Re[2]: NRC Licensing of Am-241

["Eric L. Darois" <daroiel@naesco.com>]

     Wes
     
     At one time that is what I believed.  However, If this were the case, 
     then we could establish our "free release" program to screen for 
     radioactivity levels that correspond to the exempt quantity limits (or 
     1/10th to be conservative and allow personnel to leave the RCA with 
     "less than exempt quantities" on thier person or belongings.
     
     We (the nuclear power industry) have been specifically told by the NRC 
     that the release limits for contamination is zero (with reasonable 
     detection limits).  For liquids, the target (regulated) MDAs are 
     typically 1E-8 uCi/cc, 3 to four orders of magnitude below the exempt 
     concentration limits!!!
     
     There have been many a landfill purchased because of contamination 
     from levels less that the exempt concentration and quantity limits.
     
     Please help me understand !!!
     
     Eric
     Daroiel@naesco.com
     603-474-9574, X3871


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: NRC Licensing of Am-241
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at Internet
Date:    10/25/96 7:34 AM


Eric L. Darois wrote:
> 
>      This appears to be a confusing issue but not just for Am-241. 
> snip....
>      For example, a
>      licensee cannot simply declare a 5 uCi Cs-137 source "exempt" unless 
>      it is distributed under an E distribution license.  
>      
> snip....
     
Hi Radsafers,
     
I think the above statement is WRONG.  In my experience, and in 
discussions with NRC officials, any NRC licensee who is licensed to 
possess radioactive material may transfer exempt quantities of it to 
anyone at all. The catch is that if a NRC specific licensee wants to 
distribute exempt quantities COMMERCIALLY, he/she must get a specific 
license which allows COMMERCIAL distribution of exempt quantities.
     
To repeat, any NRC specific licensee may transfer exempt quantities to 
ANYONE.
     
If other Radsafers have a different opinion, please give references to 
the applicable 10 CFR section.
     
Cheers, Wes
     
-- 
Wesley R. Van Pelt, Ph.D., CIH, CHP                   KF2LG 
President, Van Pelt Assoc., Inc.      vanpeltw@mail.idt.net 
Consulting in radiological health and safety.
"TIME, its what keeps everything from happening at once."