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Re: Apparent Illegal Shipment
DOT regulations do not distinguish between NORM-TENORM, etc. and NRC licensed
material. Radioactivity is radioactivity. (What a concept!) Here's the DOT
definition (49 CFR 173.403: "Radioactive material means ANY material having a
specific activity greater than 70 Bq per gram (0.002 microcurie per gram)" In
October, this will change to radionuclide specific values, to achieve
"harmonization" with international regulations; something that bothers a AAA
card holder such as me.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
John R Johnson wrote:
> Bill et al
>
> This is probably some NORM. Several years ago there was a rail car with
> recycled scrape pipes, etc going back and forth between Fort Nelson and the
> recycle yard in Prince George, BC. The recycle yard was rejecting it because
> it alarmed their monitors but the oil company did not know it was
> radioactive. I was doing a contract with Petro Canada at the time and found
> out that there is no clear regulatory limits for NORM, or TENORM as the ANSI
> committee prefers to call it.
>
> _________________
> John R Johnson, Ph.D.
> *****
> President, IDIAS, Inc
> 4535 West 9-Th Ave
> Vancouver B. C.
> V6R 2E2
> (604) 222-9840
> idias@interchange.ubc.ca
> *****
> or most mornings
> Consultant in Radiation Protection
> TRIUMF
> 4004 Wesbrook Mall
> Vancouver B. C.
> V6R 2E2
> (604) 222-1047 Ext. 6610
> Fax: (604) 222-7309
> johnsjr@triumf.ca
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
> [mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu]On Behalf Of William V Lipton
> Sent: February 13, 2004 5:20 AM
> To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
> Subject: Apparent Illegal Shipment
>
> I noticed the attached event in the NRC Daily Event Report. A truck
> arriving at a waste incineration facility alarmed a radiation monitor
> and was found to be reading 0.13 mrem/hr. According to the report,
> "...The driver of the truck was told to return the load back to its
> origin, BFI facilities, in Peabody, MA without any stops...." This
> implies that the site made a radioactive materials shipment without the
> required DOT controls. Assuming the material shipped would qualify as
> a "Limited Quantity", they needed the required notice, and the driver
> had to be hazmat employee trained. It does not seem that this was done,
> although I say, "apparent," because the report may be incomplete. This
> would be a violation of DOT regulations. If the contamination is
> identified as NRC licensed material, this would also be a violation of
> NRC regulations. It does not seem that anyone involved, including the
> MA regulators, noticed this.
>
> Recognizing that this type of shipment represents a low degree of
> hazard, DOT has issued exemptions, which may allow this shipment to
> procede without meeting all of the normal DOT requirements (DOT-E 11406
> for waste, DOT-E 10656 for scrap metal). These exemptions require
> approval by state authorities. Again, I say "apparent," since one of
> these exemptions may have been used and not noted in the report.
>
> I'd appreciate further information on this.
>
> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
> It's not about dose, it's about trust.
> Curies forever.
>
> Bill Lipton
> liptonw@dteenergy.com
>
> General Information or Other Event Number: 40511
> Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
> Licensee:
> Region: 1
> City: HAVERHILL State: MA
> County:
> License #:
> Agreement: Y
> Docket:
> NRC Notified By: MARIO IANNACCONE
> HQ OPS Officer: CHAUNCEY GOULD Notification Date: 02/10/2004
> Notification Time: 11:12 [ET]
> Event Date: 02/10/2004
> Event Time: [EST]
> Last Update Date: 02/10/2004
> Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
> 10 CFR Section:
> AGREEMENT STATE
> Person (Organization):
> KENNETH JENISON (R1)
> ROBERTO TORRES (NMSS)
>
> Event Text
>
> LOAD OF WASTE ARRIVING AT A WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITY SET OFF RADIATION
> MONITORS
>
> A load of waste or recycle materials that had been transported to
> Covanta Haverhill, Inc (a waste-to-energy facility) in Haverhill, MA had
> a radiation measurement of 0.13 mrem/hr when it entered the facility.
> The driver of the truck was told to return the load back to its origin,
> BFI facilities, in Peabody, MA without any stops. Once at the origin of
> the shipment, the load is to be isolated until mitigation by a
> consultant. A report detailing material identification and disposition
> shall be submitted to the MA Radiation control Program.
>
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