ASTM E1760-16

Standard Guide for Unrestricted Disposition of Bulk Materials Containing Residual Amounts of Radioactivity

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
6.1 Materials encountered during D&D may contain residual radioactivity varying in amounts from that in irradiated fuel to barely detectable quantities in or on building materials. It is clear that highly radioactive materials have to be disposed as radioactive waste pursuant to 10 CFR 60 and 10 CFR 61. Conversely, it is not reasonable to expend a disproportionate amount of resources to isolate materials that contain minute quantities of radioactive materials that will not cause even statistically measurable health effects.  
6.2 This guide provides a rationale and methodology for distinguishing between materials that contain sufficient radioactivity to warrant isolation of some type (such as storage awaiting decay, near-surface disposal, disposal with intruder protection, or placement in a deep repository) from materials with insignificant radioactive content. Materials with insignificant radioactive content can be recycled in the economy or disposed of in conventional (landfill) facilities without adverse health effects. Materials that meet the criteria identified in this guide are not simply excluded from regulation because they do not fall precisely in the regulatory scope. They are sufficiently free of radioactive material so that no further efforts at control are justified for radiation protection purposes. Therefore, the release of materials for unrestricted use in accordance with this guide meets the criteria for being an “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) activity.  
6.3 For the purpose of this guide, the return of materials containing residual radioactivity to society without regulatory restrictions is referred to as “unrestricted release based on the absence of the credible potential for adverse health effects.” This guide asserts that materials recycled this way will have no statistically measurable health effects regardless of use. It does not guarantee that the materials are suitable for use in every possible application, for example, trace am...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides an approach for developing a basis for obtaining approval for release of bulk materials to be removed from a decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) or environmental remediation site from regulatory control. This would be addressed in the decommissioning plan (Guide E1281). Fig. 1 follows the logic described in the MARSAME for determining the materials that could be considered for release. Materials that negotiate this logic tree are referred to as “candidate for release based on dose.”    
1.2 For purposes of this guide, bulk materials shall consist of, for example, building materials, concrete rubble, soils, and internally contaminated or activated equipment and facility components.  
1.3 This guide is intended to apply to those equipment and materials to be removed from the site for their disposition as opposed to real property (buildings and grounds) that are to remain.  
1.4 Warning—Breathing of asbestos dust is hazardous. Asbestos and asbestos products present demonstrated health risks for users and for those with whom they come into contact. In addition to other precautions, when working with asbestos products, minimize the dust that results. For information on the safe use of chrysoltile asbestos, refer to “Safe Use of Chrysotile Asbestos: A Manual on Preventive and Control Measures.”  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific hazard see 1.4.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2016
• ICS: 13.030.40 - Installations and equipment for waste disposal and treatment
• Technical Committee: E10 - Nuclear Technology and Applications
• Drafting Committee: E10.03 - Radiological Protection for Decontamination and Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities and Components

