[ RadSafe ] Looking for information on soil contamination

Fri Aug 24 13:21:13 CDT 2012

Maybe I am reading it different but I think the question was more about
what criteria should be used if posting an area of soil as a
contaminated area due to its potential to contaminate people and
equipment that come in contact with it.  

Martin W. Bourquin     Manager - EHS
W. R. Grace & Co., 4000 N. Hawthorne Street Chattanooga, TN 37406, USA |
T +423 697 8216 | F +423 624-2298 | Marty.Bourquin at grace.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike
(DOH)
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 1:14 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Looking for information on soil contamination

Hi, John.

In an emergency situation, things are different, and I believe that as
radiation professionals our job is as much to keep decision makers from
getting too focused on the rad aspect as it is to inform them of the
radiation dangers.  For example, in a dirty bomb situation, telling the
hospital that the controls they use for patients receiving radiation
treatment internally are not appropriate for someone who will bleed out
in the next five minutes.  

In a large incident I am a proponent of using the sewer system for
disposing of radioactive contamination.  The material is moved into a
highly shielded, very reliable transportation system, diluted by VAST
quantities of water and other material, delivered to a secure location
controlled by professionals who have a deep understanding of the
importance of contamination control, and mixed with a material that has
an additional social taboo on it that drops the ingestion pathway to
almost nonexistent.  

But even in an emergency, if I were establishing a decon station I would
raid Home Depot for all sorts of goodies that would make the process
better, and the cleanup after we were done easier.  I might flush
contamination down the drain, but I would be reluctant to wash it into
the ground.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Dixon, John E.
(CDC/ONDIEH/NCEH)
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 7:33 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Looking for information on soil contamination

Hmm. Depending upon the situation (a large incident, mass casualty
response, etc.) there is a memorandum out there (from the EPA) which
indicates it is acceptable for such decon runoff to be allowed to fall
to the ground AND run to sanitary sewer systems.

Regards,
John E. Dixon, CHP

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike
(DOH)
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 2:06 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Looking for information on soil contamination

Hi, Harry.

Just out of curiosity, why would you ever decon people and equipment
over soil, rather than on a surface that can be itself be easily
deconed, or easily removed?  If you are cleaning up heavy vehicles in
the field you might need to bury your surface under a foot or so of sand
to keep it from getting damaged, but it can be done.  I live in
confidence that it will be cheaper to prevent the spread of
contamination to the soil column than it will be to clean it up.  

And posting it as a "Contaminated Area" just means the cleanup will be
bigger and vastly more expensive when it is eventually required.  

The Navy realized some time ago that control is WAY cheaper and easier
than cleanup.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of
Anagnostopoulos, Harry (CONTR)
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 10:55 AM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Looking for information on soil contamination

RadSafers;

I've been asked to gather information on how other organizations
evaluate the potential for soil contamination to result in removable
contamination on persons and equipment.  In other words, what criteria
are being used to determine when an area of soil contamination must be
posted as a Contamination Area?

We are particularly interested in the Army, Navy, and Air Force
approach, however all replies are helpful.

Please contact me directly with a quick note about what you do, at
H.Anagnostopoulos at nv.doe.gov.

Thanks in advance,

-          Harry

Harry Anagnostopoulos, CHP

Radiation Services Manager

Navarro-Intera contracted to the 

U.S. Department of Energy, NNSA Nevada Site Office

P.O. Box 98952

Las Vegas, NV  89193-8952

(702) 295-3489 Desk

(702) 513-4264 Cell

H.Anagnostopoulos at NV.DOE.GOV <mailto:H.Anagnostopoulos at NV.DOE.GOV> 

"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but
planning is indispensable."

-             President Dwight D. Eisenhower

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