- About NRC           - The Commission
      - Statutory Authority
      - Strategic Plan
      - Budget &  Performance
      - Organization & Functions
      - Locations
      - History
      - Values
      - Policymaking
      - Radiation Protection
      - Fire Protection
      - How We Regulate
      - Grants
      - Civil Rights
      -     
    - NuclearReactors           - Operating Reactor Locations
      - Reactor Quick Links
      - Power Reactors
      - Research and Test Reactors
      - Operating Reactors
      - Operator Licensing
      - New Reactors
      - Operator Licensing for New Reactors
      - Reactor Safety Research
      - Advisory Comm (ACRS)
      - Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
      -     
    - NuclearMaterials           - Fuel Cycle Facility Locations
      - Uranium Recovery Locations
      - Materials Quick Links
      - Special Nuclear Material
      - Source Material
      - Byproduct Material
      - Med, Academic & Ind Uses
      - Source Materials Facilities
      - Uranium Recovery
      - Fuel Cycle Facilities
      - Materials Transportation
      - Materials Research
      - Advisory Comm (ACMUI)
      - Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
      - Materials Environmental Reviews
      -     
    - RadioactiveWaste           - Waste Quick Links
      - Low-Level Waste
      - Waste Incidental to Reprocessing
      - Incidental Waste Criteria
      - High-Level Waste
      - Uranium Mill Tailings
      - LLW Disposal
      - HLW Disposal
      - Spent Fuel Storage
      - Spent Fuel Transport
      - Waste Research
      -     
    - NuclearSecurity           - Security Spotlight
      - NRC Responsibilities
      - Domestic Safeguards
      - Radioactive Material Security
      - Facility Protection
      - Nuclear Material Control
      - International Safeguards
      - Information Security
      - Emergency Preparedness
      - &;   
    - Public Meetings& Involvement           - Public Meeting Schedule
      - Commission	    Schedule
      - Conferences & Symposia
      - Documents for Comment
      - Brochures & Fact Sheets
      - Involving Stakeholders
      - Info Quality Guidelines
      - Rulemaking Process
      - Licensing
      - Enforcement
      - Hearing Process
      - Hearing Applications
      -     

UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDSWASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

May 13, 1998

**Addressees**:

Part 35 Medical Licensees

**Purpose**:

NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to recent contamination incidents resulting from inadequatesurveys. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, asappropriate, to avoid problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not new NRC requirements;therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.

**Description of Circumstances**:

During the past months, there have been two instances of radiopharmacies receiving contaminated packages from clientfacilities. The contamination in these cases was limited to the exterior of the package. In both cases, the packages wereinitially surveyed before leaving the originating facility and no contamination was found. However, a spill at each client'sfacility contaminated the packages resulting in removable contamination in excess of DOT's limit of 2200 dpm/100 cm2(132,000 Bq/100 cm2). The packages were not resurveyed and were released with contamination. The two cases describedbelow involve the contamination of packages with technetium-99m (Tc-99m). An explanation of the root causes of theseincidents is provided.

**Discussion**:

The cases described above are two examples of the release of contaminated packages to nuclear pharmacies because offailures to conduct adequate and timely surveys as required by 10 CFR 20.1501, 10 CFR 30.53 and 10 CFR 35.70. Inaddition, as required by 10 CFR 35.21, the Radiation Safety Officer is responsible for the investigation of spills and theimplementation of corrective actions, as necessary. 10 CFR 35.21 also requires the licensee to establish and implementprocedures for training personnel who work in or frequent areas where byproduct material is used or stored, includingtraining in procedures for performing surveys.

When a spill occurs, it is important that the licensee respond properly to the event and take adequate measures to preventthe spread of the contamination. A survey of the area after the cleanup helps to ensure that the contamination is removedand that the possibility of unintended release of radioactive material is minimized. Proper health physics procedures dictatethat unexpected survey results be assumed correct until further investigation proves otherwise.

Each licensee is responsible for protecting public health and safety by ensuring that potential hazards are promptlyidentified, corrected, and, if required, reported. In addition, licensees are required to satisfy all NRC requirements relatedto conducting adequate surveys. Accomplishing this responsibility requires persistent and appropriate managementoversight of licensed activities.

This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any questions about the informationin this notice, please contact the technical contact listed below, or the appropriate regional office.

----