### DOCKET NO: A

- 98

- 49; II

- A4

- 182

WASTE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT

TIER 1 CHANGE EVALUATION: CHANGING CALIBRATION TO INC L UDE A FIVE

- FOOT DETECTOR SETBACK CONFIGURATION O N THE NONDESTRUCTIVE ASSAY BOX COUNTER TO ASSAY STANDARD LARGE BOX ES TYPE 2 FO R THE CENTRAL CHARACTERIZATION

PROJECT AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Center for Waste Management and Regulations 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460

March 2 01 4i 

### TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page Abbreviations and Acronyms

................................ ................................ ................................ ......... ii

1.0 Introduction

................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 4

2.0 Purpose of Tier 1 Evaluation

................................ ................................ ............................... 5

3.0 Purpose of This Report

................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 5

4.0 Scope of Review

................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 6

5.0 Tier 1 Evaluation Personnel

................................ ................................ ................................ . 6

6.0 Technical Evaluation of Nondestructive Assay

................................ ................................ ... 6

6.1 System Description

................................ ................................ ................................ .. 6 6.2 Spectral Interpretation

................................ ................................ .............................. 8 6.3 Technical Basis for Change

................................ ................................ ..................... 8 6.4 Documents Reviewed

................................ ................................ .............................. 9 6.5 Evaluation Checklist

................................ ................................ ................................ 9 6.6 Gamma Calibration, Calibration Validation and Confirmation

............................... 9 6.7 Changes to Gamma Operating Range

................................ ................................ .... 10 6.8 Specific Limits on Assay Conditions for the Five

- Foot Setback

........................... 10 6.9 Lower Limit of Detection Determination

................................ .............................. 10 6.10 Total Measurement Uncertainty

................................ ................................ ............ 10

7.0 Findings and Concerns

................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 10

8.0 Conclusions

................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 11

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Evaluation Personnel

................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 6

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A Approval Summary for SRS

- CCP Contact

- Handled Waste Characterization

Program Attachment B Nondestructive Assay Box Counter Evaluation Checklist

– Far

- Field

Geometry for St andard Large Boxes Type 2 Geometryii 

### ABBREVIATIONS AND AC RONYMS

AK acceptable knowledge

Am americium

BDR batch data report

BNAS Box Neutron Assay System

BSGS Box Segment ed Gamma System

CBFO Carlsbad Field Office

CCP Central Characterization Pro gram
Cd cad mium

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CH contact

- handled

Cm curium

Co cobalt

Cs cesium

Cu copper
DOE U.S. Department of Energy

EA Expert Analyst

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

FFG far

- field geometry

FRAM Fixed E nergy , Response F unction Analysis with Multiple Efficiency

g gram
HS heat source

HPGe high

- purity germanium

ISOCS In Situ Object Counting System

LLD Lower Limit of Detection

mCi millicuries

MGA multi

- group analysis

mm millimeter

NABC Nondestructive Assay Box Counter

NaI sodium iodide

nC i/g nanocuries per gram

NDA nondestructive assayiii



### Np neptunium

Pu plutonium

SLB 2 S tandard L arge B ox Type 2

Sr strontium

SRS Savannah River Site

SWB S tandard W aste B ox
T1 Tier 1

T2 Tier 2

TMU total measurement uncertainty

TRU transuranic

TRUPACT Transura nic Package Transporter

U uranium

WG weapons grade

WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Plant4



### 1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) approval of a Tier 1 (T1) change to add a five

- foot setback configuration to the Nond estructive Assay Box Counter ( NA BC) to assay Standard Large Boxes Type 2 (SL B 2 s) at the Savannah River Site (SRS). In accordance with Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) 194.8(b), EPA conducted a baseline inspection of the Central Characte rization Pro gram (CCP) 1 

### waste characterization program for contact

- handled (CH) transuranic (TRU) wastes at the U.S. Department of Energy ’s (DOE ’s ) SRS in Aiken, South Carolina, in 2005. As a result, in July 2006, EPA approved the SRS

- CCP CH TRU waste char acterization program (see EPA Docket No. A

- 98

- 49, II

- A4

- 65 ).

