South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-63 - Radioactive Materials (Title A) › Part VIII - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WELL LOGGING OPERATIONS › Section 61-63.VIII.RHA 8.10 - Leak Testing of Sealed Sources

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
8.10.1 Each licensee who
				uses a sealed source shall have the source tested for leakage periodically. The
				licensee shall keep records of leak test results in units of microcuries and retain
				the records for inspection by the Department for 3 years after the leak test is
				performed.
8.10.2 Method of testing. The
				wipe of a sealed source must be performed using a leak test kit or method approved
				by the Department, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or any Agreement State.
				The wipe sample must be taken from the nearest accessible point to the sealed source
				where contamination might accumulate. The wipe sample must be analyzed for
				radioactive contamination. The analysis must be capable of detecting the presence of
				0.005 microcurie of radioactive material on the test sample and must be performed by
				a person approved by the Department, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or an
				Agreement State to perform the analysis.
8.10.3 Test frequency. Each sealed source (except
				an energy compensation source (ECS)) shall be tested for leakage at intervals not to
				exceed six (6) months. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a leak
				test has been made within the 6 month period prior to the transfer, the sealed
				source shall not be put into use until leak tested. Each ECS that is not exempt from
				testing in accordance with RHA 8.10.5 of this section must be tested at intervals
				not to exceed 3 years. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test
				has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until
				tested.
8.10.4 Removal of leaking source
				from service. Any test conducted pursuant to RHA 8.10.1, 8.10.2 and 8.10.3 which
				reveals the presence of 0.005 microcurie or more of removable radioactive material
				shall be considered evidence that the sealed source is leaking. The licensee shall
				immediately remove the sealed source involved from use and shall cause it to be
				decontaminated and repaired or to be disposed of by a licensee authorized by the
				Department, the NRC or an Agreement State to perform these functions. The licensee
				shall check the equipment associated with the leaking source for radioactive
				contamination and, if contaminated, have it decontaminated or disposed of by a
				licensee authorized by the Department, the NRC or an Agreement State to perform
				these functions. Within five (5) days after obtaining results of the leak test, the
				licensee shall file a report with the Department describing the equipment involved,
				the test results and the corrective action taken.
8.10.5 The following sealed sources are exempt
				from the periodic leak test requirements set out in RHA 8.10.1 through 8.10.4:
8.10.5.1 Hydrogen-3 (tritium) sources;
8.10.5.2 Sources containing radioactive material
				with a half-life of 30 days or less;
8.10.5.3 Sealed sources containing radioactive
				material in gaseous form;
8.10.5.4
				Sources of beta or gamma emitting radioactive material with an activity of 100
				microcuries or less; and
8.10.5.5
				Sources of alpha or neutron emitting radioactive material with an activity of 10
				microcuries or less.