Realistic training (info)

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

DoD and DoE put on 3 or 4 training exercises where short lived alpha and
photon emitters were dispersed over a large area (several acres as I
recall) to provide field training for surveying for a weapons accident. 
Aside from the training benefit a major relearned lessons was in the area
of appropriate instrumentation.
But the main point is that it could be done, albeit within the  context of
an existing Envir. Assessment.
As I recall they initially used Ra-223, and later added Hg-197. The photon
emitting nuclide was to simulate Am-241 to allow the use of FIDLER type
instruments.
These were the NUWAX exercises.
Whether you could do this in an NRC regulated environment or not (or the
current DoE env.) is a matter of speculation.  But the training results
were extremely valuable.
-- 
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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