Information Notice 1989-34, Disposal of Americium Well-Logging Sources

Disposal of Americium Well-Logging Sources

ML031180766
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	03/30/1989
From:	Cunningham R NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
IN-89-034, NUDOCS 8903240063
Download: ML031180766 (7)

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 March 30, 1989 NRC INFORMATION

NOTICE NO. 89-34: DISPOSAL OF AMERICIUM

WELL-LOGGING

SOURCES

Addressees

All holders of a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) specific license authorizing

well-logging

activities.

Purpose

This information

notice is provided to inform well-logging

licensees

of the potential

problems and costs that may be incurred in disposing

of americium sources, when they are no longer needed. Such disposal costs may be an unan-ticipated

financial

hardship for some well-logging

companies.

It is expected that licensees

will review this information

for applicability

to their programs, distribute

the notice to responsible

licensee management, and radiation

safety staff; and consider plans to ensure that special attention

is paid to this area.However, suggestions

contained

in this notice do not constitute

any new NRC requirements, and no written response is required.Description

of Circumstances:

Numerous licensees

who provide well-logging

services using americium

sources are experiencing

financial

problems because of the depressed

oil and gas industry.Many of these licensees

have terminated

licensed activities, and some have under-gone bankruptcy

proceedings.

In addition, after July 14, 1989, certain sources will no longer be permitted

to be used in well-logging, unless the sources con-form to new performance

criteria outlined in 10 CFR Section 39.41 (see 52 FR 8225, March 17, 1987). These factors may increase the number of non-usable

sources, and, consequently, may increase source storage and disposal problems.With respect to disposal, most americium

well-logging

sources contain americium in sufficient

concentrations

that they are not generally

acceptable

for disposal as waste at low-level

waste disposal facilities.

The U.S. Department

of Energy (DOE) is responsible

for disposal of such waste but a DOE disposal facility will not be available

for several years. Thus, there are few choices available

to a licensee who has no further need for americium

sources.Discussion:

Licensees

are responsible

for ensuring the health and safety of the public and workers with respect to nuclear materials

in their possession, in accordance

with NRC regulations

and requirements

of their licenses.

Unsafe storage, ,?/ 8903240063 IN 89-34 March 30, 1989 abandonment, or unauthorized

disposal of a radioactive

source or any licensed material will result in enforcement

action by NRC, and may constitute

a criminal activity prosecutable

by the U.S. Department

of Justice.The following

summarizes

the choices that may be available

to licensees

with surplus radioactive

sources: (1) Transfer the source to another licensee (NRC or Agreement

State)that is willing and authorized

to take the source.(2) Return the source to the manufacturer.

The licensee should deter-mine if the manufacturer

has provisions

for accepting

returned sources, and is willing to accept returns.(3) Transfer the source to a private contractor

which is licensed to permanently

store or reprocess

the source. NRC staff is currently aware of only one contractor

in this type of business, and under-stands that the fees for the service can be up to tens of thousands of dollars per source.(4) Continue licensee storage of the source.If a well-logging

licensee plans to remain in business, but will no longer use licensed material and cannot find an authorized

recipient

for licensed sources, the licensee may request that NRC amend the license to authorize "storage only" of sealed sources. The license status will result in reduced program responsi-bilities and associated

NRC licensing

and inspection

fees. Licensees

thatneed informationr

about-the-storage

of sources, or-who are expe-riencing

difficulty

in maintaining

safe storage of any radioactive

source should immediately

contact their NRC Regional Office by telephone.

No written response is required by this information

notice. If you have any questions

about this matter, please call a technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

NRC Regional Office.Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Industrial

and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS Technical

Contacts:

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS (301) 492-3424 Dale A. Powers,- Region IV (817) 860-8195 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information

Notices 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices

Attachment

I IN 89-34 March 30, 1989 Page I of I LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NMSS INFORMATION

NOTICES Information

Date Of Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to 89-25 Unauthorized

Transfer of 03/07/89 All NRC source, Ownership

or Control of byproduct, and Licensed Activities

special nuclear material licensees.

89-24 Nuclear Criticality

Safety 03/06/89 All fuel cycle licensees

and other licensees

possessing

more than critical mass quantities

of special nuclear material.89-13 Alternative

Waste Management

02/08/89 All holders of NRC Procedures

In Case of Denial specific licenses.of Access to Low-Level

Waste Disposal Sites 89-12 Dose Calibrator

Quality 02/09/89 All NRC medical Control licensees.

89-03 Potential

Electrical

01/11/89 All fuel cycle and Equipment

Problems major nuclear materials licensees.

89-02 Criminal Prosecution

of 01/09/89 All holders of NRC Licensee's

Former President

specific license.for

Intent

ional

Safety Violations

88-100 Memorandum

of Understanding

12/23/88 All major nuclear Between NRC and OSHA Relating materials

licensees to NRC-Licensed

Facilities

and utilities

holding (53 FR 43950, October 31 1988) CPs and OLs.88-93 Teletherapy

Events 12/2/88 All NRC medical licensees.