On March 9, 2009 , the Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) requested EPA approval of a T1 change to add the NABC as a new nondestructive assay (NDA) system at SRS. EPA inspected and approved the NABC in 2009 (see EPA Docket No. A

- 98

- 49; II

- A4

- 114) . Following this approval, CBFO requested and EPA granted approval of a T1 change to extend the calibration range of the gamma component of the NABC. On May 12, 2011, CBFO requested to change the calibration of the gamma component of the NABC to an efficiency

- based calibration using the technical guidance of American Society for Testing and Materials Standard C113/C1133

- 10, which EPA approved. On July 3, 2012, CBFO requested approval of the five

- foot setback conf iguration 2 

### for the NABC for assaying 5 5

- gallon drums, which EPA inspect ed at SRS in July 2012 and approved on September 11, 2012. On December 18, 2012, DOE requested to add a five

- foot setback configuration to the NABC’s gamma component for assaying Standa rd Waste Boxes (SWBs). EPA approved this addition on February 21, 2013. EPA’s reviews and approvals of SRS

- CCP’s CH waste characterization program are listed in Attachment A.

On January 8 , 201 4 , DOE requested a T1 change to add the five

- foot setback config uration to the NABC’s gamma component for assaying S LB2 s , equivalent to what EPA approved previously for 55

- gallon drums and SWBs as mentioned above . The five

- foot setback configuration would allow the NABC to assay S LB 2 s that previously could not be assay ed in the near

- field configuration due to radionuclide interferences. This change applies only to the gamma component; the NABC neutron component is unchanged.

EPA evaluated the proposed T1 change by reviewing SRS

- CCP documents. As a result of this evaluat ion

, EPA determined that the five

- foot setback configuration is technically adequate for assaying SL B 2 s

. However, the five

- foot setback configuration for assaying SLB2s is not approved at this time to discriminate TRU and n on

- TRU wastes in accordance with the 100 nanocurie s per gram (nCi/g) criter ion, based on the technical documentation SRS

- CCP provided. EPA did not make any changes to the SRS

- CCP RH T1 and Tier 2 ( T2 ) designations that were established during the baseline approval and modified during subs equent T1 evaluations. The tiering designations presented in Table 1 of the final report for EPA’s approval of the five

- foot

1 The Central Characterization Program was formerly know n as the Central Characterization Project, and both names are used in the documentation reviewed for this evaluation.

2 T h e initial configuration of the NABC is referred to as the “near

- field” geometry or setting. The “ five

- f oo t

s e t ba c k ” is a l s o r e f

erre d t o a s “ five

- f

oo t s t a n dof

f ” a n d “ f a r

- f i e ld g e o m e t r y ” or FFG, d e pe n d i n g o n t h e s pec i f ic

a pp li ca ti o n . SRS

- CCP documents use all these terms

.5



### setback configuration for the NABC for assaying SWBs (see EPA Docket No. A

- 98

- 49; II

- A4

- 1 7 1; February 21, 2013 ) remain in effect.

2.0 P URPOSE OF TIER 1 EVA LUATION

Any changes to the waste characterization activities from the date of the baseline inspection must be reported to and, if applicable, approved by EPA according to the tiering requirements set forth in the SRS baseline final repo rt cited above.

Under the changes to 40 CFR 194.8 promulgated in the July 16, 2004, Federal Register notice, EPA must perform a single baseline inspection of a TRU waste generator site’s waste characterization program. The purpose of the baseline inspectio n is to approve the site’s waste characterization program based on the demonstration that the program’s components, with applicable conditions and limitations, can adequately characterize TRU wastes and comply with the regulatory requirements imposed on TR U wastes destined for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). An EPA inspection team conducts an onsite inspection to verify that the site’s system of controls is technically adequate and properly implemented.

Following EPA’s approval of waste characterization processes evaluated during the baseline inspection, EPA is authorized to evaluate and approve, if necessary, changes to the site’s approved waste characterization program by conducting additional inspections under the authority of 40 CFR 1 94.24(h). Under 40 CFR 194.24, EPA has the authority to conduct continued compliance inspections to verify that the site continues to use only the approved waste characterization processes to characterize the waste and remains in compliance with all of the regulatory requirements. Based on the adequacies of the waste characterization processes demonstrated during the baseline inspection, including all conditions and limitations, EPA specified which subsequent waste characterization program changes or modifi cations must undergo further EPA inspection or approval under 40 CFR 194.24. This was accomplished by assigning a tier level to each aspect of the SRS

- CCP characterization program. T1 activities have more stringent reporting requirements and require that D OE notify EPA and that EPA provide approval prior to implementation. The rule under which baseline inspections are conducted can be found in the Federal Register (Vol. 69, No. 136, pages 42571

– 42583) of July 16, 2004.

3.0 PURPOSE OF THIS REPO RT

This report pre sents the results of EPA’s evaluation of a T1 change to allow the use of the NABC in a five

- foot setback configuration for gamma assays of SLB2 s . This report documents the basis for EPA’s approval decision and explains the results of the technical evaluati on of the system, including any limitations. EPA’s approval decision regarding the new measurement configuration of the NABC has been conveyed to DOE separately by letter. EPA will also announce the decision on its website at www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp , in accordance with 40 CFR 194.8(b)(3).

