RE: release of material

["Redmond, Randy R. (RXQ) " <RXQ@y12.doe.gov>]

Lew,

This has been an issue for as long as you and I can remember - when do we
consider the contamination volumetric instead of surface?  Will the decision
whether the contamination is volumetric differ by material?  Contamination
in water is volumetric without question;  surface contaminated metal that
has been melted is volumetric;  contamination on (in?) a stainless steel
surface (?) - we've both seen a lot of leaching in our times?  If the
material was solid prior to being subjected to radioactive material
contamination, has remained solid in its original form, and has not been
subjected to activation, at what depth do we draw the line before we go from
surface to volumetric?  1 mil, 5 mil?  Is there a surface that is not porous
to some extent?  If we pull an air sample on a glass fiber filter, some of
the radioactive particles will get trapped within the filter matrix and not
be on the surface, is the filter considered volumetrically contaminated or
can we discard it as clean trash if it is less than the facility limits for
surface contamination?  I've seen metal objects that are surface
contaminated with depleted uranium and you can't detect (we won't get on
this subject) any alpha contamination.  The contamination has not been
painted over.  Since I can't detect the alpha that I know is there, should I
consider the object volumetrically contaminated?

These are clearly my own ramblings.

Randy Redmond
Lockheed Martin Energy Systems
Radiological Control Organization
Email:  rxq@Y12.doe.gov
Phone:  865-574-5640
Fax:  865-574-0117


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	OFFTOWY@aol.com [SMTP:OFFTOWY@aol.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, August 30, 2000 2:00 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Re: release of material
> 
> I think one of the problems from a guidance standpoint is that DOE's
> criteria 
> for release from controlled areas (not ultimate free release from the
> site) 
> are based on surface contamination only.  The issue of railroad ties and
> such 
> things may rightly be considered "volume-contaminated" due to the depth of
> 
> the contamination within the item.  DOE has not published any 
> generally-applicable criteria for release of these items from the
> controlled 
> area.
> 
> Lew LaGarde
> offtowy@aol.com
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