902 KAR 100:060.
Leak testing.
RELATES TO: KRS
211.842-211.852, 211.990(4)
STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: KRS 194.050, 211.090, 211.844
NECESSITY,
FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: The Cabinet for Human Resources is authorized by KRS
211.844 to provide by administrative regulation for the registration and
licensing of the possession or use of sources of ionizing or electronic product
radiation and to regulate the handling and disposal of radioactive waste. This
administrative regulation provides requirements and procedures for the testing
of sealed radioactive sources for leakage and contamination.
Section 1.
Applicability. This administrative regulation establishes leak testing
procedures for sealed sources.
Section 2. Tests
for Leakage and Contamination of Sealed Sources. (1) Requirements. Each
licensee possessing or using sealed sources of radioactive material, foil
sources, or plated alpha sources shall have the sources periodically tested for
leakage and contamination as prescribed in this section. Records of these tests
shall be maintained and made available for inspection by the cabinet.
(2) Method of
testing. Tests for leakage and contamination shall be performed only by persons
specifically authorized to perform the tests by the cabinet, United States
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or an Agreement State. The test sample shall be
taken from the surface of the source or from the surface of the device in which
the source is stored or mounted and on which one might expect contamination to
accumulate. The test sample shall be analyzed for radioactive contamination and
the test shall be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcurie of
radioactivity on the test sample. The results of the test shall be kept in
units of microcuries and maintained for five (5) years unless otherwise
specified by these administrative regulations or license conditions.
(3) Interval of
testing. Each sealed source of radioactive material or foil source shall be
tested for leakage and contamination at intervals not to exceed six (6) months.
Each source designed for the purpose of emitting alpha particles shall be
tested at intervals not to exceed three (3) months. In the absence of a
certificate from a transferor indicating that a test has been made prior to the
transfer, the sealed source shall not be put into use until tested. In addition
to the leak test intervals specified in this administrative regulation, the
cabinet may authorize extended leak test intervals for specific sources used in
certain specific applications.
(4) Leaking or
contaminated sources. If the leak test reveals the presence of 0.005 microcurie
or more of removable contamination, the licensee shall immediately withdraw the
source from use and shall cause it to be decontaminated, repaired, or disposed
of in accordance with the cabinet's radiation administrative regulations. All
equipment which has been in contact with the leaking source shall be checked
for contamination and decontaminated as specified by the cabinet. A report
within five (5) days of the test describing the equipment involved, the test
results and the corrective actions taken shall be filed with: Manager,
Radiation Control, Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources, 275 East Main Street,
Frankfort, Kentucky 40621.
(5) Exemptions.
In addition to the requirements of this section, the following sources are
exempted from periodic leak testing:
(a) Hydrogen-3
sources;
(b) Sources of
radioactive material with a half-life of thirty (30) days or less;
(c) Sealed
sources of radioactive material in gaseous form;
(d) Sources of
beta or gamma emitting radioactive material with an activity of 100 microcuries
or less;
(e) Sources of
alpha emitting radioactive material with an activity of ten (10) microcuries or
less;
(f) Nickel-63
foil sources of 100 microcuries or less; and
(g) Plated alpha
sources, other than Californium-252 sources, with an activity of one-tenth
(0.1) microcurie or less. (1 Ky.R. 402; eff. 2-5-75; Am. 2 Ky.R. 479; eff.
4-14-76; 12 Ky.R. 1042; eff. 1-3-86; 18 Ky.R. 1522; eff. 1-10-92.)