The documents that EPA reviewed for this evaluation that are cited in this report can be requested from:6



### Carlsbad Field Office Manager, National TRU Program U.S. Departme nt of Energy P.O. Box 3090 Carlsbad NM 88221

- 3090

4.0 SCOPE OF REVIEW

Th e scope of this review is to evaluate a new measurement configuration to an approved SRS

CCP NDA system. The NABC high

- purity germanium (HPGe) detectors were physically moved five feet f u r ther away from the SLB2 being assayed. This change pertains only to the gamma component of the NABC

, and does not affect any other aspects of the instrument previously approved, as described below

. EPA evaluated this proposed change request in accordance with 40 CFR 194.8(b) to assess the extent an d effects of this change on the NABC and the assays produced from the new configuration, as discussed in this report.

5.0 TIER 1 EVALUATION PERSONNEL

Table 1 lists all EPA personnel involved in this T1 evaluation, a long with their professional affiliations and T1 evaluation functions. EPA relied primarily on reviews of documents and information provided by SRS

- CCP. When additional information or clarifications were needed, EPA made these requests via email and SRS

- CC P provided the needed information electronically.

Table 1 . Evaluation Personnel

6.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF NONDESTRUCTIVE AS SAY

6.1 System Description

SRS

- CCP operates the NABC that is located at SRS, E Area, Building 643

- 43E; it has not been moved since EPA approved i t initially in 2009. Although SRS

- CCP doc umentation r efers to it as a single system, the NABC is in fact two distinct NDA systems: a neutron system, referred to as the Box Neutron Assay System ( BNAS ), which produces neutron data that are transformed into quantitative values upon application of is otopic (mass fraction) values; and the Box Segmented Gamma System (BSGS), which supplies isotopic values for use with the BNAS neutron dat a or provides stand

- alone quantitative gamma

- based values. The BNAS des ign and operation are unchanged and these aspec ts are not addressed in this report. Previous EPA reports (Docket Nos. A

- 98

- 49; II

- A4

- 114 and A

- 98

- 49; II

- A4

- 133) descr ibe the NABC system in detail. Typ ically, a container is assayed o n both the BNAS and the BSGS, following which there are three analytica l options: Personnel Name Affiliation T1 Evaluation Function

E d F e lt cor n E P A E P A L ea d In s pec t o r P a t r i c k K e l l y S C & A / E P A E P A T ec hn i ca l E v a l u a t o r R o s e G o g li o tti S C & A / E P A E P A T ec hn i ca l E v a l u a t o r7



###  BNAS data are converted to radionuclide

- specific values using the isotopic results provided by the BSGS.

 BNAS data are converted to radionuclide

- specific values using isotopic results based on SRS

- CCP acceptable knowledge (AK).

 BSGS data provide quantitative radionuclide values directly without relying on any BNAS values.

SRS

- CCP subjects every NABC assay to review by an Expert Analyst (EA), who determines which analytical options are appropriate for a specific assay. The EA evaluates the attribu tes and appropriateness of the gamma and neutron assays based on: spectral quality; the presence of specific neutron i nterferences, e.g., curium

- 244 or elevated concentrations of americium

- 241 ( 241 

### Am), uranium

- 235 ( 235 

### U) , plutonium

- 238 ( 238 

### Pu) or neptunium

- 237 ( 237 

### Np); agreement between gamma and neutron values; radionuclides expecte d based on AK; and other technical aspects. T he EA may use a neu t ron NABC value with a near

- field or far

- field gamma value or an AK

- derived isotopic value, or the EA may use the near

- field or far

- field quantitative gamma value by itself as the assay of record. The EA’s choice of assay mode(s) and other comments for each container are documented on an automated independent technical review sheet that is included in the NABC batch data report (BDR).

EPA previously approved the NABC for the near

- field geometry for use with 55

- gallon drums, SWBs, and SLB2 s and the far

- field geometry for use with 55

- gallon drums and SWBs

. The BSGS far

- field geometry assays were confirmed for the effici ency

- based nonattenuated mod e

. 3 

### SRS

- CCP requested approval of this change to also assay SLB2 s i n the far

- field geometry, which required a n additional calibration for the BSGS.

