Toward the Framework and Implementation for Clearance of Materials from Regulated Facilities

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/01.HP.0000156953.75493.db· OSTI ID:15020592

Chen, Shih-Yew; Moeller, Dade W; Dornsife, William P; Meyer, H Robert; Lamastra, Anthony; Lubenau, Joel O; Strom, Daniel J; Yusko, James G

The disposition of solid materials from nuclear facilities has been a subject of public debate for several decades. The primary concern has been the potential health effects resulting from exposure to residual radioactive materials to be released for unrestricted use. These debates have intensified in the last decade as many regulated facilities are seeking viable management decisions on the disposition of the large amounts of materials potentially containing very low levels of residual radioactivity. Such facilities include the nuclear weapons complex sites managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), commercial power plants licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and other materials licensees regulated by the NRC or the Agreement States. Other facilities that generate radioactive material containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) or technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM) are also seeking to dispose of similar materials that may be radioactively contaminated. In contrast to the facilities operated by the DOE and the nuclear power plants licensed by the NRC, NORM and TENORM facilities are regulated by the individual states. Current federal laws and regulations do not specify criteria for releasing these materials that may contain residual radioactivity of either man-made or natural origin from regulatory controls. In fact, the current regulatory scheme offers no explicit provision as to permit materials being released as ''non-radioactive'', including those that are essentially free of contamination. The only method used to date with limited success has been case-by-case evaluation and approval. In addition, there is a poorly defined and inconsistent regulatory framework for regulating NORM and TENORM. Some years ago, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) introduced the concept of clearance, that is, controlling releases of any such materials within the regulatory domain. This paper aims to clarify clearance as an important disposition option for solid materials, establish the framework and basis of release, and discuss resolutions regarding the implementation of such a disposition option.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15020592
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-42884; HD2006500
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 89
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CLEARANCE
CONTAMINATION
EVALUATION
IAEA
IMPLEMENTATION
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
ORIGIN
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVITY
REGULATIONS
clearance
exclusion
exemption
free release
radioactive material