Minnesota Administrative Rules

4731.6200 DETECTION OF LEAKING SOURCES.

Subpart 1.

Dry-source-storage sealed sources.

Each dry-source-storage sealed source must be tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed six months using a leak test kit or method approved by the commissioner, the NRC, or an agreement state. 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. The test must be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcurie (200 becquerels) of radioactive material and must be performed by a person approved by the commissioner, the NRC, or an agreement state to perform the test.

Subp. 2.

Pool irradiators.

A.

This subpart applies to pool irradiators.

B.

Sources may not be put into the pool unless the licensee tests the sources for leaks or has a certificate from a transferor that a leak test has been done within six months before the transfer.

C.

Water from the pool must be checked for contamination each day the irradiator operates. The check may be done by using:

(1)

a radiation monitor on a pool water circulating system; or

(2)

analysis of a sample of pool water.

D.

If a check for contamination under item C is done by analysis of a sample of pool water, the results of the analysis must be available within 24 hours.

E.

If a licensee uses a radiation monitor on a pool water circulating system under item C, the detection of above normal radiation levels must activate an alarm. The alarm set-point must be set as low as practical, but high enough to avoid false alarms. The licensee may reset the alarm set-point to a higher level if necessary to operate the pool water purification system to clean up contamination in the pool if specifically provided for in written emergency procedures.

Subp. 3.

All irradiators.

A.

If a leaking source is detected:

(1)

the licensee must arrange to remove the leaking source from service and have it decontaminated, repaired, or disposed of by a licensee of the commissioner, the NRC, or an agreement state that is authorized to perform these functions;

(2)

the licensee must promptly check the licensee's personnel, equipment, facilities, and irradiated product for radioactive contamination;

(3)

no product may be shipped until the product has been checked and found free of contamination. If a product has been shipped that may have been inadvertently contaminated, the licensee must arrange to locate and survey the product for contamination;

(4)

if any personnel are found to be contaminated, decontamination must be performed promptly;

(5)

if contaminated equipment, facilities, or products are found, the licensee must arrange to have the equipment, facilities, or products decontaminated or disposed of by a licensee of the commissioner, the NRC, or an agreement state that is authorized to perform these functions; and

(6)

if a pool is contaminated, the licensee must arrange to clean the pool until the contamination levels do not exceed the appropriate concentration under part 4731.2750, subpart 7, Table 2, column 2.

B.

Records must be maintained according to part 4731.3110.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.1202; 144.1203

History:

29 SR 755

Published Electronically:

March 12, 2009