Reports from Five Radiation Safety and Health Experts on the June 9 Plutonium Incident

NIST is conducting an internal investigation into the causes of a June 9 incident in which a vial containing a 1/4 gram (1/100th ounce) of plutonium cracked, spilling the material. The investigation will also evaluate the effectiveness of NIST's actions in responding to the incident.

In conducting its investigation, NIST has requested assistance from five radiation health and safety experts. The reports below were authored by these experts and will be used to inform NIST's findings. Other than the redactions described below, the reports have not been edited by NIST.

In those instances where the author of a report has not already done so, NIST has made the decision to redact from the reports the names of the individuals directly involved in the incident or in directing the response to it, who have not previously been identified publicly, out of respect for the personal privacy of those individuals.

• Paul S. Hoover -- Senior Advisor, Radiation Protection Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  With over 23 years of health physics and radiation protection program management experience at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including radiation protection experience at LANL plutonium facilities.

• Kenneth C. Rogers -- Former Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1987-1997)
  With 15 years as President of Stevens Institute of Technology, designated President Emeritus in 1987. Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.

• J. Michael Rowe -- Consultant
  With more than 35 years of experience in management and operation of neutron science and nuclear facility operations at NIST (retired 2004). Presently a consultant on nuclear safety analysis with Brookhaven National Laboratory.

• Lester A. Slaback, Jr. (retired 2001) -- Supervisory Health Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology
  With 21 years of health physics and radiation protection management experience at NIST (1980-2001) and 15 years of experience at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Defense Nuclear Agency.

• Richard E. Toohey -- Director, Dose Reconstruction Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
  With more than 30 years as a health physics expert and presently the president-elect of the U.S. Health Physics Society. He is also a member of the National Council on Radiation Measurement and Protection.

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Created: 07/11/2008
Last updated: 07/11/2008
Contact: inquiries@nist.gov