Field Detection of Pu -Reply

[ABELQUIE@ORAU.GOV]

I'd recommend the field screening of your soils with a HP Ge detector
deployed in the field.  Many D&D contractors are now using field labs to
obtain quick results to guide their remedial actions - e.g. to determine that
enough soils been excavated to assure that release limits have been
met. Typically, the soil samples are counted "wet" (no drying or other
processing) to provide a relatively fast indication of the radionuclide
concentrations.  However, I would not recommend that each bucket-load
be analyzed in this manner.

Good Luck.

Eric Abelquist
abelquie@orau.gov     

>>> D1.OUT."Bates.Estabrooks@rfets.gov" 04/23/98 10:05am >>>
          RADSAFERs:
          
          Maybe some of you all could offer a suggestion.
          
          Rocky Flats will, in a few weeks, begin excavating a 
          1950s-vintage trench in which drums of depleted uranium chips 
          and turnings (mixed with cutting coolants)  were buried.
          
          As each intact drum (highly unlikely), or its carcass with 
          contents (very likely), is excavated, we would like to know 
          rather promptly whether we have any "surprises" such as Pu or 
          highly-enriched uranium.  We know that large quantities of DU 
          are buried there, but since the facility also worked with Pu 
          and HEU, there is a small chance of these things being found 
          also.
          
          Therefore, can anyone recommend a quick screen using field 
          instruments that we might be able to perform on each backhoe 
          bucket of stuff to indicate whether either of these fissile 
          substances (pu or HEU) are present in significant quantities?
          
          We have a fairly broad range of portables including the SAIC 
          AP-2.
          
          Thanks for your help.
          
          Bates Estabrooks
          bates.estabrooks@rfets.gov
          303-966-3769