Orphan Source Q&A.docx

Orphan Source Q&A

Q: “– there is a line item on page 1 that is off putting. The ‘Springfield’ item – Radium needle @ 1R on contact, has a listing of 399.086 mCi.

First off – we would need a SFC for this , if the activity is accurate. If no SFC is available we will have to see if we can have it encapsulated.

Is there any picture of the needle? Can you confirm the 399 mCi activity?

Just for a side reference - A point source calculation would have it at 12.3 mCi based off of 100 mR/hr @ 30 cm. Could we get a 6 inch dose rate?

If it stays at 399 mCi then the weight to activity average would be around 9000 lbs. to qualify as Class C.” A

A: Activity was miscalculated. A review of collection information shows a dose rate at 6 inches of 33 mR/hr and 15 mR/hr at 1 foot. A conservative estimate of the activity based on those dose rates puts the activity at approximately 1.8 mCi.

Q: “The cost of the disposal of Nitrates is based on a weight. The weights on the Inventory appeared rounded up. Is there a better Inventory of the actual weight of the Nitrate’s?”

A: Weights include the packaging materials (vials, jars, etc.), materials are not removed from their packaging or weighed separately. Therefore, no better estimates of the actual weight of the Nitrates are available.

Q: “The Streeterville material may have some Corrosive and water reactive material included in with the Radioactive materials. Descriptions such as White Powder, Black Powder, Yellow Pellets and liquid may not be enough to ensure the material is not pyrophoric, reactive or has other hazards. The Metal Powder and Metal Shavings may likely be pyrophoric. The NH4HF2 material is a Class 8 Corrosive material under DOT.

I wonder why this material was not part of the Superfund effort in cleaning up Streeterville. Is it possible that this material was identified by the contractor as being problematic and put to the side. Really would like to know more about this material so that we can properly assess the hazards. These concerns may have been addressed within IEMA but we could use much more information.”

A: The materials did not originate from the Superfund efforts, and instead were collected from a private residence. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information available for some of these items. There are a few items that have labels attached and others just handwritten information, if anything at all. The individuals who collected the materials did their best to capture the relevant information within the item description, but the information available was minimal for many items. Pictures of the items collected are included in the attached document.

Q: Sims Metal Radium Needles on page 1 of 32, two are listed but only one has activity listed. What is the activity. The second needle has an activity listed of 399.086 millicuries. This listed activity does not seem to be accurate and is likely much less than what is listed.

A: One of the entries was a duplicate entry, and the item does not exist. The activity for the radium needle was miscalculated. A review of collection information shows a dose rate at 6 inches of 33 mR/hr and 15 mR/hr at 1 foot. A conservative estimate of the activity based on those dose rates puts the activity at approximately 1.8 mCi.

Q: Uranyl Acetate is found in several places. Do any of these contain liquids and if so, can we find out what kind of liquids?

Uranyl Nitrate is considered to be an Oxidizer and as such will carry a RCRA code. If you have any liquid Nitrates, we need to have IEMA check the pH as Acids are often used with Nitrates.

A: Some of these items may contain liquids. The type(s) of liquids contained within these items, if present, is unknown. Determining the liquid type(s) and any applicable pH will be the responsibility of the vendor.

Q: Page 5 of 32 Thorium Nitrate is listed as 1.310 mCi which seems high. Was this activity estimated or actual?

A: A review of the collection information revealed that there was a decimal point error in the activity calculations and the activity should be 13.1 uCi.

Q: Do any of the Radium Dials contain a liquid? Aircraft dials often did, and they could contain a combustible liquid.

A: Yes, some of the radium dials contain liquid. The type of liquid they contain or if it is combustible is unknown.

Q: Page 8 of 32 the Bryant Radium pipe, is this the actual activity or an estimated activity?

A: There appears to be an error in the activity calculation for this item, the activity was recalculated at 1.89 uCi.

Q: Beginning on page 12 of 32, the items form the Streeterville Residence appear to have activities that are not consistent with the dose rates. Are these actual activities or have they been estimated?

A: Unless the item contained a label that included the activity, all activities were estimated. Pictures of the items collected are included in the attached document.

Q: Page 15 of 32 has Source Needles form Joliet Central but there is no isotope or activity.

A: No activities were included on the source containers and due to the type of sources and/or low activities we were unable to confirm an identification or estimate the activities for these items. Three of the five contains indicate that the needles are alpha and beta sources, one has no labeling at all, and the last has uranium written on the container but no additional useful information. A picture of the items is attached to this email.

Q: Page 19 of 32 lists a Pyronics Smoke detector at 3 uCi from Cozzi Recycling and later on the page form Lemont Scrap one is listed at 39.91 uCi. The later activity does not seem correct. Can you verify the make and model of the Smoke Detector.

A: Pictures of the item is attached. The make and model cannot be obtained from the images available.

Q: Page 20 of 32, the Lee County Radium items have a dose rate of 1250 mR/hr. Could this be Micro R and not mR?

A: Yes, this dose rate should be in uR/hr.