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Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:35:04 -0800
Reply-To: p3wt3r**At_Symbol_Here**charter.net
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Todd <p3wt3r**At_Symbol_Here**CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: radioactive salts
Comments: To: rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**wcenvironmental.com
In-Reply-To: <007501ca686d$0bee48d0$23cada70$**At_Symbol_Here**com>
I suggest you speak with Nuclear Regulatory Commission about this. NRC's To
ll-Free Safety Hotline is (800) 695-7403. Some information can also be fou
nd at: http://www.nrc.gov/waste/ql-waste.html
Having worked much of my career in radiopharmaceuticals, my experience is t
hat NRC typically requires yearly accounting of the materials on hand, that
materials only be handled by businesses which are registered, and only by
properly trained personnel. Any Radioactive materials other than state, reg
ulated, accellerator produced RAM, are subject to NRC regulation.
It may qualify as hazardous waste even if it is very low specific activity.
My understanding is that most federal waste sites have been closed to new b
usiness under the current administration, and I don't know of any municipal
ity or county that allows disposal in the manner you described. Even consid
ering disposing these in common trash, regardless of how encased, sounds li
ke an unacceptable regulatory/legal liability, but the NRC would know best
what is or is not allowed. If you feel that this material is not being hand
led correctly you can call the number above or send a note to allegation**At_Symbol_Here**nr
c.gov
Todd Perkins
Safety Director
Airgas Mid America
--- On Wed, 11/18/09, Russ Phifer wrote:
> From: Russ Phifer
>
> A
> local laboratory here has four bottles of thorium and
> uranium salts they=E2=80=99d
> like to get rid of.=C2=A0 Looking into it, I found it was
> going to cost close
> to $4000 to transport and dispose of less than a pound of
> material at a
> facility in Houston; this is the only facility I can find
> that will accept this
> material.=C2=A0 These are not RCRA hazardous, and the
> radioactivity has to be
> extremely low.=C2=A0 The DOT numbers are 2909 and 2910;
> there doesn=E2=80=99t
> appear to be any difficulty shipping them.=C2=A0
>
> My
> question is =E2=80=93 what are other labs doing to dispose of
> this type of
> material?=C2=A0 Is it possible to encase them in concrete
> or another inert
> material and dispose in a municipal system?=C2=A0 Is there
> anyone recycling
> these salts?=C2=A0 Any ideas?
>
> =C2=A0
>
> Thanks=E2=80=A6.
>
> =C2=A0
>
> Russ
> Phifer
>
> =C2=A0
>
> Russ Phifer
>
> WC Environmental,
> LLC
>
> 1085C Andrew Drive
>
> West Chester, PA=C2=A0
> 19380
>
> 610-696-9220x12/ fax
> 610-344-7519
>
> rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**wcenvironmental.com
>
> =C2=A0
>
> P Please consider your
> environmental responsibility before printing
> this e-mail or any other document
>
> =C2=A0
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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