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* Local Phone Savings and Free Long Distance In Michigan - Starting at Only $19.95 Per Month! See TooCheapToMeter page for more info about signing up for this TalkAmerica plan. Pool irradiator at U Mich The University of Michigan's pool irradiator on Ann Arbor campus is primarily used for research and sample irradiation ( e. g., tissue, fruit flies, polymers, computer chips). The irradiator is a custom design wet storage pool irradiator containing 9 cobalt- 60 sources totaling approximately 12,000 curies. The shield water volume is 5,000 gallons and the source bundle is situated 11.5 feet below the surface. The RSO is Mark L. Driscoll, Radiation Safety Officer
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Michigan news
December 11, 2003 * Palisades - unannounced drill was misunderstood as announcing nearby chemical plant spill September 8, 2003 Canadian trash trucks turned back at border due to new radiation monitors Since radiation detection portals were installed to monitor trucks crossing from Canada to Michigan via Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, an average of two or three trash trucks are sent back to Ontario each week because of radioactive material detected. The statistics are necessarily anecdotal, because U.S. Customs Service doesn't track the occurances. An article in today's Detroit News about this is sure to increase public support for more restrictions on imports of out-of-state trash. The article's quote from a Canadian official seems tailor-made to make Michiganers see red: "Toronto City Councilor Brad Duguid, who chairs the city's public works committee, said trash trucks from Toronto are being unfairly targeted by U.S. Customs. 'Frankly, it's a concentrated effort to harass our trucks over trivial matters,' Duguid said. 'We had one or two trucks being turned away in the last few days because the radiation machine had broken down.' The article states that approximately 200 trash trucks a day come into Michigan from Canada. Portal alarms prompt follow-up inspection of the load, a rather nasty task. The only kind of sources discovered, at least as far as the article says, have been medical waste. A representative of one of the Don't Trash Michigan affiliates was cited as sggesting that some Canadian health care facilities could unscrupulously intentionally dispose of their institutional waste in trash bound for Michigan. Protestations to the contrary would be more persuasive if events like the trash truck that was literally dripping blood, from clearly institutional trash, had never happened. [Source: Paul Egan, "U.S. Customs agents turn away radioactive waste from Canada; 2 to 3 truckloads per week refused at Port Huron", Lansing State Journal, September 8, 2003; and "Trash triggers border alerts", Detroit News, Sept 8, 2003] August 12, 2003 Michigan - radiography source in truck left for servicing NRC has proposed that a fine of $6,000 be assessed against a radiography licensee, Mid American Inspection Services, Inc., of Gaylord, Michigan. One of the company's trucks was left at a car dealer for service, and a 35-curie Ir-192 source was left in the truck's locked darkroom. The key to the darkroom was on the ring left with the dealer. The paperwork required by DOT to accompany the source when being transported were, however, removed from the truck. The truck was test driven by dealer personnel who had no idea that the source was present. If the truck had been involved in an accident, emegency responders would not have had the benefit of the DOT paperwork. [Ref: James L. Caldwell (NRC Region III), "Notice Of Violation And Proposed Imposition Of Civil Penalty - $6000", letter EA-03-100, August 12, 2003 (ACN ML032240727)] June 30, 2003 * Michigan - Radioactive gauge stolen from work van parked at employee's home in Newport * The Ford Nuclear Reactor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is scheduled to permanently shut down after nearly 45 years of service on July 3, 2003. |