Rocks, related NRC position

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

For some time NIST has sold an SRM that is nothing more
than uniformly mixed dirt, except that the radioactive
contents are identified and quantified.  Since these
include Pu-239 for a while NRC required purchasers to
have a SNM license.  We finally got a legal interpretation
from NRC that this dirt was not subject to NRC rules so 
that it could be bought by anyone.
Admittedly this was an interpretation addressed specifically
to NBS for the specific situation described (i.e., material
was simply collected and not chemistry or processes were
conducted which would separate or concentrate the radioactive contents. 
But this would also seem to be your situation.
So it would seem to be reasonable that you could just throw
them out.

On the other hand if the samples are nicely identified as to
type, origin, etc. (with a certificate from a prestigous Univ.?) it would
appear that there might be a market for these within a certain community.

Put me on your list when you have an inventory.

-- 
the above are the personal musing of the author,
and do not represent any past, current, or future
position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
who might think that they are in a position of authority.
NBSR Health Physics
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301 975-5810
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Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
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