OL

• Operating

License CP

• Construction

Permit Attachment

2 IN 89-34 March 30, 1989 Page I of I LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION

NOTICES Information

Notice No.89-33 89-32 89-31 89-30 89-29 89-28 89-27 89-26 Subject Potential

Failure of Westinghouse

Steam Generator

Tube Mechanical

Plugs Surveillance

Testing of Low-Temperature

Overpressure-Protection

Systems Swelling and Cracking of Hafnium Control Rods High Temperature

Environments

at Nuclear Power Plants Potential

Failure of ASEA Brown Boveri Circuit Breakers During Seismic Event Weight and Center of Gravity Discrepancies

for Copes-Vulcan

Air-Operated

Valves Limitations

on the Use of Waste Forms and High Integrity

Containers

for the Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive

Waste Instrument

Air Supply to Safety-Related

Equipment Unauthorized

Transfer of Ownership

or Control of Licensed Activities

Date of Issuance 3/23/89__Issued to All holders of OLs or CPs for PHRs.3/23/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for PllRs.3/22/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for PWRs with Hafnium control rods.3/15/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.3/15/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.3/14/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.3/8/89 3/7/89 3/7/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors, fuel cycle licenses and certain by-product

materials

licenses.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All U.S. HlC source, byproduct, and special nuclear material licensees.

89-25 OL

• Operating

License CP

• Construction

Permit I

IN 89-34 March 30, 1989 abandonment, or unauthorized

disposal of a radioactive

source or any licensed material will result in enforcement

action by NRC, and may constitute

a criminal activity prosecutable

by the U.S. Department

of Justice.The following

summarizes

the choices that may be available

to licensees

with surplus radioactive

sources: (1) Transfer the source to another licensee (NRC or Agreement

State)that is willing and authorized

to take the source.(2) Return the source to the manufacturer.

The licensee should deter-mine if the manufacturer

has provisions

for accepting

returned sources, and is willing to accept returns.(3) Transfer the source to a private contractor

which is licensed to permanently

store or reprocess

the source. NRC staff is currently aware of only one contractor

in this type of business, and under-stands that the fees for the service can be up to tens of thousands of dollars per source.(4) Continue licensee storage of the source.If a well-logging

licensee plans to remain in business, but will no longer use licensed material and cannot find an authorized

recipient

for licensed sources, the licensee may request that NRC amend the license to authorize "storage only" of sealed sources. The license status will result in reduced program responsi-bilities and associated

NRC licensing

and inspection

fees. Licensees

that need information

about the storage of sources, or who are experiencing

difficulty

in maintaining

safe storage of any radioactive

source should immediately

contact their NRC Regional Office by telephone.

No written response is required by this information

notice. If you have any questions

about this matter, please call a technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

NRC Regional Office.Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Industrial

and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS Technical

Contacts:

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS (301) 492-3424 Dale A. Powers, Region IV (817) 860-8195 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information

Notices 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices*Editor/NMSS

EKraus *See previous concurrences

03/16/89 (by mail)OFC: IMOB* :IMOB* :RIV* :LLW* :IMOB* :OGC* :IMNS* :IMNS*-_______________________________________________________________________________________

NAME:JMetzger/ll:DCool

DPowers :MBell :JHickey :RFonner :GSjoblom

RECunningham

DATE:03/20/89

03/ /89 :03/289 :03/ /89 :03/ /89 :03/ /89 :03/ /89 :03/ /89 OFFICIAL REORD COPY

IN 89-March , 1989 abandonment, or unauthorized

disposal of a radioactive

source or any licensed material will result in enforcement

action by NRC, and may constitute

a crimUh activity prosecutable

by the U.S. Department

of Justice.The following

summarizes

the choices that may be available

to licensees

with surplus radioactive

sources: (1) Tr sfer the source to another licensee (NRC or Agreement

State)that\ is willing and authorized

to take the source.(2) Returh the source to the manufacturer.

The licensee should determine

if the manufacturer

has provisions

for accepting

returned sources,\and

is willing to accept returns.(3) Transfer the source to a private contractor

to permanently

store or reprocess

the source. NRC staff is currently

aware of only one contractor

ihk this type of business, and understands

that the fees for the service can be up to tens of thousands

of dollars per source.(4) Continue licensle storage of the source.If a well-logging

licensee pans to remain in business, but will no longer use licensed material and cannot id an authorized

recipient

for licensed sources, the licensee may request that C amend the license to authorize "storage only" of sealed sources. The license tatus will result in reduced program responsibilities

and associated

C licensing

and inspection

fees. Licensees that need information

about the st rage of sources, or who are experiencing

difficulty

in maintaining

safe stor e of any radioactive

source should immediately

contact their NRC Region M Office by telephone.

