Re: Release of Soil Samples to Offsite Lab

[LIPTONW@detroitedison.com]

You wrote:   
 
Radsafers, 
 
At our DOE site, we are occasionally tasked with sending soil samples to 
offsite laboratories for non-rad testing (compaction, VOCs,  etc.).  The 
problem we have is little guidance as to detection limits (allowable 
residual levels) for various radionuclides that might be in the soils.  
Current practice is to screen samples by gamma spectroscopy and send 
the sample to a licensed lab (capable of accepting contaminants up to the 
applicable MDA or measurement).  I'm curious to know what other sites 
with multiple radionuclides of concern are doing, in particular if anyone is 
using specific release guidelines (and the origin of such guidelines) to 
send samples to non licensed facilities. 
 
Thanks in advance for your help. 
 
Jeff Stapleton 
email "stapjs@your-net.com" 
 
See NRC, "Health Physics Position Statement" No. 221, (HPPOS-221), available 
at the NRC Web Page.  This is specifically for oil, but could be applied to 
soil.  The underlying requirement is that the material being released contain 
no detectable licensed radionuclides, when assayed with the LLD's used for the 
Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program, as specified in the Standard 
Radiological Technical Specifications.   
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@detroitedison.com