Considerations in recycling contaminated scrap metal and rubble Page: 4 of 26
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Diffusion Plant contain about 20 million square feet of concrete surfaces that are
potentially contaminated with uranium to varying degrees (Spofrt ga Q .Plants
Wastes).
Contamination Sources and Release Limits
Surface contamination consists of a several-micron thick layer of radioactivity that
adheres to the metal or concrete surface and is not readily removed by ordinary
decontamination techniques. Surface contaminated materials which have been
decontaminated to NRC established guidance can be freely reused or recycled and
released to the public. Surface contaminated materials which cannot be
decontaminated to these release guidelines can be reused on a restricted basis,
disposed, or treated (smelted or crushed) and recycled for restricted use.
The acceptable surface contamination release limits of NRC Regulatory Guide 1.86
and the ALARA -- As Low As Reasonably Achievable -- process were adopted for
DOE's residual radioactive materials management program through DOE Order
5400.5, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment in February 1990.
Order 5400.5 is in the process of being issued for public comment as proposed 10
CFR 834. The proposed rule will not include the surface contamination guidelines
found in the Order; DOE and NRC are developing surface contamination guidance to
replace those guidelines (DOE/EA-0559).
Volumetric contamination results from melting surface contaminated metals or
activation of materials during operation of nuclear reactors and accelerators. Although
technology is available to reduce activity levels of volumetrically contaminated
materials to near background (Technical Reports Series No. 293), the United States
does not have an accepted release standard for these materials.
It should be noted that DOE Order 5400.5 allows for release of volumetrically
contaminated materials pursuant to Office of Environment, Safety and Health approval
of the release criteria and the survey techniques used to determine that the criteria are
met. No RSM release approvals have been made to date.S
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Kluk, A.F. (USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)) & Hocking, E.K. (Argonne National Lab., Washington, DC (United States)). Considerations in recycling contaminated scrap metal and rubble, article, January 1, 1992; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1057913/m1/4/: accessed June 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.