Current through September 17, 2024
Each licensee using sealed sources of radioactive material
must have the sources tested for leakage. Records of test results must be kept
in units of microcuries and maintained for inspection by the Department.
007.01
METHODS. The
wipe of a sealed source must be performed using a leak test kit or method
approved by the Department, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), or
another Agreement State. The wipe sample must be taken from the nearest
accessible point to the sealed source where contamination might accumulate. The
sample must be analyzed for radioactive contamination. The analysis must be
capable of detecting the presence of 185 becquerel (Bq) (0.005 µCi) of
radioactive material on the test sample and must be performed by a person
approved by the Department, NRC, or another Agreement State to perform the
analysis.
007.02
FREQUENCY. Leak testing must be performed at the
following intervals:
(A) Each sealed source
except an ECS must be tested at intervals not to exceed six months. In the
absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the
six months before the transfer, the sealed source may not be used until tested;
and
(B) Each ECS not exempt from
testing according to 180 NAC 14-007.04 must be tested at intervals not to
exceed three years. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a
test has been made within the three years before the transfer, the ECS may not
be used until tested.
007.03
DECONTAMINATION, REPORTING
OF LEAKING SOURCES. Licensees must remove leaking sources from
service and report to the Department as follows.
(A) If the test conducted according to 180
NAC 14-007 reveals the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) or more of
removable radioactive material, the licensee must remove the sealed source from
service immediately and have it decontaminated, repaired, or disposed of by the
Department, NRC, or another Agreement State licensee authorized to perform
these functions. The licensee must check the equipment associated with the
leaking source for radioactive contamination and, if contaminated, have it
decontaminated or disposed of by the Department, the NRC, or another Agreement
State licensee authorized to perform these functions; and
(B) The licensee must submit a report to the
Department within five days of receiving the test results. The report must
describe the equipment involved in the leak test, test results, any
contamination which resulted from the leaking source, and corrective actions
taken up to the time the report is made.
007.04
EXEMPTIONS.
The following sealed sources are exempt from the periodic leak test
requirements in 180 NAC 14-007:
(A)
Hydrogen-3 (tritium) sources;
(B)
Sources containing radioactive material with a half-life of 30 days or
less;
(C) Sealed sources containing
radioactive material in gaseous form;
(D) Sources of beta or gamma emitting
radioactive material with an activity of 3.7 MBq (100 µCi) or less;
and
(E) Sources of alpha or neutron
emitting radioactive material with an activity of 0.37 MBq (10 µCi) or
less.
