License Issues for Radiochemistry

[Joel Webb <jwebb@cemrc.nmsu.edu>]

I am the RSO for a small research center that performs radiochemical analyses of environmental and biological media.  Our radiochemist  is wanting to expand upon his research and perform commercial analyses.  I am wondering how other analytical laboratories have their license worded to facilitate analyses of potentially contaminated media (mainly storage, inventory, and disposal)?  

I am also wondering how other commercial laboratories deal with samples where the entire sample is not digested in the analytical procedure (for example, actinide analysis of soil, splitting of urine, etc.).  Who owns the leftover sample matrix?  Who disposes of it?

Our laboratory performs very low level analyses.  We routinely quantify actinides in matrices that have had no other actinide input other than global fallout.  Does quantifying actinides in this matrix make any remaining matrix Class A waste?  Is there a lower limit to Class A waste for actinides?        

Joel Webb

CEMRC, NMSU
1400 University Drive
Carlsbad, NM 88220
505 234-5509
Fax: 505 887-3051
jwebb@cemrc.nmsu.edu