ML19207A433
| ML19207A433 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000572 |
| Issue date: | 10/05/1972 |
| From: | Craig P US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Wright E ARMY, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19207A429 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7908170531 | |
| Download: ML19207A433 (10) | |
Text
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~N UNITED STATES 8
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
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f RICH! AND CPERATIONS CFFICE
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P.C.BO X 550
, # arts RICHLAND, WASHINGTON 99352 RECFIVED 07 1'72 l
CCT 5 1972 w.~..,.
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U. S. Arry Materiel Conmand f
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Ballistic Research Laboratories laj q
AIT?l: Earl G. Wright, Chief
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k Health Physics Office Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 C+ntle m n:
PLUT0;lIUN-239 LEA 5IllG FOLICY We have reviewed a copy of the letter you received frtn Monsanto Research Corporation, Dayton Laboratory, dated Septerter 15, 1972, relative to the AEC Federal Registar notice concerning the discon-tinuance of leasing small quantities of plutonium-233. This poliqy does not apply to goveniment agencies, therefore your inventory of plutonium-233 will not be affected.
Furthernure, as administered by tiie AEC Plutonium Leasing Officer, this policy dces not affect a lessee holding a plutonium inventory having a total value in excess of $5000.
!!onsanto Research Corporation's letter was also misleading in another respect. Tiie initial contact for returning leased ;:lutonium contained in neutron sources is properly the AEC Plutonium Leasing Officer.
Thank you for providing us a copy of Fbnshato's letter.
Very truly yours,
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3 P:l: RER AEC Plutonium Leasing Officer hQM cc:
Robert L. Schirrel,s y MRC-Dayten L
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.M da.i3-4 0.:CIL Mr Robert L Schic:mel MONSANTO RESEARCH CORPORATION Dayton Laboratory 1515 Nicholas Road
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Dear Sir,
Referring to your letter of September 15, 1972 we can inform you that we have in our possession three plutonium beryllium neutron sources containing 15.91, 31.66 and 1.27 grams of plutonium. We bought the two first sources in 1961 and the last one in 1963.
Very truly yours,
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Thor Wahlberg AKTIEE0LACET ATOMENERGI Health and Safety Section I
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"~~s UNITED STATES V
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION RICHLAND OPERATIONS OFFICE
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P. Q.DO X 550 f
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OCT 5 1972
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ATTil: Earl G. Wright, Chief Health Physics Office Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 Genticcen:
T PLb70llIUM-239 LEASli!G POLICY
'dc have reviewed a copy of the letter you received frca l'.casante Rcscarch Corporation, Dayton Laboratory, dated Septerter 15. 1972, relative to the AEC Federal Registar notice concerning the discca-tinuance of leasing sr:ull quantities of plutcnium-233. This alicy does not apply to govemraent agencies, therefore your fr.vantorf of plutonium-239 will not be affected.
Furthermom, as administered by the AEC Plutonium Leasing Officer, this policy dces not affect a lessee holding a plutonium inventory having a total value in excess of $5000.
I:ensanto Research Corporation's letter was also misleading in acother respect. The initial contact for returning leased plutonium contained in neutron sources is properly the AEC Plutonium Leasing Officer.
Thank you for pr'oviding us a copy of Ibnsanto's letter.
Ver/ truly yours,
~
%se P. A. Craig b
P::RER AEC Plutonium Leasing Officar Robert L. Schic::al,gg cc:
MRC-Dayton 4
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Mound Iaboratory, Miamisburg, Ohio R. L. Sk'hlm mal ytet t,
September 5,1972 N
Return of Pu-Ee Neutron Sources Ltr Monsanto Nuclear Products to Source Customers Dr. W. T. Cave Nuclear Operations I have been discussing with the AEC whether or not the last paragraph referring Inquiries to Mound should be included or not. They have just agreed that, under the rules as set today, it should be in.
