Re: Exit Contamination Surveys

[Randy Goodwin <rgoodwin@erinet.com>]

Reynaldo_Rey_Bocanegra@rl.gov wrote:
> 
>           Ladies and Gents:
> 
>           I'm working an issue at DOE's Hanford site regarding the necessity
>           and type of contamination survey appropriate for items released
>           from a radiological buffer area (RBA) for unconditional use in
>           uncontrolled areas --- i.e. items located in an RBA being released
>           for off-site use.
> 
>           The DOE Rad Con Manual (RCM) addresses contamination surveys of
>           items released from contamination areas and radiological buffer
>           areas.  In the past, DOE contractors at Hanford interpreted the
>           RCM as requiring contamination surveys on items leaving the buffer
>           area; even if the items were never inside a contamination area.
>           This interpretation of the RCM has recently come into question by
>           some contractors.  The new thinking is that items released from a
>           buffer area do not need to be surveyed ... the reasoning is long
>           and complicated.  I am looking for information from non-DOE
>           facilities to see how the outside world does business with respect
>           to contamination surveys of items released from RBAs.
> 
>           I am not aware of any nuclear facility (power plant or fuel cycle)
>           that allows unconditional material release from an RBA without some
>           sort of frisk.  Is this true at your facility?  If there are
>           exceptions, I would like to get information describing the
>           circumstances under which this is allowed and the basis used to
>           justify this.
> 
>           I am also interested in any other information on RBA exit surveys
>           or in other contacts that may have pertinent information.
> 
>           Thanks for help.
> 
>           Rey Bocanegra
>           DOE Technical Specialist
>           on Radiological Controls
>           U.S. Department of Energy
>           Richland Operations Office
>           Richland, WA
> 
>           reynaldo_rey_bocanegra@rl.gov
>           (509) 372-2868


a buffer area in the DOE world is setup adjacent to a contamination area 
mainly for the removal of items from a contamination area.

at fernald, we have a controlled area(the equivalent to a RCA)and within 
the controlled areas we have buffer areas which provide an exit from 
contamination areas for personnal and equipment.
once items are surveyed from a buffer area, the items are then still in 
the controlled area, prior to leaving the controlled area equipment must 
be surveyed prior to exiting the controlled area.  the controlled area 
at fernald encompasses the entire process side(hundreds of acres).

if the buffer area you are discussing is between the contolled and 
uncontrolled areas, then all items must be frisked prior to leaving the 
buffer area and before entering the uncontrolled area.

remember, any item going from a controlled area to an uncontrolled area 
must be surveyed.