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RE: What to do with old Liquid Scintillation Counter



Title: RE: What to do with old Liquid Scintillation Counter

The first thing you need to do is obtain information on the reference source(s) that go with the LSC.  The isotopes used in them can vary; we've seen radium, barium, cesium and others over the years.  Determine from your paperwork or through the manufacturer/distributer if the source was distributed as an exempt source or under a general or specific license (GL/SL).  If the source is exempt, you have no problem.  It will probably prove to be a GL source, but whether a GL or SL source, it will need to be transferred to someone with a SL.  If the LSC is still operational and thus retains some value, you may be able to find a licensed university or college willing to take it off your hands.  Call the Tenn. Rad. Control program (615/532-0364; ask for Johnny Graves in Licensing) for  names/phone numbers of licensed educational institutions.  If the device is broken or if you can't find any takers, you should start with the maufacturer (Packard Instrument Co., Inc., phone: 630/322-5333; Leroy Booth Corp. RSO, Donna ?, Reg. Affairs Specialist) to see if they 1) will take it back and 2) how much they want to charge you to take it back.  You shouldn't have to ship the whole device if you are able to remove the source(s) from it, but that operation likely requires that the individual doing it be approved (i.e., specifically licensed) to conduct such activities.  Talk to Packard and the Tenn. Rad. Control people about these details; they should be able to help.  If all else fails, you'll have to go with a LLRW broker to dispose of the sources; the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors maintains a listing of such brokers; again, the Tenn. Rad. Control people can help by providing you with a copy of the list.  I keep suggesting Tenn. instead of the NRC because you are likely to obtain a much quicker response that way.  Good luck.

Walter Cofer
Florida Bureau of Radiation Control
Walter_Cofer@doh.state.fl.us