No written response is required by thi Information

Notice. If you have any questions

about this matter, please cal a technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

NRC Regional Office.Rich d E. Cunningham, Director Divisi n of Industrial

and Medic Nuclear Safety, NMSS Technical

Contacts:

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS (301) 492-3424 Dale A. Powers, Region IV (817) 860-8195 Attachments:

1. List of Previously

Issued NMSS Information

Notices 2. List of Previously

Issued NRC Information

Notices Editor/NMSS

EKraus 03/16/89~(bybol OFC: IMOB :IMOB IVJV LLW MeO, :OGC :IMNS :IMNS NAME:JMetzger/ll~<"'

DPowers .^%Bell :Ji&ckey :RFonner :GS blom : ~iinrgham DATE:03/20/89

03 1,/89 :03/21/89

03*1/89 :03P1/89 :03/xV89 :03 9 :031 89= F ILA *KK GF

IN 89-March , 1989 storage and disposal of unneeded well-logging

sources. Unsafe storage, a andonment, or unauthorized

disposal of a radioactive

source or any licensed material will result in enforcement

action by NRC, and may constitute

a crimnal activity prosecutable

by the U.S. Department

of Justice.The fo sowing summarizes

the choices that may be available

to licensees

with surplus Nadioactive

sources: (1) TVansfer the source to another licensee (NRC or Agreement

State)tha't is willing and authorized

to take the source.(2) Retuen the source to the manufacturer.

The licensee should determUne

if the manufacturer

has provisions

for accepting

returned sourcesand

is willing to accept returns.(3) Transfer Wthe source to a private contractor

to permanently

store or reprocess

the source. NRC staff is currently

aware of only one contractor

inWthis type of business, and understands

that the fees for the service can be up to tens of thousands

of dollars per source.(4) Continue licensee\storage

of the source.If a well-logging

licensee planps to remain in business, but will no longer use licensed material and cannot find an authorized

recipient

for licensed sources, the licensee may request that NRCxamend

the license to authorize "storage only" of sealed sources. The license status will result in reduced program responsibilities

and associated

NRC licensing

and inspection

fees. Licensees that need information

about the storage of sources, or who are experiencing

difficulty

in maintaining

safe storage of any radioactive

source should immediately

contact their NRC Regional Office by telephone.

No written response is required by this Info nation Notice. If you have any questions

about this matter, please call a technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

NRC Regional Office.Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Industrial

and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS Technical

Contacts:

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS (301) 492-3424 Dale A. Powers, Region IV (817) 860-8195 Attachments:

1. List of Previously

Issued NMSS Information

Notices 2. List of Previously

Issued NRC Information

Notices Editor/NMSS

EKraus (by f 1) IS OFC: IMOt :I OB :RI {-LLJ -:IMOB Os U- :MN- :IMNS------- ---------------

_-__ot___

i_________

---

___________

NAME:JMe- Er/ll:DCool

DPoliers

MBell :JHickey :RFo ner :GSjoblom

RECunningham

DATE:03/2

/89 :03/ /89 :03/ 1189 :031 /89 :03 /89 :03* 89 :03 89 :03 89 UVUA REU

IN 89-March , 1989 storage and disposal of unneeded well-logging

sources. Unsafe storage, abandonment, or unauthorized

disposal of a radioactive

source or any licensed material will-result

In enforcement

action by NRC, and may constitute

a criminal activity prosecutable

by the U.S. Department

of Justice.The following

summarizes

the choices that may be available

to licensees

with surplus radioactive

sources: (1) Transfer the source to another licensee (NRC or Agreement

State)that is willing and authorized

to take the source.(2) Return the source to the manufacturer.

The licensee should determine

if the manufacturer

has provisions

for accepting

returned sources, and is willing to accept returns.(3) Transfer the source to a private contractor

to permanently

store or reprocess

the source. NRC staff is currently

aware of only one contractor

in this type of business, and understands

that the fees for the service can be up to tens of thousands

of dollars per source.(4) Continue licensee storage of the source.If a well-logging

licensee plans to remain in business, but will no longer use licensed material and cannot find an authorized

recipient

for licensed sources, the licensee may request that NRC amend the license to authorize "storage onlys of sealed sources. The license status will result in reduced program responsibilities

and associated

NRC licensing

and inspection

fees. Licensees that need information

about the storage of sources, or who are experiencing

difficulty

in maintaining

safe storage of any radioactive

source should immediately

contact their NRC Regional Office by telephone.

No written response is required by this Information

Notice. If you have any questions

about this matter, please call a technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

NRC Regional Office.Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Industrial

and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS Technical

Contacts:

Jack R. Metzger, NMSS (301) 492-3424 Dale A. Powers, Region IV (817) 860-8195 Attachments:

1. List of Previously

Issued NMSS Information

Notices 2. List of Previously

Issued NRC Information

Notices Editor/NMSS

EKraus jK_03/16/89'(by sAil)OFC: I B :IMOB :RI t :IMOB :OGC :IMNS :IMNS NAME:J e.Xer/ll:DCool

---- --ers :- BNl1 :Jf-ickey

RFonner :GSjob0om

RECunningham

DATE:O 20/89 :03/ /89 :03Z&89 :03114189

03/ /89 :03/ /89 :03/ /89 :03/ /89 UttILIAL KELUKU COPY