During a previous onsite evaluation, EPA observed operation of the NABC in the five

- foot setback configuration for 55

- gallon drums. The o perational procedure ( CCP

- TP

- 189

, Revision 2) 4 

### had not been revised to accommodate the five

- foot setback configuration for the previously

approved containers because the procedure adequately address ed changing measurement configurations of the NABC to allo w for assaying 55

- gallon drums

, SWBs and SLB2 s. Similarly, the procedures for calibration (CCP

- TP

- 190, Revision 2) 5 

### and data review (CCP

- TP

- 193, Revision 3) 6 

### were not changed in response to the five

- foot setback configuration for the previous containers and the same was true for SLB2 s

. The NABC integrates the BSGS and BNAS detection modes, both of which are described in previous EPA evaluations.

3 The combination mass

- based/efficiency

- based mode was not confirmed for the five

- foot setback for any size waste contai ner.

4 Central Characterization Project, CCP Box Segmented Gamma System (BSGS) Operating Procedure, CCP

- TP

- 189, Revision 2, May 4, 2011.

5 Central Characterization Project, CCP Box Segmented Gamma System (BSGS) Calibration Procedure, CCP

- TP

- 190, Revision 2 , May 5, 2011.

6 Central Characterization Project, CCP Data Reviewing, Validating, and Reporting Procedure for the Nondestructive Assay Box Counters, CCP

- TP

- 193, Revision 3, August 8, 2011.8



### 6.2 Spectral Interpretation

The gamma spectra for SLB2 s a ssayed with the five

- foot setback configuration are typically more complex than near

- field spectra. Because of th e interferences discussed in section 6.3 below , these spectra often require interpretation for which the experience of the EA is fundamentally imp ortant . The EA has considerable latitude in approving NABC assays . T he
assay data from the proposed configuration for the two SLB2s were evaluated by one EA, Daniel Remington . EPA interviewed Mr. Remington during the ori ginal far

- field 55

- gallon drum T1 approval an d found him to be well qualified to evaluate challenging NABC spectra. EPA did not interview Mr. Remington nor review his training records as part of this activity. EPA will assess Mr. Remington’s training at the next EPA’s Continued Compliance inspection later this year.

6.3 Technical Basis for Change

SRS

- CCP has a population of SLB2 s that cannot be assayed using the near

- field configuration due to high concentrations of cesium

- 137 ( 137 

### Cs), 241 

### Am or 238 

### Pu . Such containers pos e two basic problems f

or near

- f ield assays:

 High concentratio ns of these radionuclides produce photons t hat flood the detector. The detector has a minimum amount of time that must separate two photons in order for them to be seen as separate events. Any new photon that strikes the detector while it is still processing the initial photon is not counted. This minimum time separation is referred to as the “dead time” of the counting system, i.e., the time during which the detector cannot record a new photon because it is busy recor ding a previous photon. The number of photons that are not counted (called “dead

- time losses”) can be considerable with high

content waste containers. Some SRS

- CCP containers have dead

- time losses greater than 80% in the near

- field configuration, making t he containers impossible to assay in this configuration.

 Elevated concentrations of 137 

### Cs, 241 

### Am or 238 

### Pu produce spectral interferences due to their gamma emissions at higher energy. These obscure 239 

### Pu and other WIPP

- tracked radionuclides that have lower energy emissions and render the spectra unusable.

Increasing the detector distance from the se containers can solve both problems. The distance of five feet was chosen because it is the maximum detector

- to

- container

- distance possible with the detectors rem aining inside the physical NABC enclosure. The increased detector

- to

- container distance , however, reduces the number o f photons reaching the detector and requires an increased counting time (i.e., 60

- minutes versus the standard 20

- minutes count time) but r educes the interferences described above and therefore, can allow problematic containers to be assayed successfully.

SRS

- CCP has successfully assayed drums and SWBs with the far

- field configuration that were not possible to assay with the near

- field geome try . Similarly, SRS

- CCP presented assay data from two SLB2 s with dead time losses as high as 80% on previous assays using the near

- field geometry . The addition of SLB2 s to the far

- field geometry allow ed SRS

- CCP to successfully
assay these SLB2s , as documen ted in the NABC BDR (BDR # SRLBC0994)

.9



### 6.4 Documents Reviewed

EPA evaluated the following documents to support the approval of the addition of a five

- foot geometry of the BSGS:

 CCP

- SRS

- SRBC001, “ Nondestructive Assay Box Counter, Calibration Validation and Conf irmation Report for Gamma Modality, ” Revision 7

, July 15, 2013

.

 CCP

- SRS

- SRBC002, “ Nondestructive Assay Box Counter, Calibration Validation and Confirmation Report for t he Neutron Modality, ” Revision 1, June 4, 2009

.

 SLB2 ISOCS Calibration of the S avannah R iver Box Counter: 5ft Set Back C alibration, Paul LeBlanc, IV , Canberra Industries, Inc., June 24, 2013 (included as Appendix Q

- 3 in CCP

- SRS

- SRBC001)

.

