VAN CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL STOLEN

WBIR Television, Knoxville, TN ^ | 6/26/2002 | Stephanie Anderson

[Tennessee_Bob]

A state van containing a gauge with small amounts of radioactive material has been stolen.

The device containing the radioactive material is in a case about the size of a suitcase. It was located in the back of a van operated by a Tennessee Department of Transportation employee in Corryton.

The gauge is used for measuring moisture density in road construction and does not pose an immediate threat if it is remains in tact.

Officials say if the radioactive sources are exposed or removed from their sealed container could present a radiation hazard.

[Barnacle]

Tonk, It looks like brat lives in Las Vegas.

Rather than worrying about safe shipping, I'd bet he's more worried that the shipment will safely arrive and arrive and arrive...

[justlurking]

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[SBeck]

Will you ex-O5D or 18Es stop your groupings, some of us are trying to sleep.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I'm willing to believe Yucca Mtn is safe as soon as the NRC gives it the final OK. Some 20 years of studies and they (NRC) are still not sure.
They have the only legal authority to open it.
I'll believe shipping across country is safe as soon as our borders are sealed.

[RightWingNut]

Dear Fellow Freepers,
If only we in TN were samrt enough to allow our "all-knowing legislators" to give us a state income tax, this incident never would have happened !! (SARCASM OFF)

[cva66snipe]

Stolen from Corryton? Likely they were after the van and not the contents. This would probably not have happened just a year or so ago. D.O.T. changed colors of vehicles from orange to white. White vans are easy to blend into traffic where as orange ones stick out like a sore thumb.

[Tennessee_Bob]

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[Not_Who_U_Think]

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[Tennessee_Bob]

Ok, I'll try something different:

??

[acehai]

Yeah...The latest incarnation to rear it's ugly head is a flat 6% across the board tax on everybody...

A 1.5% hike already.

And some of these damn fool legislators will buy this mess of bovine excrement...

[Timesink]

I think this is a good rule of thumb you can use to judge how dangerous any stolen radioactive material might be: If you can find it listed for sale at Amazon, it's probably not something you have to worry about.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Good point, but the name of the item wasn't listed anywhere, and I can't read it on the unit itself in the picture.

Like I said in other posts - it's a matter of security. This is a low-level source, but higher power sources are out there as well, and they're not any better secured than this thing is.

[cva66snipe]

Looks like the scene of the crime moved a little west. Like half way across the county. They consider it serious enough to involve TEMA. I found this article in www.knoxnews.com

State and local briefs for June 27 June 27, 2002

Stolen DOT gauge could pose radiation hazard if broken The state is asking residents for help in locating a stolen moisture density gauge that could prove dangerous if broken.

The device was stolen from a 1997 Ford Aerostar Tennessee Department of Transportation van while it was in Karns.

The gauge case is about the size and shape of a suitcase and is made of a hard, yellow plastic with handles on each end and the top.

The gauge itself is also yellow with a rectangular base and foot-long handle. Both are clearly labeled as radioactive.

The gauge is used in measuring properties of materials used in road construction. Small amounts of radioactive material in the gauge are contained in sealed sources.

The device could present a radiation hazard if it was damaged and the radioactive sources exposed.

The state urges anyone with information about the gauge to call the Knoxville Emergency Assistance Center at 865-594-5518 or the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency at 1-800-262-3300.

[exnavy]

Wow, this does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling.

[RaceBannon]

Ok, my dad knew Morse code, please translate!

[Tennessee_Bob]

All your base are belong to us.....

[Palmetto]

VAN CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL STOLEN

Jim Hodges has got to be behind this.

[Cachelot]

Already got one.

Can we come up and see it?

[socal_parrot]

No.

[Sawdring]

He might be. That event reminded me of the Caddy Shack pool scene where he eats the candy bar at the end. I figured it was some medical waste, but the smell test proved me wrong.