Re: DOE's decision on MOX fuel

["Charles Meyer" <CMEYER@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us>]

Second, I don't believe that any commercial facility currently has the
capability, the experienced personnel, or the bioassay programs to
handle large quantities of Pu-oxide.  We (DOE) have enough of a problem
and we've been doing it for decades.  In addition, I believe that the 
FDA's approval of the Investigational New Drug Protocol for chelation
agents used for Pu intakes is only for valid for DOE.  Regardless of the
efforts in cleanliness and fuel integrity, there will always be "tramp Pu?"
on the bundles and an occasional pin hole leak resulting in Pu contamination
of the primary coolant.  This will certainly affect the smear surveys,
air sampling, waste water analysis, radwaste, etc., at commercial power Rx's.

I'd like to hear the thoughts of the many hard working HP's at commercial
fuel and power Rx facilities on how this apparently good idea on the surface
could affect them.

Bob Loesch


Bob,

I'm not in the power reactor business,  If radiotoxicity is your 
concern then I must ask what the government is doing about business 
which use zirconium sands which contain relatively high 
concentrations of Th-232 for sand blasting.  These operations must 
generate  airborne concentrations well in excess of the DAC for 
Th-232 and are virtually uncontrolled, unless perhaps the operations 
are conducted on a DOE prime contractor's facility.  The ALI for 
Th-232 is 0.7E-7 microcuries and that for Pu-239 is 0.8E-7.  Sand 
blasting in a great number of cases is performed in open areas where 
other personnel besides the sand blaster are exposed to elevated 
levels of Th-232,  NRC, EPA, and OSHA are aware this is going on yet 
I see no initiatives to remedy what could be very high doses being 
delivered  to members of the general public,  HIGHER THAN IF THE 
PEOPLE WERE INHALING PU-239 AT THE SAME CONCENTRATIONS. 
 What's wrong with this picture?
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<>    Charles R. (Russ) Meyer                  <>
<> Email: cmeyer@tdh.state.tx.us           <> 
<>     Phone:(512)834-6688                       <>
<>        Fax:(512)834-6654                        <>
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