 NABC BDR No. SRLBC0 994

.

 Savannah River Gamma Box Counter Calibration Report Alternatives for Non

Destructi ve Assay (NDA) of Large Containers to Allow Shipping in TRUPACT III without Resizing and/or Repackaging, Canberra Document No. 40945 , July 2004.

 Response to EPA R egarding Savannah River Site Tier 1

, 5

- foot S etback for 2 SLB2s Large Box Gamma Counter , Memor an d um from Site Docs in response to EPA inquiry

, February 27, 2014

.

6.5 Evaluation Checklist

Based on EPA’s review of the SRS

- CCP documents listed above, EPA prepared a revised checklist for this evaluation that addressed the relevant aspects of the proposed c hange to the measurement configuration. The bulk of the evaluation is documented in the checklist, which is included as Attachment B to this report.

6.6 Gamma Calibration, Calibration Validation and Confirmation

The NABC’s HPGe gamma detectors were initially c haracterized by the In Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS) for the five

- foot setback configuration at Canberra’s facility in Meriden, Connecticut, as documented in the Canberr a calibration document. This configuration was validated at SRS using mixed

- gamma

- line sources 241 

### Am, barium

- 133, 137 

### Cs and cobalt

- 60 for the multi

- density efficiency

- based summed spectrum mode for a combination cardboard

plywood matrix . The sources were the same as those used in the initial factory calibration, and the measurements me t all acceptance crit eria, as documented in CCP

- SRS

- SRBC00 1.

The calibration confirmation measurements were performed for one high mass weapons grade ( WG ) Pu loading and on e high mass heat source ( HS ) Pu loading in an SLB2 . Copies of the

sour ce certificati ons are in CCP

- SRS

- SRBC001

, Appendices C

- 1 and C

- 2. The con firmation measurements met the WIPP W aste Acceptance Criteria 7 

### requirem ents for precision and accuracy and the r esults of these measur ements are provided in CCP

- SRS

- SRBC001, Appendix

7 U.S. DOE CBFO, “Transuranic Waste Acceptance Criteria for the Wa ste Isolation Pilot Plant,” DOE/WIPP

- 02

- 3122, Revision 7.4, Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 22, 2013.10



### M

- 3. EPA foun d the NABC calibration and verification measurements to be technically adequate and appropriately documented for assaying SLB2 s in the five

- foot setback configuration

.

6.7 Changes to Gamma Operating Range

The operating range of the NABC was unchanged due to the use of the five

- foot setback configuration with SLB2 s

.

6.8 Specific Limits on Assay Conditions for the Five

- Foot Setback

The measurement configuration is limited to 55

- gallon drums

, SWBs and SLB2 s in the efficiency

- based non attenuated spectrum, i.e., the mult icurve, density

- based assay mode. Specifically excluded from this evaluation is the use of mass

- based/efficiency

- based assay mode for assaying any container

.

6.9 Lower Limit of Detection Determination

The l ower limit s of detection (LLD) for SLB2 s in the far

- fi eld configuration were not performed

. According to SRS

- CCP, t he two containers that the NABC assayed in the five

- foot setback configuration were previously assayed in the near

- field configuration and exhibit ed high dead

times apparently attributable to 238 

### Pu

. SRS

- CCP stated that because they knew the containers’ TRU content would e xceed 100 nCi/g

, they did not establish the LLD for the five

- foot setback configuration for SLB2s. However, SRS

- CCP stated that if this T 1 request been for a general population of containers this information would not be known and an LLD would have been established.

SRS

- CCP expects to use t he far

- field setback configuration for SLB2s to assay containers with easily measureable concentrations of TRU radionu clides, as discussed prev iously, and this application was adequately demonstrated. However, LLDs for the five

- f oo t setback configuration for SLB2s w ere not demonstrated and accordingly this configuration is not approved to discriminate TRU and n on

- TRU wastes in accordance with the 100 nCi/g criterion

.

6.10 T otal Measurement Uncertainty

The determination of total measurement uncertainty (TMU) for the NABC is addressed in “Savannah River Gamma Box Counter Calibration Report Alternatives for Non

- Destructive Assay (NDA) of Large Container s to Allow Shipping in TRUPACT III without Resizing and/or Repackaging,” Canberra Document No. 40945. The determination of TMU is not affected by the five

- foot setback configuration with SLB2 s.

