Title:
MEMO TO B W CHURCH, SUBJECT: MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS OF RADIOACTIVITY IN MATERIALS OTHER THAN AIR AND WATER ( ENCL: DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVELY ACTIVATED AND CONTAMINATD MATERIALS )
Author(s):
MOSER, R M [AEC-ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, THE U.S.]
Subject Terms:
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RECOMMENDATIONS; RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
CORRESPONDENCE, LETTERS, MEMOS
Publication Date:
1964 Oct 11
Declassification Status:
Declassified
Accession Number:
NV0067612
Originating Research Org.:
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION-CHICAGO OPERATIONS OFFICE
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE ONLY SENSIBLESOLUTION TO HANDLING RADIOACTIVE LY ACTIVATED AND CONTAMINATED MATERIALS OTHER THAN AIR AND WATER IS BY PRODUCING A SET OF STANDARDS GIVING MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS (MPC) OF RADIOISOTOPES IN SUCH MATERIALS. SOME OBSERVATIONS RELATING TO THIS CONCLUSION ARE: 1. THERE NOW EXISTS A WIDE VARIETY OF AGENCIES , IN-CONSISTENT WITH EACH OTHER, DEALING WITH SUCH DISPOSAL. THERE IS NEED FOR STANDARDIZATION. NO ONE AGENCY HAS COMPLETE JURISDICTION. 2. HANDLING ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS IS NECESSARY AND ACCEPTABLE PARTICULA RLY FOR PAST COMMITMENTS, BUT MPC TYPE GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE ACTIONS W OULD BE HELPFUL. 3. THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVATED OR CONTAMINATED MATERIALS WILL INCREASE AS USAGE OF AND RESEARCH IN FISSION AND FUSION PROCESSES INCREASES. 4. THE SETTING OF STANDARDS IN SOLIDS (AND GASES AND LIQUI DS OTHER THAN AIR AND WATER) WILL REQUIRE A VERY SIGNIFICANT EFFORT (I NCLUDING SOME R&D) BUT WILL BE AN ECONOMICAL BENEFIT IN THE LONG RUN O VER CONSIDERING EACH ITEM IN THE FUTURE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. ACTIO N LEVELS ARE NEEDED. 5. A PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORT OF SIGNIFICANT PROPO RTIONS SHOULD ACCOMPANY STANDARD SETTING, SINCE THE PRIME PROBLEM NOW IS MISUNDERSTANDING OF TERMINOLOGY AND THE DEPTH TO WHICH RESEARCH EFF ORT GOES IN THE STANDARD SETTING PROCESS. 6. EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON REUSE AND CONSERVATION OF MATERIALS. 7. THE LONG-RANGE AND OVERALL VIEWPOINT SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED IN SETTING THE GENERAL TREND OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES.