Re: NRC Inspection

[sandy_perle@email.fpl.com]

     In the commercial nuclear reactor world it is a little easier to 
     detect when RAM is leaving the site, via the use of sensitive portal 
     monitors. They are "not" the ultimate detection device and only 
     enhance one's ability to identify RAM. Unfortunately no licensee can 
     ever guarantee that material has been removed from the premise. If an 
     individual is determined to circumvent procedures, they are going to 
     do it and they will more often than not, getaway with it. In a 
     university or hospital environment, many of the isotopes will not be 
     detected with usual instrumentation, thus making it more difficult to 
     detect with equipment such as the portal monitor.
     
     I believe that the cost would be too great, in equipment and 
     personnel, to ever get to the point where we are confident, no, not 
     100% confidence level, that we can maintain RAM security. It can't and 
     won't happen, and I don't think we should ever fool ourselves that it 
     is possible. If the NRC or other regulators want this as a "definite", 
     we need to remind them that even this government can't guarantee that 
     RAM, which is highly detectable, hasn't been "lost" or "missing" over 
     the many years. I believe they should "clean their house" before they 
     try to clean someone else's.
     
     
     Sandy Perle
     Supervisor Health Physics
     Florida Power and Light Company
     Nuclear Division
     
     (407) 694-4219 Office
     (407) 694-3706 Fax
     
     sandy_perle@email.fpl.com
     
     HomePage: http://www.lookup.com/homepages/54398/home.html


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: NRC Inspection
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at Internet-Mail
Date:    11/17/95 7:09 AM


>>He asked one of our rad safety staff members how far she though he could get 
with the pretend material - she responded, "Probably back to Chicago!!

None of this came as a surprise to either our staff or the NRC inspector. 
We are going to try to raise the awareness of our ram users regarding
security, but as most of you know, it's an uphill battle.  Any suggestions
out there??  We (and probably a lot of others) would like to here 'em.

Mack R.
mrichard@wpo.iupui.edu