7.0 FINDINGS AND CONCERNS

There were no findings or concerns regar ding the use of the five

- foot setback configuration for the assay of SLB2 s on the SRS

- CCP NABC

.11



### 8.0 CONCLUSION S

Changes to Tiering

As a result of this evaluation, EPA did not make any changes to the SRS

- CCP C H T1 and T2 designations that were established durin g the baseline approval and modified during subsequent T1 evaluations. The tiering designations presented in Table 1 of the final report for EPA’s approval of th e five

- foot setback for assaying SWBs (see EPA Docket No. A

- 98

- 49; II A4 171 ; February 21 , 2013 ) remain in effect.

Approval

During this T1 evaluation, EPA evaluated the use of a new measurement configuration for SLB2 s on the BSGS aspect of the NABC. Based on this evaluation, EPA approves the use of the five

- foot setback configuration to assay SLB2s for the BSGS aspect of the NABC. Because the BNAS aspect of the NABC is unchanged, the gamma data from the five

- foot setback configuration of the BSGS may be used in conjunction with BNAS

- derived neutron values, as described in this report, at the discreti on of the SRS

- CCP EA. However, at this time, the five

foot setback configuration for assaying SLB2s is not approved to discriminate TRU and n on

TRU wastes in accordance with the 100 nCi/g criterion, based on the technical documentation SRS

- CCP provided.A

- 1 

### A TTACHMENT A

APPROVAL SUMMARY FOR SRS

- CCP CONTACT

- HANDLED WASTE

CHARACTERIZATION PRO GRAM

Approved Activity EPA Inspection Number, Approval Dates EPA Docket Number

S R S

- CCP C H B a s e l i n e A ppro v a l EPA

- SRS

- 10.05

- 8 J u l y 200 6 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 6 5

T 1 Ch an g e

– A

ppr o v a l o f S eg m en t e d G a mm a S c a nn er , N o n de s t r u c t i v e A ss a y S ys t e m A u g u s t 200 7 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 9 0

T 1 Ch an g e

– A

ppro v a l o f N o n de s t r u c t i v e A ss a y B o x C o un t er , N o n de s t r u c t i v e A ss a y S ys t e m A u g u s t 200 9 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 11 4

T 1 Ch an g e

– A dd iti o n o f S 300 0 S o li d s Marc h 201 0 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 12 3

T 1 Ch an g e

– E x t en s i o n o f t h e C a l i bra t e d R an g e o f t h e NABC
B SGS to 7.1 8 g 238 P u U s i n g a 20

- M i n u t e C o u n ti n g T i m e Se p t e m

be r 201 0 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 13 3

T 1 Ch an g e

– Ch a n g i n g to a n Ef f i c i e n c y

- ba s e d C a l i bra ti o n f o r NABC B SGS M a y 201 1 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 14 8

T1 Change

– NABC BSGS 5

- ft Setback for 55

- gallon drums September 2012 A

- 98

- 49 ; II

- A 4

- 166

T1 Change

– NABC BSGS 5

- ft Setback for SWBs February 2013 A

- 98

- 49; II

- A4

- 171B

- 1 

### ATTACHMENT B

NONDESTRUCTIVE ASSAY BOX COUNTER EVALUATION CHECKLIST

– FAR

- FI ELD

GEOMETRY FO R STANDAR D LARGE BOX ES TYPE 2 GEOMETRY

T ec hn ic a l E l e m e n t s O b j ec t i v e E v i d e n ce
C on f i r m t h e N D A s ys t e m is t h e NABC

, i t s l o cati o n a n d

nu m b e r

. T h is is t h e s a m e ND A s ys t e m as E P A previously e v a l u ated a n d a ppro v ed, l o cated in B u il d i n g 643

- 43 E in E A r ea

o f t h e S a v a nn a h R i v er S ite n ear A i k e n , S o u th C a ro li n a.

C on f i r m a n y c h a ng e s to t h e NABC

. No physical changes to system, only change is relocating the gamma detectors, n o c h a n g es to t h e n e u t ro n a s p ect

o f t h e N A B C a r e c on n ect e d to t h e FF G.

De s c r i b e t h e NABC

. T h e H P Ge d etect o r s w e r e ph ys ical l y m o v ed a ppro x i m a t e l y five f eet f u r t h er a w a y f

r o m t h eir i n itial po s iti o n

. T h is d i s ta n ce w a s c ho s en b eca us e it i s t h e m a x i m u m s a m p le

- t o

- d etect o r d i s ta n ce po ss i b le w i t h t h e d etect or s r e m a i n i n g i ns i d e t h e N A B C e n c l o s u r e. E P A ob s e r v ed t h is c o n f i g u r ati o n o f t h e N A B C in op e r ati o n at S RS

