Re: Supplemental Radiological Criteria

[LIPTONW@dteenergy.com]

License termination criteria should NOT be confused with free release
criteria 
for material being released by a licensee.  Generally, the only means by
which 
a licensee may release licensed material is by liquid or gaseous effluents
(if 
permitted by your license), or by transfer to an authorized recipient.  
Strictly, the amount of material that can be release to the general public
is 
nothing.  The question then becomes the sensitivity which is required for
free 
release surveys.  If what's considered appropriate instrumentation can
detect 
contamination, the item should not be released, even if the detected level
is 
below the criteria you quoted.  See HP Position Statement, HPPOS-072, "Guide 
on 'How Hard You Have to Look' as Part of Radioactive Contamination Control 
Program." 
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@dteenergy.com 
 
You wrote: 
 
>Radsafers, 
 
>I just received an NRC mailing regarding Radiological Criteria for License 
>Termination (FR Vol 63 No 222 p 64132).  This document contains a table 
>with some surface contamination screening values for common 
>radionuclides.  These numbers are much higher than I have seen.  I don't 
>doubt that these make sense based on risk but I'm (pleasantly) shocked 
>to see them coming from NRC.  Does anyone actually use these for 
>release values (e.g. Tritium 1.2 E8 dpm/100 cm2)? 
 
>A related question...does anyone have similar numbers for other common 
>research nuclides? 
 
>-Alan Jackson 
>AJackso1@hfhs.org
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