Re: Think of the Paper work! - Sewer Leak at WSU

[LIPTONW@dteenergy.com]

Another problem which a research reactor encountered from the disposal of 
radwaste via sanitary sewer is that the sewage treatment plant
reconcentrated 
the diluted radioactive material in the sludge.  This sludge had been
shipped 
to the municipal landfill. When this facility closed, the sludge was shipped 
to a commercial site, where incoming shipments were surveyed.  These surveys 
detected the radioactive material in the sludge, which was traced back to
the 
reactor. 
 
Although allowed by 10CFR20, sewage disposal of long-lived radioactive 
material may not be acceptable. 
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@dteenergy.com 
 
You wrote: 
 
WSU NEWS OF THE DAY  
> 
>WSU REPORTS LOW LEVEL RADIATION SPILL  
> 
>PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State University has reported to the state 
>health department and federal nuclear regulatory officials that low 
>levels of radioactive waste solutions have leaked from a broken sewer 
>pipe near the university's Nuclear Radiation Center. The leak was 
>detected Wednesday when a reactor technician saw a small stream of water 
>seeping from an embankment about 30 feet from the reactor building. The 
>source of the water was determined and the leak stopped. Detector 
>readings showed the presence of low level radiation.  
> 
>The release poses no threat to the environment or individuals working at 
>the radiation center or passing the site, said Dwight Hagihara, director 
>of WSU Environmental Health and Safety Services. The radioactivity comes 
>from solutions containing low level radioactive isotopes used by plant 
>and animal scientists to conduct research on biological systems. The 
>solutions are collected by radiation safety technicians and, in 
>accordance with practices approved by the state health department, 
>flushed into the university's sanitary sewer system. The diluted 
>solutions are eventually processed by the city sewage treatment plant.  
> 
>Radiation safety workers are removing contaminated dirt at the point of 
>the release and putting it in plastic bags which will be sent to an 
>approved disposal site. Repair or replacement of the clay sewer line 
>will be completed as soon as possible, Hagihara said. The cause of the 
>break in the line is undetermined. 
> 
>Operations of the reactor were temporarily suspended while crews were 
>determining the source of the leak and making temporary repairs. The 
>research reactor, opened in 1961, is one of the few university 
>facilities of its kind in the country. It produces the radioactive 
>isotopes used by scientists and conducts sample analysis.  
> 
>For the complete stories on WSU News of the Day, please see the 
>comprehensive News Index at: 
> 
> http://www.wsu.edu/NIS/1998NewsIndex.html
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html