. T h e r e a r e n o

o t h er ph y s ical c h a ng e s to t h e N A B C

. Id e n ti f y t h e m e a su r e m e n t c ond iti o n s f o r t h e N A B C F F G: C o n ta i n e r( s ) t y

p e: A ss a y M od e ( Ne u t ro n a n d / o r G a mm a ) : C ou n t i n g M od e: A tt e nu ated o r S u m

- o f

- S e g m e n t s : W G

a n d / o r HS P u : A tt e n u at or s : F ilte r( s ) : Dead

- T i m

e C r ite r i o n : A ss a y T i m

e R e v i s i on s o f C C P

- T P

- 189

, 1 9 0 & 193 : S or t T R U/N o n

- T R U: Specific Limitations: C o n ta i n e r( s ) t y p e: 55

- g all o n d ru m s , S WB s and SLB2 s

. A ss a y M od e ( Ne u t ro n a n d / o r G a mm a ) : C h a n g e o n l y a ff e c ts g a mm a, n o c h a n g e to n e u t ro n m od e; n e u t r o n d ata

m a y b e us ed w i t h n ea r

- f

ield o r f a r

- f ield g a mm a v a l u e s o r A K

- d e r i v ed i s o t op ics

. C ou n t i n g M od e: Non a tt e nu ated

, S u m

- o f

- S e g m e n t s (multicurve, density

- based) efficiency o n l y

. W G a n d / o r HS P u : I n d i v i d u al c o n t r i b u ti on s f r o m bo t h as w e l l as m

i x t u r es a r e ro u ti n e

. A tt e n u at or s : Not used for FFG

. F ilte r( s ) : 0.1 4 m m C d

, 0. 5 m m C u

. Dead

- T i m

e C r ite r i o n : No s p e c i f

ic c r ite r i o n , d e p e n d s o n s p e c t r al q u ali t y , g e n e r al l y ~ 70 % ; d ead t i m e is t h e l i m

i t b u t acce p ta b ili t y i s d ete r m i n ed b y t h e E A o n a ca s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s is

. A ss a y T i m

e : Typical 60

- m i n u te c o un t s w i t h o u t att e n u at or s

. R e v i s i on s o f C C P

- T P

- 189

, - 1 9 0 &

- 193 : No c h a ng es to pro ce d u r es for FFG for SLB2s

. S or t T R U/N o n

- T R U: N o t a l w a y s po ss i b le

, c o n ta i n e r s a r e expected t o be significantly greater than 10 0 nC i / g , TRU/ n on

- TRU discrimination not demonstrated

. Id e n ti f y t h e p e r i o d o f p e r f

o r m a n ce r ele v a n t to t h i s

a pp licati o n o f t h e N A B C

. This is the first use of the FFG for SLB2 s

.

Id e n ti f y t h e nu m b er o f w a s te c o n tai n e r s t h e N A B C h as

a ss a y ed us i n g t h e F F G to d ate b e y o n d t h e t h r ee B D R s pro v i d e d

. C o n f

i r m t h at all SLB2 s a ss a y ed b y t h e N A B C FF G h a v e r e

j ected pr i o r a ss a y v al u e s

. I n d icate h o w m a n y B D R s w e r e a ss e m

b led o t h er t h an t h e t h r ee pro v i d ed pr i o r to t h e i n s p ecti o n a n d i n d icate h o w m a n y h a v e b een promoted through Project Level Review. A t o tal o f two SLB2 s h a v e b een a ss a y ed us i n g t h e F F G as o f January 2014

, a n d t h e s e w e r e a ss e m b led i n one B D R

, w h ich was pro m o ted t h ro u g h P ro j ect L e v el R e v i e w a n d w as pro v i d ed f o r t h is E P A e v a l u at i o n

. EPA noted that both containers in this BDR had an associated Non Conformance Report (NCR) attributable to elevated Pu Equivalent Curie values, which prevented SRS

- CCP from shipping them

.B

- 2 T ec hn ic a l E l e m e n t s O b j ec t i v e E v i d e n ce Confirm that the NABC FFG is able to report quantitative values an d uncertainties for 238 Pu, 239 Pu, 240 Pu, 242 Pu,

241 Am, 233 U, 234 U, 238 U, 90 Sr and 137 Cs. T h e FF G is a b le to r e por t q u a n titat i v e v al u e s f o r 238 P u , 239 P u , 240 P u , 242 P u , 24 1 A m , 23 3 U, 23 4 U, 238 U, 90 S r a n d 137 C s in t h e s a m

e m a nn er as t h e n ea r

- f

ield g e o m et r y

.

