[ RadSafe ] Legacy school rad materials disposal

[M K]

Actually, considering that the type of stuff you are talking about is
within regulations(AFAIK), this is not quite as dumb an idea as it sounds.
However, with this countries propensity for lawsuits, I can understand why
this may not be the best idea.
I WILL say, that I've seen every radioactive item in that box sold on eBay
in the recent past(not as a set).



On Sun, Jan 26, 2014 at 7:16 PM, Rees, Brian G <brees at lanl.gov> wrote:

> And there's always Ebay!
> Brian Rees
> (Obviously) my own personal opinion.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: J. Marshall Reber [mailto:jmarshall.reber at comcast.net]
> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 02:22 PM
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List <
> radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
> Cc: Dan McCarn <hotgreenchile at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Legacy school rad materials disposal
>
>
> On Jan 23, 2014, at 12:43 PM, Thomas Papura wrote:
>
> > I am trying to help out a couple local schools. They have some legacy
> radioactive sources, and among them are the kits as seen on Paul Frame's
> website:
> >
> > http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/Miscellaneous/plasticboxeseduquip.htm
> >
> > The least expensive quote we obtained from brokers was $225 per box. One
> school has 40 plus and the other 20 plus. This is a considerable expense.
> >
> > My question is this? Most brokers want to charge ludicrous amounts of
> money to dispose of them due to the Nitrate content and subsequent
> concerns. Considering the trivial amounts of Uranium and Thorium present, I
> would imagine they are exempt from regulation but was wondering if anyone
> knows for sure how they were distributed? Were they sold as exempt?
> Generally licensed? If so, perhaps they could be solidified in concrete and
> disposed of without regard to their rad content?
> >
> > Any assistance would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
>
>
> Given that the material is of such low activity and given that there are
> still educational organizations and institutions that teach about
> radioactivity and given that the public phobia concerning radioactivity has
> practically dried up the production of actual low level radioactive
> material, there are many who would welcome the acquisition of such unwanted
> experimental teaching sources!
>
> I believe the Boy Scouts of America still have an Atomic Energy Merit
> Badge program and there are still high schools who teach and use
> experiments about radioactivity.  In addition there are many amateur
> scientists who happily volunteer their services, radiation detection
> equipment and low level sources to school systems without the resources to
> support such specialized instruction who would happily pay a small pittance
> to cover the postage (indeed, the U.S.Postal Service can transport
> sufficiently weak radioactive material) and packaging in order to acquire
> such sources.
>
> Please feel free to contact me directly if interested in further
> suggestions.
>
> J. Marshall Reber, ScD
> 165 Berkeley St.
> Methuen MA 01844
>
> Tel/Fax: 978-683-6540
> Alternate Email: reber at alum.mit.edu
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list
>
> Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood
> the RadSafe rules. These can be found at:
> http://health.phys.iit.edu/radsaferules.html
>
> For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings
> visit: http://health.phys.iit.edu
> _______________________________________________
> You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list
>
> Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood
> the RadSafe rules. These can be found at:
> http://health.phys.iit.edu/radsaferules.html
>
> For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings
> visit: http://health.phys.iit.edu
>