[ RadSafe ] Surveilance Frequency

Wed Aug 10 10:39:56 CDT 2016

I would have a tendency to agree and also find that many regulatory 
periodic survey requirements are essentially legacy provisions 
didactically propagated due to lack of understanding insight or 
imagination.  I also think this applies largely to machine radiations 
where when its off - its off (yes - excluding high energy accelerators 
or neutron generators) and exposures can be controlled.

It does seem that the emphasis has become compliance and thinking has 
become an exercise of the past.

That being said I can see one value to periodic surveys of a storage 
facility.  SECURITY!  Unless that facility is unequivocally and 
permanently SEALED things CAN change. Items/shielding CAN be moved or 
stolen and such occurrences COULD be evidenced by a change in radiation 
environment which could be detected by meticulous, systematic and 
consistent periodic surveys - assuming of course the surveys aren't just 
filed away but that someone is comparing past and present values.

Just my 2 cents ......

On 8/10/2016 7:09 AM, JOHN.RICH at sargentlundy.com wrote:
> Henric,
> Thx for the input.
>
> Since this is a client question , I can't really say too much.  However,
> the question arose from a discussion with people who had read regulations
> and convinced themselves that the vault had to be classified as a
> temporary low level waste storage facility, and then it followed that if
> it was a low level waste storage facility, it needed all the appropriate
> surveys (and facilities, etc.)
>
> We tried to convince them that regardless of what it was named, since
> nothing changed inside, it could essentially be sealed up.  Then came the
> usual question, "What does everyone else do?"
>
> Warning: rant follows.
> BOR (beginning of rant)
> A lot of new people entering the industry have lost all semblance of
> common sense.  The regulations are treated as absolutes with no
> consideration given to reality. They refuse to accept that power plants
> are electricity factories, not laboratories.  They refuse to accept the
> fact that the design basis is not reality; its a design basis so that if
> the plant can cope with it, hopefully it can cope with anything else that
> happens.  The design basis is not the only thing that can happen, so
> sometimes I run into a situation where the comment is its not in our
> design basis so we don't have to recognize it until the 'resident' tells
> us to,  etc., etc., etc.  I know that Aristotle complained about the
> hopelessness of the kids of his time, and maybe there's some of that here,
> but @$#%$*&%$, doesn't anybody think anymore?
> EOR (end of rant)
>   
> John Rich
> Manager/Consultant 2
> Nuclear Power Technologies
> Sargent & Lundy
> 55 East Monroe Street | Chicago, IL 60603
> office: 1-312-269-3768 | mobile: 1-561-676-8144
> email :john.rich at sargentlundy.com
>
>
>
> From:   <henric.bolander at vattenfall.com>
> To:     <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>,
> Date:   08/10/2016 08:53 AM
> Subject:        Re: [ RadSafe ] Surveilance Frequency
> Sent by:        radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>
>
>
> Hi John!
>
> I am curious about why somebody want to do a survey inside the vault if
> there is no work/inspection planned there. It is not in line with ALARA
> philosophy. It would be sufficient to do the dose rate surveys outside for
> that kind of area. Perhaps it is of interest to take dose rate
> measurements to keep track of the decay? In that case one can use
> telescopic poles at a safe distance.
>
> To answer your questions:
> 1. We have a fixed schedule for surveys and in this case it is performed
> twice a year. (For that kind of equipment it is stored in a locked
> building with controlled entrance).
> 2. No, dose rates are taken outside the fence or "building"
>
>
> Best regards
> Henric
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [
> mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of
> JOHN.RICH at sargentlundy.com
> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2016 8:02 PM
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] Surveilance Frequency
>
> Radsafers,
>
> The question are,
> 1. How often  do you have somebody do a dose rate surveillance for stable
> areas such as old steam generator storage vaults, ISFSIs, etc.?
> 2. Do you do anything other than a walk outside the fence?
>
> The reason for asking the question is that it was suggested that these
> stable facilities needed frequent exterior AND interior surveys.  The Regs
> don't seem to require active surveys after the stable facility is in
> place, sealed, an d stable.
>
> thx in advance  - -jmr
>
>
>
> John Rich
> Manager/Consultant 2
> Nuclear Power Technologies
> Sargent & Lundy
> 55 East Monroe Street | Chicago, IL 60603
> office: 1-312-269-3768 | mobile: 1-561-676-8144 email
> :john.rich at sargentlundy.com
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