"License-Free" Gauges

["Joe Greco" <jgreco@kodak.com>]

For all those who may use industrial density or level gauges:  be aware
that BSI, Aliquippa, PA is currently distributing gauges containing Cs-137
to recipients "free of licensing requirements".  No specific license
required. 
Not distributed under a general license.  How?  By using "exempt
quantities" of Cs-137.  Those familiar with exempt quantities may remember	
that the value for Cs-137 is 10 microcuries, which doesn't do a whole lot
by itself
in gauging applications.  So BSI uses multiple exempt quantities, up to
30 individual ten uCi sources, in one gauge, along with a NaI detector.
They note that the NRC and all agreement states are aware of this, and
have no objections.

Questions:
1.  Is anyone aware of similar situations that take full advantage of the
so-called
exempt quantity table?  Wasn't the intent of this table to allow persons to
possess small quantities of materials without the hassle of licensing?

2.  Are you as surprised as I that, with all the recent incidents of 
RAM-contaminated metals in scrapyards, this received federal/state approval
(rather, that it follows 10CFR 30.18 and 32.19)?

Note that BSI states that they will confirm user possession annually, take
disposal 
responsibility, and provide reports to customers/states if/as required.

Joe Greco
jgreco@kodak.com