Help! -Reply

[Todd Jackson <TJJ@nrc.gov>]

Steve Milloy,

You wrote:
"Does anyone know whether a material that is contaminated with 0.3 ppm enriched uranium
with an enrichment level of 75% U235 is subject to NRC or state regulation?"

A typical criteria for free release of enriched uranium in soil is 30 picocuries per gram.  This
sounds like it qualifies as special nuclear material so licensing under 10CFR 70
probably applies.  Licensability also depends on the total quantity of uranium involved, with the
 threshold in 10CFR150.11 given as "...not exceeding 350 grams of contained U-235.".  (Part
150 deals with Agreement States).  
The 30 pCi/g is from NMSS Policy and Guidance Directive FC 83-23 (1983), "Termination of
Byproduct, Source and SNM Licenses".  The value is also found in the 1981 Branch Technical
Opinion on Disposal or Storage of Thorium and Uranium Wastes, under option 1.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to email me directly too.

Todd Jackson
NRC Region I
tjj@nrc.gov