Tritium and the navy

[RONALD GOODWIN <RONALD_GOODWIN@health.ohio.gov>]

     To all, I was not "in" the navy technically.  I started this industry 
     in 1970 at a civilian Naval shipyard providing health physics 
     (radiation protection) coverage for overhaul and refueling of fast 
     attack nuclear submarines.  So, I am not under a "mindset" of the navy 
     but learned HP/RP their way.
     
     Before I start in on what I came here to say, let me say something 
     about tritium and neutron dose.
     
     Tritium is not considered much of a problem in a shipyard, when you 
     consider the gamma exposure due to Co60 and Cs137.  Therefore, we did 
     not need to monitor for it.  Under 99+% of all jobs performed, 
     including refueling, the systems remained closed, did not leak, did 
     not contaminate, etc.  Very unlike todays commercial nuclear plants.
     
     Neutrons, did several start-up surveys in tunnel, ULAMS and LLAMS and 
     forward near ELT "kitchen". (navy submariners know where I am talking 
     about-part of the sub).  Never saw neutron doses outside of these 
     areas get much above 2-3 mRem/hr contact at 100% reactor power with 
     the bulkheads using a BF3 neutron survey meter - AN/PDR-70 Snoopy.  As 
     no body and I mean nobody ever enters a sub reactor compartment when 
     the reactor is cooking away, no neutron dose to measure, for the most 
     part.
     
     Now, about HP/RP training, navy controls and so forth.  I worked at 
     that yard for over five years.  I participated in more than 11 
     refuelings and overhauls.  In that time, I saw with my own eyes, one 
     personnel contamination incident, and helped clean up about five more 
     (four all occurring at the same time when a "cleaner" patted down the 
     reactor seals following removal of the reactor head - if you do not 
     know, the naval reactors do not bolt their reactor head to the vessel, 
     it seals in another way altogether).  
     
     Following the shipyard I went into commercial nuclear starting at 
     Brown's Ferry about 5 days after the fire - anybody out there old 
     enough to remember the fire at BFNP?.  Been at a lot of power plants 
     since from Southern California to Connecticut Yankee (uhhhh wait, also 
     worked a quick job at Boston).  In the remaining 20+ years of 
     commercial nuclear power, I have seen more areas contaminated through 
     neglect, sloppy work practices, don't give a damn-somebody else will 
     decon after I'm done, and so forth to make poor Hymie roll over in his 
     grave.  What I'm saying is - in too many words, I know - the navy 
     nuclear program was an exemplary place to start, whether as civilian 
     under naval training or on board the boats as ELT.  If all the HPs I 
     have met in 26 or 27 years had Navy training, and if their training 
     missions were carried out (e.g., protect the worker, protect the 
     environment, protect the vessel) then commercial nuclear power would 
     not be in such a pickle, with NIMBY's protesting and getting plants 
     shutdown before they even start up, or having good units put out of 
     commission before their life expectancy is up.
     
     My son is now leaving for sub school (he is in - not a civie) and I am 
     proud.  I hope he becomes an ELT.  I am sure he won't. Head is set on 
     being a navy diver - but whatever he chooses, he is sure going to get 
     a head start on anyone else of his generation who thinks that just 
     getting the old BS makes then hot stuff!
     
     Ronald_goodwin@health.ohio.gov
     Senior Health Physicist
     Nuclear Material Safety