This section describes the steps that Permit Holders must follow to terminate their authorization to use radioactive materials or x-ray producing equipment.

Topic

Notifying the Radiation Safety Staff

Transfer or Disposal of Radiation Sources

Transfer of Detection and Counting Equipment

Deleting Personnel Dosimetry Accounts

Close-out Survey Requirements


 

Notifying the Radiation Safety Staff

When Permit Holders become aware that they will be terminating their Radiation Source Permits, they must notify the USDA Radiation Safety Staff (RSS). Local activities must be coordinated with the Location Radiation Protection Officer (LRPO).

Since Permits cannot be transferred, they must be terminated when the responsible permit holder becomes aware of the need to discontinue the use of radioactive materials or x-ray producing equipment.

Some of the reasons for termination are:

- Transfer of Permit Holder to another facility;

- End of research or program requiring the use of radioactive materials or x-ray producing equipment;

- Retirement of Permit Holder; and

- Death of Permit Holder.

Transfer or Disposal of Radiation Sources

- X-ray Producing Equipment Requirements

Permit Holders authorized for the use of x-ray producing equipment must either:

Dispose of the equipment; or

Transfer the equipment to another Permit Holder or back to the manufacturer.

A copy of the transfer or disposal information must be transmitted to the RSS to document the proper disposition of the equipment.

After all equipment on the Permit Holder's inventory is accounted for, the permit will be terminated by RSS.
 

- Sealed Source Requirements

Permit Holders authorized for radioactive sealed sources must either:

Dispose of the sources as radioactive waste; or

Transfer the sources to another Permit Holder or licensed individual.

A copy of the transfer or disposal form must be transmitted to RSS to document the proper disposition of the sources.

After all sources on the Permit Holder's inventory are accounted for, the permit will be terminated by RSS.

The approval of the RSS is required prior to the transfer of radioactive materials.

- Unsealed Radioactive Materials Requirements

Permit Holders authorized for unsealed radioactive materials must either:

Dispose of the materials as radioactive waste; or

Transfer the materials to another Permit Holder or licensed individual.

The approval of the RSS is required prior to the transfer of radioactive materials.

A copy of the transfer or disposal form must be transmitted to RSS to document the proper disposition of the sources.

After all materials are properly disposed or transferred, a comprehensive close-out survey of the laboratory use and storage areas is performed as described in Section 5.4-5. Once this is approved by RSS, and the signs and labels are removed from the rooms, the permit will be terminated by RSS.

Transfer of Detection and Counting Equipment

Permit Holders should also transfer portable survey meters to another authorized Permit Holder or to their LRPO. All check sources used to monitor for routine operation of the survey meter must also be transferred.

Liquid scintillation counters have an internal radioactive source used to compute the ratio for quench correction. The counter cannot be disposed without the removal of this source. The manufacturer of the liquid scintillation counter will provide assistance in the source removal and will generally accept its return.

All calibration standards must be disposed as radioactive waste, transferred to another Permit Holder or to the LRPO.

Deleting Personnel Dosimetry Accounts

As part of the termination process, the Permit Holder must cancel any personnel dosimetry services for the individuals being monitored under their permit. This can be accomplished by contacting the Permit Operations Section, RSS.

Close-out Survey Requirements

Permit Holders authorized for the use of unsealed radioactive materials must perform a comprehensive close-out survey to document that the rooms and areas used for research and/or storage are free from fixed and removable contamination.

The RSS has published a Technical Bulletin titled "Performing Close-out Surveys in Radioisotope Laboratories" that provides detailed guidance on the type and extent of surveys that must be performed. The bulletin can be found in Section 6.2 of this Handbook.

The close-out survey must be approved by RSS in writing prior to termination of a permit. Radioisotope laboratories shall not be released for unrestricted use until the Permit Holder or LRPO has received this approval.