Re: Technical basis for 100 cm^2

["Bates Estabrooks -WIPP Site - N.M." <besta@tis.eh.doe.gov>]

At 10:05 AM 9/24/96 -0500, you wrote:
>It wasn't Reagan who retired Adm Rickover. It was Good 'ol Jimmy. 
>You see Jimmy wanted to be a Nuclear Officer while he was in the 
>Navy, and Rickover didn't select him. Jimmy might as well have signed 
>his death warrant, because his job was what kept rICKOVER GOING.
>
>
>
>
>> Date:          Tue, 24 Sep 96 09:00:25 -0500
>> Reply-to:      radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
>> From:          "Bates Estabrooks -WIPP Site - N.M." <besta@tis.eh.doe.gov>
>> To:            Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
>> Subject:       Re: Technical basis for 100 cm^2
>
>> At 09:05 PM 9/23/96 -0500, you wrote:
>> >     What do you mean by "Rickover Days"?  It wasn't that long ago. Or was 
>> >     it?  I'm glad to see someone still remembers the basic training.
>> >
>> >
>> >______________________________ Reply Separator
>> _________________________________
>> >Subject: Technical basis for 100 cm^2
>> >Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at INTERNET
>> >Date:    9/23/96 4:46 PM
>> >
>> >
>> >     
>> >To the best of my knowledge, I think the technical basis for using 100 cm^2 
>> >when surveying for loose contamination comes from Naval Nuclear Power,
during 
>> >the "Rickover Days", and is based on the following: 
>> >     
>> > (1) Smears tend to disintegrate when surveying areas greater than 100 
>> >cm^2.   (the original smears were paper chemistry filters) 
>> >     
>> > (2) 100 is a convenient number to use when performing calculations in 
>> >your head. 
>> >  (RadCon Math) 
>> >     
>> > (3) 100 cm^2 is approximately the area of clothing that would be 
>> >contaminated if   a individual brushed against a contaminated 
>> >surface. 
>> >     
>> >I hope this info can help.
>> >     
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> 
>> 
>> The "Rickover Days"  ended in 1981 when Pres. Reagan rather unceremoniously
>> retired him.  15 years ago is getting to be quite a while back.  My
>> understanding is though, that much of his legacy lives on.
>> Bates Estabrooks
>> Westinghouse Electric Corp.
>> WIPP-  Radiological  Ccontrols
>> 505-234-8470
>> fax: 505-885-4562
>> besta@tis.eh.doe.gov
>> 
>> Comments expressed are my own; not my employer or U.S. DOE (unless otherwise
>> stated).
>> 
>> 
>
>

Lest I seem petty let me simply say :  NOT!

When I left Enterprise in July of '81 the "Little Old Man" was still head of
Naval Reactors.

By the way,  the best biography of Rickover was the one written by Norman
Polmar, former U.S. Editor of Jane's Fighting Ships.  It was not an
"official" biography, sanctioned by the Admiral, but it was very interesting
and factual.  His descriptions of officer interviews square well with my own
experience.

Bates Estabrooks
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
WIPP-  Radiological  Ccontrols
505-234-8470
fax: 505-885-4562
besta@tis.eh.doe.gov

Comments expressed are my own; not my employer or U.S. DOE (unless otherwise
stated).