Re: Release Criteria for Heavy Equipment

[Kelly Ausbrooks <ausbrookskl@yahoo.com>]

Howdy,
  Can't speak for the rest of the DOE world, but here in our little
corner, we use the 5400.5 limits (and the TRU limits set forth in the
Pelitier(sp?) memo, i.e. 20 trans and 100 fixed dpm/100cm2.  I don't
know about your site office, but ours get's nervous any time we start
talking about going above 5000 dpm fixed beta.  In fact, on one
project, we had some fluorine cells prepped for off-site release with
a couple spots of fixed beta at around 7000 dpm/100cm2.  Well, if you
averaged over the entire surface of the cell, or over 1 m2 as stated
in 835 or 5400.5, you got less than 5000 by a wide margin.  But, the
site office, and the HP manager at the time said no way and we spent
the better part of a day scrubbing the cell with coke (and other
substances that I will not mention for fear of prison time).  
  In reference to other equipment such as air handlers, drill rigs,
tractors, fork trucks, etc, we supposedly do a 100% survey for alpha
and beta (fixed and trans).  Notice I said supposedly.  Actually, for
us to see 100 dpm alpha fixed with a portable instrument, we have to
do a static count of 1 minute.  So, in these cases, we do a
representative number of samples to look for alpha (tires, floor
boards, seats, buckets or forks, etc).  We also do a process history.
 And, if necessary, we'll pull an fluid sample for analysis. 
However, in the 3 years I've been here, we have yet to pull a fluid
sample.
  I would be careful with going above the limits, you might find this
a hot potato that DOE won't want to touch.

Later,
Kelly


--- Elizabeth Algutifan  wrote:
> To all HPs in the DOE world:
> 
> We are in the process of attempting to release several pieces of
> heavy equipment
> for unrestricted use and are concerned with time and money factors
> (aren't we
> all!).  I have the following questions for you:
> 
> 1. Are any of you currently using surface criteria release limits
> greater than
> DOE Order 5400.5 Table IV-1 values for any items (not just heavy
> equipment)? 
> 
> 2. If you have been approved to go above the Table IV-1 values,
> what process did
> you go through and what, if any, resistance did you meet from
> regulators? 
> 
> Thanks in advance for your war stories,
> 
> Elizabeth Algutifan,
> Health Physicist
> Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project
> St. Charles, MO 
> Elizabeth_Algutifan@wssrap-host.wssrap.com
> 
>
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