Interim report of the DOE [Department of Energy] Type B Investigation Group: Cesium-137, a systems evaluation, encapsulation to release at Radiation Sterilizers, Inc., Decatur, Georgia

Sometime between April 28, 1988, and June 5, 1988, a 22-inch long by 2.625-inch diameter doubly encapsulated cesium-137 irradiation source began leaking in the RSI-Decatur, Georgia, irradiation facility. By November 1988 when the source was isolated, between 7 and 8 curies (0.4 grams) leaked. This source was one of 1576 produced at Hanford to isolate the highly radioactive elements of wastes stored in single-walled tanks there. The capsule was designed for long term storage in a benign controlled pool environment on the Hanford reservation. This investigation evaluates the cause of the incident, the management and administrative matters including leasing and licensing, the capable design and manufacture, and the capsule qualification process. As a result, only two post-incident activities are discussed in the report. The first is the administrative characteristics of the early incident response, and the second is the results of the evaluation to date of the failed and other capsules from the RSI facility. 11 figs., 10 tabs