I dentify any sample conditions, interferences, radionuclides or other aspects that are potentially problematic or require specific corrections for the NABC FFG. T h e r e a r e m a n y examples, including pr e s e n ce o f 244 C m , h i g h c o n ce n t r ati o n s o f 237 N p , 241 A m , 13 7 C s o r 238 P u

. S p ect r a a r e t y

p ica ll y c o m

p l e x a n d all r e q u i r e c o ns i d e r a b le i n te rpr etati o n b y t h e E A

. A ll s a m p le s p ect r a r e v i e w ed for this T1 w e r e c o m

p lex a n d h ad to b e c orr ected f o r p o te n tial i n te r f

e r e n ce s ; c orrections are documented in the BDR.

Where is the a ctual efficiency calibration for the NABC FFG documented? E f f icie n c y cali br ati o n i s do c u m e n ted in “ Canberra Factory BSGS 5

- F oot S tand

- O ff ISOCS Calibration Report for the SWB C ontainer Type, for BSGS Extended 1

- Hour Calibration with U nshielded HPGe Detecto rs and the BSGS Reduced 20

- M inute Calibration with Shielded HPGE Detectors

. ”

Determine if the HPGe and NaI detectors used for the NABC FFG are the same as used for near

- field assays. Where are the detectors’ attributes described? T h e H P Ge d etect o r s a r e un c h a ng e d ; t h e o n l y d i f f e r e n ce i s t h eir pro x i m

i t y to t h e SLB2

, i

. e

. , t h e y a r e five f eet f u r t h er a w a y

. T h e d etect or s ’ att r i b u t e s a r e d e s c r i b ed in CC P

- S R S

- SR B C 00 3 a n d “ Canberra Factory BSGS 5

- F oot S tand

- O ff ISOCS Calibration Report for the SWB C ontainer Type, for BSGS Extended 1

- Hour Calibration with U nshielded HPGe Detectors and the BSGS Reduced 20

- M inute Calibration with Shielded HPGE Detectors

. ” Detect or s a r e N o

. 1 ( BE38 2 01 1 05 8 14 9 )

, N o

. 2 (BE3 8 20 1 10 5 81 4 9)

, N o

. 3 ( B E382 0 11 0 58 1 49 ) a n d N o

. 4 ( BE38 2 01 1 05 8 15 2 )

. T h e NaI d etect or s a r e al s o t h e s a m e, N o s

. 127B1 0 2 / 5 M

- EI

- N E G, as a r e t h e 60 C o t r a n s m i ss i o n s o u r ce s , ~ 25 0 m C i as o f M a y 5

, 200 5

. Assess the technical adequacy of any changes to the calculations involving the application of scaling factors and/or correlation techniques as a result of implementing the NABC FFG. Identify the procedures that govern this function and where the results of these calculations are documented. SR S

- CC P pro ce d u r e s : CC P

- T P

- 189

, R e v i s i o n 2

, f o r op e r ati o n ; C C P

- T P

- 19 0

, R e v i s i o n 2

, f o r cali br ati o n ; C C P

T P

- 19 3

, R e v i s i o n 3

, f

o r d ata r e v i e w

. T h e s e pro ce d u r es w e r e n o t r e v i s ed as a r e su lt o f t h i s c h a n g e. T h e pr e v i o u s r e v i s i o n s a d e q u a te l y a ddr e ss ed

c h a n g i n g m ea s u r e m e n t c on f i gu r ati o n s to a l l o w f

o r a ss a y i n g 55

- g a ll o n dru m s a n d SWBs

, a n d SR S

- CC P N D A
p e r s on n el s tated t h at t h e s e r e v i s i on s a pp lied to t h is c h a n g e in configuration for SLB2 s . EPA accepted this

.

Id e n ti f y a n y c h a n g es to t h e m et h od( s ) us ed to d e r i v e t h e i s o t op ic c o n t r i b u ti o n f

o r t h e un m

e a s u r ed r a d i o nu cl i d e s , e

. g

. , MG A

, F R A M o r o t h er t e c hn i q u e a s a r e s u lt o f t h e N A B C FF G.

Id e n ti f y a n y c h a n g es to t h e m et h o d o r d etails o f t h e T MU calc u lati o n as a r e s u lt o f t h e N A B C FF G. D u e to t h e s p ect r a c o m p l e x iti e s , M G A is t y

p ic a l l y n o t u s ed b u t F R A M is o f ten h el pf u l. T h e r e is c o ns i d e r a b le

s p ect r al i n te rpr etati o n b y t h e E A a n d t h i s is often t h e m o s t i m por t a n t a s p ect o f d e r i v i n g i s o t op ics f o r FF G

s a m p le s

. T h e T MU d e r i v ati o n is fu n d a m e n tal l y u n c h a n g e d

, alt h oug h t h e v a l u es o f t h e i n p u t v a r y with each a ss a y

.