Minnesota Administrative Rules

4731.2360 LEAK TEST REQUIREMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Sealed sources.

Except as otherwise required, sealed sources must be tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed the intervals specified in the certificate of registration issued by the NRC or an agreement state.

Subp. 2.

Sealed source received from another person.

In the absence of a certificate from a transferor indicating that a leak test has been made within the intervals specified in the certificate of registration issued by the NRC or an agreement state, prior to the transfer, a sealed source received from another person must not be put into use until tested and the test results received.

Subp. 3.

Storage of sealed sources.

Sealed sources, except those containing radium, may be stored for a period of no more than three years without being tested for leakage and contamination. When sealed sources are removed from storage for use or for transfer to another person and have not been tested within the required leak test interval, they must be tested and test results received before use or transfer.

Subp. 4.

Test samples.

Test samples must be taken from the source or from the surfaces of the device in which the source is mounted or stored on which radioactive contamination might be expected to accumulate.

Subp. 5.

Level of detection.

The leak test must be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 becquerel) of radioactive material on the test sample.

A.

If the test reveals the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 becquerel) or more of removable contamination, the source must be removed immediately from service and decontaminated, repaired, or disposed of according to this chapter.

B.

The licensee must file a report with the commissioner within five days. The report must include:

(1)

the model number and serial number, if assigned, of the leaking source;

(2)

the identity of the radionuclide and its estimated activity;

(3)

the results of the test;

(4)

the date of the test; and

(5)

the action taken.

Subp. 6.

Tests administered by.

Tests for leakage must be performed by the licensee or by other persons specifically licensed by the NRC or an agreement state to perform these services.

Subp. 7.

Retention of leak test records.

A licensee shall retain leak test records for three years. The records must contain the model number and serial number, if assigned, of each source tested, the identity of each source radionuclide and its estimated activity, the measured activity of each test sample expressed in microcuries (becquerel), the date of the test, and the name or initials of the individual who performed the test.

Subp. 8.

Sources exempt from testing.

A licensee need not perform a leak test on the following sources:

A.

sources containing only radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;

B.

sources containing only radioactive material as a gas;

C.

sources containing 100 microcuries (3.7 MBq) or less of beta or photon-emitting material or ten microcuries (0.37 MBq) or less of alpha-emitting material; and

D.

seeds of iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.1202; 144.1203

History:

33 SR 1440; 36 SR 74

Published Electronically:

August 15, 2011