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DOE Response To The NIST Boulder Plutonium Contamination Incident

DOE Response To The NIST Boulder Plutonium Contamination Incident. David Everrett Contractor Response Coordinator DOE RAP, Region 6. RAP Response . Establish continuous air sampling outside the laboratory entrance Contamination control outside the laboratory entrance

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DOE Response To The NIST Boulder Plutonium Contamination Incident

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  1. DOE Response To The NIST Boulder Plutonium Contamination Incident David Everrett Contractor Response Coordinator DOE RAP, Region 6

  2. RAP Response • Establish continuous air sampling outside the laboratory entrance • Contamination control outside the laboratory entrance • Establish air and smear sample screening methods

  3. DOE Region 6 RAP • Requested by the NIST Boulder facility on June 17, 2008 • Provided initial radiological characterization support to NIST radiation safety personnel • Initial entry into the contaminated • area on June 19, 2008

  4. RAP Response (cont.) • Initial entry into the laboratory areas to evaluate air-borne contamination levels • Perform contamination measurements and collect smears • Determine, if possible the activity (amount) remaining in the broken container and laboratory areas

  5. RAP Response (cont.) • Additional DOE equipment and personnel deployed to NIST on June 20, 2008 • Continuous air sampler (CAM) with auto alarm capability • Low background sample counter to resolve high-natural (radon) background levels in air samples • Additional personnel from DOE plutonium facilities • Consultation with DOE REAC/TC

  6. Advanced Measurements • Portable gamma spectroscopy • Measure Pu activity remaining in the broken vial, large area wipes, and other sample containers • Measure activity in duplicate Pu reference standard • Need accurate distances, long count times, but more importantly contamination issues…

  7. DOE RAP Conclusions • Extensive removable contamination observed in the laboratory area • DOE Triage personnel able to provide initial estimate of remaining Pu activity (60-78%) • NIST able to combine survey results and measurements to evaluate amount of Pu lost to the sewer system

  8. Questions ?

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