BF Goodrich in Tuscaloosa,  Alabama fined for mishandling radioative material

    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Department of Public Health
has fined BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing of Tuscaloosa $650 for
failing to follow procedures in handling radioactive material.
    Kirksey E. Whatley, director of the department’s office of
radiation control, said Wednesday the missing radioactive material
poses no health threat to the public. He said the material was a
very small amount and was in a contained unit.
    The plant told the state agency in May that two devices
containing the radioactive material were missing.
    Whatley said the devices, which contained small amounts of the
radioactive isotope Americium 241, have not been located. He said
they might have left the plant when the production line on which
they were attached was dismantled and removed as scrap.