I have gone ahead and told Bob Schimmel to send the letters out. I have asked that you be the contact rather than St:hmidt. I hope we do not get inundated' p.;-- _
Richard K. F11teraft RKF:gim Enc: Cy of referenced letter 7DE O 'Jb z ua
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MONSANTO RESEAACM CCAPCAABOft Dayton Lateratory ISIS Nichose, Road P. O. to
- 8. Stateoa B Carte %Cheo 45407 Phones; (513) 268-6759 (513) 26 8 -3 411 Telegraph: FAX FLI.
s Radiation Safety Officer Hittman Associates, Inc.
9190 Red Branch Road Columbia, Maryland 21043
Dear Sir:
Ref:
RLS-In reviewing our records, we note that you have purchased one or more plutonium-239 beryllium neutron sources from our company.
The plutonium contained therein is probably leased from the United States Government., We call your attention to the fact that the Atomic Energy Commission recently announced that it will discontinue the leasing of small quantities of special nuclear mater.ials such as plutonium.
"Small quantities" have been defined to mean any quantity of special nuclear material having an AEC sales price of $5,000 or less.
Therefore, those organi-
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zations who are leasing sources containing small quantities of plutonium must either purchase the radioisotope at approximately $43/ gram or return it to.the AEC by June 30, 1973.
For your information, in the event you will have a continuing need for a neutron source, equivalent sources containing plutonium-238 or americium-241 can be purchased.
The replacement price of a typical five curie source would be approximately one-third the cost of the Pu-239.
Our plutonium-239 beryllium sources were manufactured in accord with the be:t technology available at the time, both the design and the manufacturing processes having been developed by the AEC.
The Commission has recently inspected a number of their returned sources, however, and have found that several have exhibited certain abnormal or non-typical conditions (for example, bulging of the outer capsule).
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e Hi ttman Associates, Inc. These conditions have appeared in only a few of many hundreds of such sources, and we have no reason to suspect nor to believe, as a result of these isolated instances, that the sealed sources in your possession will have similar conditions.
Nevertheless, we consider it only prudent under the circumstances to bring this information to your atten-tion.
In the event you intend to keep the sources you now have, either through purchase of the plutonium-239 or continuation of your lease or loan arrangement, we suggest:
1.
that you visually inspect the capsule for defects or damage, 2.
that you carefully measure the diameter at several locations, and 3.
that you make wipe tests of the surface of the capsule to verify the integrity of the outer container.
As an alternative, you may wish to consider, and we recommend,'
on the basis of the Commission's findings thus far, that you dispose of the p.lutonium-239 beryllium source by returning it to the Atomic Energy Commission.
If you do wish to return it, you may make arrangements to do so by contacting:
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Monsanto Research Corporation Mound Laboratory
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P. O. Box 32 Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
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4 We will be happy to answer any of your questions concerning this situation.
Very truly yours, MONSANTO NUCLEAR PRODUCTS Robert L. Schimmel Manager RLS/ss e
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cy: IL K. Nason V 005a0 :0 MOUNO LABORATORY Operated for me U 1 Atomic Energy Comrmssion MONSANTO RESE ARCH COMPORATION P. O. B o m 3 2 Miamisburo. Ohio 45342 Ik Phone: (513) 856-7444
$it August 31, 1972 Mr. D.
D. Davis, Manager Dayton Area Office U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Post Office Box 66 Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
Dear Mr. Davis:
MRC-Dayton Neutron Source No. 96 Non-destructive analyses regarding the origin of the surface con-tamination on MRC(Dayton)-96 have been completed.
Figure 1 (attached) presents three views of the source which was partially removed from a sleeve (assumed to be part of the logging t ool).
It is apparent from the tool marks that forcible removal was attempted.
As pointed out on the one view, a circumferential saw or tool cut was made into the source about one inch from the end.
Subsequent. radicgraphy revealed that this cut is through the outer container and into the inner container to a dept-h of 0.015 inches at one or more points.
a stasitar, of Monsanto Company e
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Mr.
D.
D.
Davis August 31, 1972 abhis is corsidered conclusive in establishing the origin of the
,hurface contamination and no further (destructive) analyses are
-recommended.
Please advise as to the disposition of MRC-96.
Very truly yours, W. T. Cave, Director Nuclear Operations Vallde:baj Attachment cc:
D. D. Davis (5)
D. E. Crook 1
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