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

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the techniques for obtaining approval for release of materials encountered in decontamination and decommissioning (DD) from restricted use. It applies to materials that do not meet any of the requirements for regulatory control because of radioactivity content. shows the logic diagram 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 The objective of 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) as opposed to surface contaminated objects.
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.
1.4 The release of material containing residual radioactive material (except for  226Ra) in bulk form (for example, soil or slightly activated metal) is based on the demonstration that the dose to a member of the public will be lower than a specified value (proposed by the petitioner or to be determined by future regulation) for its intended use and lower than a second specified value (also proposed by the petitioner or to be determined by future regulation) via the most restrictive plausible scenario. The first proposed value should be lower than the second since the dose to any member of the public (via the intended use scenario) will almost certainly be realized, whereas the dose from the alternate scenario will only accrue if an unintended (and presumably less probably) circumstance arises. Federal regulation already exists for the release of 226Ra contaminated soils

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09-Jan-1996
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ASTM E1760-96(2003) - Standard Guide for Unrestricted Disposition of Bulk Materials Containing Residual Amounts of Radioactivity
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E1760–96 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Guide for
Unrestricted Disposition of Bulk Materials Containing
Residual Amounts of Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1760; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Thefeasibilityoftherecycleofbulkmaterialcontainingtraceamountsofradioactivecontamination
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.
Ifdoseratelimitsareestablishedbyregulation,thisapproachisarecommendedwaytodemonstrate
compliance with them. Until that occurs, the limits will have to be proposed by the owners that
advance the argument that recycle should be permitted because the dose is very small.
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 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 8 describes the steps needed to
implement the recommendations of this guide including the development of a data package to support
the petition and to serve as a permanent record.
1. Scope exist for their release for recycle if it can be shown that they
meet applicable federal and state regulations for surface
1.1 This guide covers the techniques for obtaining approval
contamination. Regulatory Guide 1.86 and DOE Order 5400.5
for release of materials encountered in decontamination and
specify the upper limits for radioactive surface contamination
decommissioning (D&D) from restricted use. It applies to
on material to be released for unrestricted use.
materials that do not meet any of the requirements for
1.4 The release of material containing residual radioactive
regulatory control because of radioactivity content. Fig. 1
material (except for Ra) in bulk form (for example, soil or
shows the logic diagram for determining the materials that
slightly activated metal) is based on the demonstration that the
could be considered for release. Materials that negotiate this
dose to a member of the public will be lower than a specified
logic tree are referred to as “candidate for release based on
value (proposed by the petitioner or to be determined by future
dose.”
regulation) for its intended use and lower than a second
1.2 The objective of this guide is to provide a methodology
specified value (also proposed by the petitioner or to be
for distinguishing between material that must be carefully
determined by future regulation) via the most restrictive
isolated to prevent human contact from that that can be
plausible scenario. The first proposed value should be lower
recycled or otherwise disposed of. It applies to material in
thanthesecondsincethedosetoanymemberofthepublic(via
which the radioactivity is dispersed more or less uniformly
the intended use scenario) will almost certainly be realized,
throughout the volume of the material (termed residual in bulk
whereas the dose from the alternate scenario will only accrue
form) as opposed to surface contaminated objects.
if an unintended (and presumably less probable) circumstance
1.3 Surface contaminated objects are materials externally
arises. Federal regulation already exists for the release of Ra
contaminated with radioactive material. Provisions already
contaminated soils.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
E10.03 on Radiological Protection for Decontamination and Decommissioning of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Nuclear Facilities and Components.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1996. Published March 1996.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E1760–96 (2003)
2. Referenced Documents NUREG/CR-5512, Residual Radioactive Contamination
from Decommissioning
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2.6 U.S. Government Documents:
E 1278 Guide for Radioactive Pathway Methodology for
40 CFR 192, Health and Environmental Protection Stan-
Release of Sites Following Decommissioning
dards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings
2.2 American Nuclear Insurers Document:
10 CFR 60, Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes in
ANI/MAELU Information Bulletin 80-1A, Nuclear Liabil-
Geological Repositories
ity Insurance Records Retention
10 CFR 61, Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of
2.3 DOE Document:
Radioactive Waste
DOE Order 5400.5, Radiation Protection of the Public and
40 CFR 117, Determination of Reportable Quantities for
the Environment
Hazardous Substances
Regulatory Guide 1.86, Termination of Operating Licenses
40 CFR261,IdentificationandListingofHazardousWaste
for Nuclear Reactors
40 CFR 268, Land Disposal Restrictions
2.4 International Atomic Energy Agency Document:
40 CFR 712, Chemical Information Rules
Safety Series No. 111-P-1.1, Application of Exemption
40 CFR 716, Health and Safety Data Reporting
Principles to the Recycle and Reuse of Materials from
Nuclear Facilities
3. Terminology
2.5 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document:
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 credible, adj—offering reasonable grounds for being
believed.
3.1.2 intended use, n—the first use planned for the material
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.02.
proposed to be released from radiological controls.
Available from American Nuclear Insurers, 29 South Main, Suite 300 S, West
3.1.3 primary dose limit, n—the limit for exposures that
Hartford, CT 06107-2445.
could occur via the intended use scenario.
Available from Department of Energy, NationalTechnical Information Service,
U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
3.1.4 secondary dose limit, n—the limit for exposure that
International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100,
could occur via the unplanned use scenario.
A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
3.1.5 unplanned use, n—any use other than the planned use
that may occur after the intended use or by accident.
