RE: Radioactive vinegar bottle ?!?!

["Richard F. Orthen" <rorthen@EARTHSCIENCES.NET>]

John-Yes, the NPRM has a lot to do with NORM, specifically getting it out of

licensing space.  The NPRM deals only with source material licensees

transferring exempted amounts (i.e., <0.05 wt. %) outside the NRC-regulated

community (landfills, 'Radon Ranger' bazaars;), etc.).  NRC staff now

believes that such transfers could entail substantive risk and wants the

licensee to quantify that risk through a transfer-specific dose assessment.

According to the NRC:  "Recent estimates of possible radiation doses from

thorium and uranium suggest that quantities of source material in

concentrations below the 0.05-percent limit, in certain situations, could

result in individual doses of more than 1 millisievert/year)."  The proposed

demonstrable risk ceiling is an annual TEDE of 25 mrem.  For the rest of the

story, see:

http://ruleforum.llnl.gov/cgi-bin/downloader/transfers_lib/1155-0001.htm.

For a somewhat parallel petition by Philotechnics involving DU aircraft

counterweights, see

http://ruleforum.llnl.gov/cgi-bin/downloader/DB_PETITION_lib/683-0001.htm.



Up to this NPRM, NORM/TENORM was primarily a state concern.  Any

manufacturer, particularly the rare earth metals refiners and optics

coaters, must have a NRC license or product exemption to possess or utilize

non-exempt concentrations of source material.



Rick Orthen







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