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["Jim F. Herrold" <Herrold@UWYO.EDU>]

RADSAFERS:

Are there any NRC or state licensee out there who have recently (within the
last seven years) been approved for field studies involving tagging and
releasing amphibians? Our local Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit has
proposed implanting 100 microcuries of Ta-182 in toads to track them before
and during hibernation. I asked them to dig up references and all they could
produce were studies conducted in the 1950s and 60s. The regulatory climate
has cooled  lately where releases of radioactive materials to the
environment are concerned. It would help my evaluation and smooth our
application to the NRC if I can refer to similar studies that have been
approved in the last few years.

I would really appreciate all the information I can get my hands on,
especially approved techniques and instrumentation. They want to tag the
toads in August of 1999, and I know from past experience that I need to get
my application to the NRC as soon as possible.

Conversely, if no one is using this technique anymore, what alternatives are
out there? The Co-op unit tried radio transmitters and found them to be
stressful on the small creatures and not very reliable tracking devices.
Despite the obvious radiation hazards to researcher and toads, and risk of
losing licensed materials to predators, are there other reasons why this
technique should not be used?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jim Herrold
Radiation Safety Officer
University of Wyoming

(307) 766-3277
herrold@uwyo.edu
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