2.               Barnwell, South Carolina – Sources must be encapsulated with a minimum of four (4) inches of cement on all sides.  The cement must have a compressive strength of 2500 lbs. per square inch.  If there are multiple radionuclides to be packaged, unity will be considered based on the above limits.  Waste Class limits for A, B, and C apply.  The concentration of radionuclides in sealed sources encapsulated or otherwise stabilized (with prior approval) shall be averaged over the volume of the sealed source, not the solidification agent or waste matrix.

3.         Clive, Utah – Discrete sources are not accepted for disposal.

The above values should only be used as a guide.  However, in all cases contact the site operator or state agency for specific disposal requirements and/or variance requests.

To assist in the disposal of discrete and concentrated sources, the CRCPD E-5 Committee has developed the attached radium disposal guidance (Attachments A and B).  

Cindy Cardwell
CRCPD Chairperson      

Original position adopted by CRCPD Membership May 20, 1984

This “amended” position was adopted by the CRCPD Membership on May 7, 2003.  

ATTACHMENT A 

RADIUM PACKAGING GUIDANCE FOR US ECOLOGY – RICHLAND

 Discrete Radium needles and sources

            1)         Waste must be packaged as follows: 

                        i)          Up to 1.2 Curies per drum. 

                      ii)         Sources and/or needles shall be packaged in a USDOT Specification 2R container other WDOH approved 2R-Type container or lead pig.  All voids within the 2R must be filled with structural concrete or cement. The 2R, 2R-type or lead pig shall then be sealed.   

iii)         The 2R, 2R type or lead pig is geometrically centered and stabilized with structural concrete (2500-psi min.) in a 55-gallon USDOT Specification 7A drum.  

iv)        Fill the 55-gallon, DOT 7A, container at least 95% full with structural concrete (2500-psi min.). Tap out any air voids. (Note: ensure inner 2R, 2R type or lead pig remains centered). 

                       v)         Concrete must cure for at least 28 days prior to shipment in an environment where the temperature must be maintained between 40°F to 100°F during the curing period. 

vi)        Waste will be Class C, Stable.

Disposal at the Richland LLRW disposal facility 

Once the radium container is received at the disposal facility, the Class C container is placed in an Engineered Concrete Barrier (ECB). The ECB’s are placed at the bottom of the trench but can be stacked two high. In all cases however, the top of the waste is a minimum of 23 feet below grade. A maximum of ten drums, totaling no more than 1.2 curies, may be placed in an ECB. Once all drums are placed in the ECB, structural concrete is poured into it so that all voids are minimized. Minimization of voids is accomplished by vibrating the concrete. The concrete is allowed to cure for a minimum of seven days, and then any standing water from the hydration of the concrete is removed. The ECB is then topped off with enough grout to seal the lid on the ECB. The lid is then bolted down. The ECB’s have 7-8 inch thick reinforced concrete walls, and 15-inch thick reinforced concrete lids and bottoms. The ECB’s have been evaluated and have demonstrated to meet all applicable requirements of 10 CFR 61 and Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) 246-249 and 246-250.

PROCEDURE FOR RADIUM WASTE DISPOSAL AT RICHLAND

 1.        Contact US Ecology for a preliminary assessment of your waste.  Any special packaging, treatment or analytical requirements can usually be identified at this time. US Ecology will then prepare a written packaging approval request and submit it to the Washington Department of Health for review. 

2.         WDOH will review the request and determine whether or not your waste packaging is acceptable.  If WDOH determines that your waste packaging is acceptable, they will inform US Ecology in writing.  US Ecology will then forward a copy of the WDOH correspondence letters, a WDOE site use permit application, and a generator registration form to the generator and/or broker. (Unless otherwise requested, US Ecology will send the approval and the permit application to the broker, if applicable.)  There is no state of Washington charge for review of your request. 

3.         Once the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) receives a completed and signed copy of a Site Use Permit application and a check for the permit fee, a Site Use Permit can be issued by WDOE. 

4.         The Site Use Permit will be mailed by WDOE to the generator.  WDOE normally issues Site Use Permits at the end of each calendar month.  The permit year is 4/1 to 3/31 for NARM generators. 

5.      All NARM shipments to US Ecology must be accompanied by a WDOH-approved shipping and disposal manifest.  The only manifest currently approved is the NRC Uniform Manifest. 

In all cases, contact the site operator or state agency for specific disposal requirements and/or variance requests prior to packaging.