 137 gauge

In April of 1985 an industry reported the loss of four industrial gauges that contained cesium 137. The State of Alabama surveyed eight scrap iron yards where the devices were believed to have been taken and found one of the four. The State then requested aerial monitoring assistance from the US Department of Energy. In July 1985 the DOE helicopter located an area of cesium 137 contamination in a waste slag dump yard. Examination of the waste slag dump showed maximum exposure levels of approximately 100 microR per hour and maximum soil contamination of 4.9 x 10-4 microcuries per gram. The area of contamination extended over 13,000 square feet. Erosion of cesium-containing waste slag was identified as the greatest potential health hazard associated with the contamination. The cost-benefit of spending $500,000+ to remove the material to a commercial burial site is at least questionable. Consideration is being given to a request by the owners of the property for burial on site