Re: Surface Contamination Release Limits

[Judd Sills <sillsj@GAT.COM>]

At 09:14 AM 2/27/97 -0600, you wrote:
>     I have made a couple of Posts to Radsafe on this topic already, and 
>     have received some very helpful responses (THANKS !).  
>     
>     At one time (I believe??),  NRC and Agreement State licensees based 
>     their DIRECT and SMEARABLE unconditional release criteria (at least 
>     for tools and equipment) on Reg. Guide 1.86 (1974).  Since Reg. Guide 
>     1.86 only addresses close out surveys performed in support of license 
>     termination, this practice may have been somewhat of a "stretch."
>     
>     The NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards published a 
>     document entitled "Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and 
>     Equipment Prior to Release for Unrestricted Use or Termination of 
>     Licenses for By-Product, Source, or Special Nuclear Material," which 
>     expanded the scope of Reg. Guide 1.86 to cover unconditional release 
>     for purposes other than license termination (which is what I am 
>     interested in).  This document was apparently initially published in 
>     1982.  However, a document with the same title is referenced in NUREG 
>     CR/5849 with a date of 1987. Also, an article in the November/December 
>     1996 issue of RSO magazine (pg 19) referenced a document with the same 
>     title with a 1993 publication date.
>     
>     One of my regulators is unaware that the NRC has "officially" expanded 
>     the scope of Reg. Guide 1.86 beyond its original intent.  We have told 
>     him about the above mentioned document, but we only have a re-typed 
>     version of it, and with questions concerning even its publication 
>     date, we are afraid he may still be skeptical.
>     
>     Could someone provide me with a copy of this original document?  What 
>     kind of document is this?  (its not a Reg. Guide, Branch Technical 
>     Position, HP Position Statement..... what is it!)  Also, what's the 
>     deal with the dates; has the document been revised since 1982?
>     
>     Thanks
>
Both the 1982 and 1987 issue dates are correct.  The only difference that
I can find between the two documents is the title change for the NRC
department that issued the documents.  In 1982, it was issued by the
Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety.  In 1987, it was issued by
Division of Fuel Cycle, Medical, Academic, and Commercial Use Safety.  I
am not able to find any difference in content between the two documents,
and the release criteria match those in Regulatory Guide 1.86.  I will be
happy to fax you both copies if you provide me with your fax number.  I am
not aware of a 1993 issue of this document.  As you are no doubt aware,
pending rule making on Decommissioning Criteria may over-rule this material
in the not too distant future.

Best regards.
Judd M. Sills, CHP           |   Office: (619)455-2049
General Atomics, Room 01-166C|      Fax: (619)455-3181
3550 General Atomics Court   |   E-Mail:  sillsj@gat.com
San Diego, CA  92121         |