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM E1281-15(2021) - Standard Guide for Nuclear Facility Decommissioning Plans
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E2216-02(2020) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Disposal Options for Concrete from Nuclear Facility Decommissioning
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1760 − 16
Standard Guide for
Unrestricted Disposition of Bulk Materials Containing
1
Residual Amounts of Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1760; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The feasibility of recycling bulk material containing trace amounts of radioactive contamination
depends on the dose to the public that could occur as a result. However, the assessment of this dose
depends not only on the measurements of contaminants present, but also on the future use of the
material and the pathways by which persons can be exposed. This guide provides a recommended
approach to support a petition (to a regulatory agency) seeking approval for the recycle or disposal of
the material outside of the radioactive materials regulatory control.
Since dose rate limits to the public have been established by regulation for decommissioning by
NRC (25 mRem/y) and remediation sites by EPA (15 mRem/y), this guide provides an approach to
demonstrate compliance with those regulations.
Thisguidedescribesthestepsneededtoimplementrecommendationsforthedevelopmentofadata
package to support the petition and to serve as a permanent record.
1. Scope risksforusersandforthosewithwhomtheycomeintocontact.
In addition to other precautions, when working with asbestos
1.1 This guide provides an approach for developing a basis
products,minimizethedustthatresults.Forinformationonthe
for obtaining approval for release of bulk materials to be
safe use of chrysoltile asbestos, refer to “Safe Use of Chryso-
removed from a decontamination and decommissioning
tileAsbestos:AManual on Preventive and Control Measures.”
(D&D) or environmental remediation site from regulatory
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
control. This would be addressed in the decommissioning plan
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
(Guide E1281). Fig. 1 follows the logic described in the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
MARSAME for determining the materials that could be
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
considered for release. Materials that negotiate this logic tree
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
are referred to as “candidate for release based on dose.”
hazard see 1.4.
1.2 For purposes of this guide, bulk materials shall consist
of, for example, building materials, concrete rubble, soils, and
2. Referenced Documents
internally contaminated or activated equipment and facility
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
components.
E2216 Guide for Evaluating Disposal Options for Concrete
1.3 This guide is intended to apply to those equipment and
from Nuclear Facility Decommissioning
materials to be removed from the site for their disposition as
E1892 Guide for Preparing Characterization Plans for De-
opposed to real property (buildings and grounds) that are to
commissioning Nuclear Facilities
remain.
E1893 Guide for Selection and Use of Portable Radiological
1.4 Warning—Breathing of asbestos dust is hazardous.
Survey Instruments for Performing In Situ Radiological
Asbestos and asbestos products present demonstrated health
Assessments to Support Unrestricted Release from Fur-
ther Regulatory Controls
E1281 Guide for Nuclear Facility Decommissioning Plans
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E10.03 on Radiological Protection for Decontamination and Decommissioning of
2
Nuclear Facilities and Components. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published August 2016. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E1760-09. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E1760-16. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E1760 − 16
FIG. 1 Prerequisites for Material To Be Candidate For Release
3
2.2 ANSI Standards: RESRAD RESidual RADioactivity Family of Computer
ANSI N13.12 Surface and Volume Radioactivity Standards Codes Developed for DOE by the Argonne National
5
for Clea
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1760 − 09 E1760 − 16
Standard Guide for
Unrestricted Disposition of Bulk Materials Containing
1
Residual Amounts of Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1760; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The feasibility of the recycle of recycling bulk material containing trace amounts of radioactive
contamination depends on the dose to the public that could occur as a result. However, the assessment
of this dose depends not only on the measurements of contaminants present, but also on the future use
of the material and the pathways by which persons can be exposed. This guide provides a
recommended approach to support a petition (to a regulatory agency) seeking approval for the recycle
or disposal of the material outside of the radioactive materials regulatory arena.control.
Since dose rate limits to the public have been established by regulation, this approach is a
recommended way regulation for decommissioning by NRC (25 mRem/y) and remediation sites by
EPA (15 mRem/y), this guide provides an approach to demonstrate compliance with them.those
regulations.
The Scope defines the range of applicability of this guide; the Summary identifies the two major
steps that comprise the method; and the significance of the guide is given in Section This guide 5.
Section 6 discusses the need for dose rate based release criteria, and Section 7 delineates the steps for
deciding whether or not a material should be considered for recycle. Section 8describes the steps
needed to implement the recommendations of this guide including recommendations for the
development of a data package to support the petition and to serve as a permanent record.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide covers the techniques for provides an approach for developing a basis for obtaining approval for release of
materials encountered in bulk materials to be removed from a decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) from restricted use.or
environmental remediation site from regulatory control. This would be addressed in the decommissioning plan ((Guide E1281).
It applies to materials that do not meet any of the requirements for regulatory control because of radioactivity content. Fig. 1
showsfollows the logic diagram described in the MARSAME for determining the materials that could be considered for release.
Materials that negotiate this logic tree are referred to as “candidate for release based on dose.”
1.2 For purposes of this guide, bulk materials shall consist of, for example, building materials, concrete rubble, soils, and
internally contaminated or activated equipment and facility components.
1.3 The objective of this This guide is to provide a methodology for distinguishing between material that must be carefully
isolated to prevent human contact from that that can be recycled or otherwise disposed of. It applies to material in which the
radioactivity is dispersed more or less uniformly throughout the volume of the material (termed residual in bulk form) intended
to apply to those equipment and materials to be removed from the site for their disposition as opposed to surface contaminated
objects.real property (buildings and grounds) that are to remain.
1.3 Surface contaminated objects are materials externally contaminated with radioactive material. Provisions already exist for
their release for recycle if it can be shown that they meet applicable federal and state regulations for surface contamination.
Regulatory Guide 1.86 and DOE Order 5400.5 specify the upper limits for radioactive surface contamination on material to be
released for unrestricted use.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E10.03 on
Radiological Protection for Decontamination and Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities and Components.
Current edition approved June 1, 2009July 1, 2016. Published June 2009August 2016. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20032009 as
ε1
E1760-96(2003)E1760 .-09. DOI: 10.1520/E1760-09.10.1520/E1760-16.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E1760 − 16
FIG.
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