4. Summary of Guide
4.1 The owner of the material must first determine if the
material is candidate for release. To do this one must take
representative samples of the bulk material and identify the
radioactive contaminants and concentrations. Sampling should
be done using standard statistical inspection methods. The
kinds of analyses shall be appropriate for the potential con-
taminant expected, and performed using standard techniques.
3 14
For some of these analyses, for example,Hor C in activated
concrete or Fe in steel, the standard techniques are beyond
the capabilities of many laboratories. Material that passes the
logic diagram shown in Fig. 1 is candidate for release. The
sampling, analysis, and determination of candidacy must be
documented and included in the record package.
4.2 Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows how a material that is
candidate for release should be treated to justify its release
from radiologically restricted use. Section 7 describes the
methodology shown.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Materials encountered during D&D may contain re-
sidual 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
Available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
FIG. 1 Prerequisites for Material To Be Candidate For Release Office, Washington, DC 20402.
E1760–96 (2003)
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 amounts of radionu-
clides in materials may not be acceptable for certain photo-
graphic and electronic applications.
5.4 This guide also asserts that the owner of the materials is
responsible for ensuring that society’s criteria for “no measur-
able health effects” is met before release, and that the respon-
sibility for providing materials with the purity required for a
special application rests not with the owner, but with the
developer of that application.
6. Criteria for Unrestricted Release
6.1 There are three criteria for the release of bulk materials
that are candidates for release (that is, that have negotiated the
logic diagram shown in Fig. 1). First, the material must not be
expected to cause more than the intended use dose limit when
usedfortheintendedpurpose.Second,thematerialmustnotbe
expectedtocausemorethantheunplannedusedoselimitwhen
used for the most restrictive credible unplanned purpose.
Finally, the materials must maneuver the procedural gates
described in this guide sucessfully.
7. Candidate Materials for Unrestricted Release
7.1 There are two groups of materials encountered in
decontamination and decommissioning that are likely to be
candidates for release for unrestricted use. The first group
includes basic building materials that were used originally in
the construction of a nuclear facility but were not exposed to
significant amounts of activating radiation or radioactive con-
tamination. The second group is materials that were contami-
nated but have been subjected to a decontamination treatment.
FIG. 2 Methodology for Approving Candidate Material for
Sometypesofbuildingmaterialfrombothgroupsthatcouldbe
Unrestricted Release
cost effectively released are described in 7.1.1-7.1.6.
7.1.1 Miscellaneous and structural steel that is not intended
amount of resources to isolate materials that contain minute foruse“asis”(onthebasisofsurfacecontamination)wouldbe
quantities of radioactive materials that will not cause even smelted. Contaminant levels in the melt would be minimized
statistically measurable health effects. by avoiding the selection of steel from highly contaminated
5.2 This guide provides a rationale and methodology for areas or surface cleaning the steel before smelting. In addition,
distinguishing between materials that contain sufficient radio- the slagging process also generally reduces the concentration
activity to warrant isolation of some type (storage awaiting
of contaminants in the melt. If the metal ingot met the release
decay, near-surface disposal, disposal with intruder protection, criteria given in this guide it would not have to be disposed of
or placement in a deep repository) from materials with insig-
as radioactive waste. At worst it would be disposed of in a
nificant radioactive content. Materials with insignificant radio- sanitary landfill. Preferably it would be recycled.
active content can be recycled in the economy or disposed of 7.1.2 Asbestos insulation is a porous bulk material that is
in conventional (landfill) facilities without adverse health not amenable to surface surveys. Economical decontamination
effects. Materials that meet the criteria identified in this guide methods for asbestos insulation have not been demonstrated.
are not simply excluded from regulation because they do not Ordinarily, most of the asbestos in a facility is not contami-
fall precisely in the regulatory scope. They are sufficiently free nated or is very slightly contaminated, but cannot be shown to
of radioactive material so that no further efforts at control are be absolutely free of radioactivity.Asbestos could be disposed
justified for radiation protection purposes. Therefore, the re- of in a permitted landfill instead of a licensed radioactive
lease of materials for unrestricted use in accordance with this materials disposal site if shown to meet the release criteria
guide meets the criteria for being an “as low as reasonably given in this guide.
achievable” (ALARA) activity. 7.1.3 Miscellaneous building materials such as wood, non-
5.3 For the purpose of this guide, the return of materials asbestos insulation, built-up roofing, and sheet rock are not
containing residual radioactivity to society without regulatory amenable to surface survey for release. Although these mate-
restrictions is referred to as “unrestricted release based on the rials are not ordinarily useful for recycle they could be
E1760–96 (2003)
disposed of in a sanitary landfill rather than at a licensed 8.1.3 Theintendeduseofthematerialshallbespecified,and
disposal facility if they met the release criteria described in this the person likely to have the highest risk (receptor) and the
guide.
scenario for exposure shall be identified. These determinations
7.1.4 Granular materials such as soil, concrete, or masonry shall be included in the documentation package described in
rubble cannot be surveyed against surface criteria. However,
8.1.8. Appendix X1 gives some typical examples of material,
they could be disposed of in a sanitary landfill or used as clean
intended use scenarios, and receptors.
fill if shown to meet the release criteria recommended in this
8.1.4 Computetheannualdosetothereceptorbywayofthe
guide.
identified scenario. NUREG/CR-5512 gives examples of such
7.1.5 Neutron-activated material has radioactivity distrib-
calculations. Additional guidance is given in IAEA’s “Appli-
utedwithinthesolidmassbecauseoftheneutrontransmutation
cation of Exemption Principles to the Recycle and Reuse of
of atoms within the material itself. Surface measurements
Materials from Nuclear Facilities.” All applicable pathways
generally are not appropriate for the release of such material.
shall be considered. For example, if material were to be
However, a metal could be smel
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