La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § XV-1499

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XV-1499 - Appendices A, B, and C

Appendix A

Subjects to be Included in Training Courses for Individuals Performing NORM Surveys

The following outline describes the subjects that individuals shall demonstrate competence in prior to being approved as a NORM surveyor.

I. Fundamentals of Radiation Safety

A. Characteristics of radiation

B. Units of radiation dose and quantity of radioactivity

C. Levels of radiation from sources of radiation

D. Methods of minimizing radiation dose:

1. working time;

2. working distance;

3. shielding;

4. respiratory precautions;

5. use of anti-contamination clothing.

II. Radiation Detection of Instrumentation to Be Used

A. Use of radiation survey instruments:

1. operation;

2. calibration;

3. limitations.

B. Survey techniques

C. Use of personnel-monitoring equipment

III. The Requirements of Pertinent State Regulations

Appendix B

Detailed development of the following shall be included in the required worker protection plan:

I. The posting of signs pursuant to LAC 33:XV.451 and

1011 to inform personnel when they are entering a NORM contaminated area.

II. Procedures to prevent eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing in areas where work is being performed on contaminated equipment or where contaminated soil is being handled.

III. Procedures to avoid skin contact with NORM contaminated scale, solids, and sludges by the use of protective clothing such as gloves, coveralls, rubber boots, and eye protection.

IV. Procedures to ensure that personnel will thoroughly wash body parts that may have been potentially in direct contact with NORM-contaminated materials before eating, drinking, smoking, or leaving the work area.

V. Procedures for whole body monitoring of personnel in restricted area including a description of the survey instrumentation used.

VI. Procedures to minimize the number of personnel in the contaminated area.

VII. Other operational procedures.

For operations that have the potential to produce NORM contaminated dusts (i.e., cutting, grinding, sand-blasting, welding, drilling, polishing, or handling soil) or when loose contamination is suspected, the following additional precautions shall be taken:

I. The use of a respirator appropriate for radioactive particulates shall be worn if required by LAC 33:XV.Chapter 4.

II. Safety glasses shall be worn for eye protection.

III. Activities shall be conducted in well-ventilated areas to which access has been restricted.

IV. Ground covers shall be utilized to the extent possible to contain contaminants and facilitate cleanup.

V. The need for personnel monitoring and bioassay shall be evaluated and provided if necessary.

In addition to the general requirements given above, there may be industrial operations such as vessel entry, dismantling of equipment, refurbishing of equipment, or transportation, which may require additional precautionary procedures which shall be included in the worker protection procedures submitted to the department.

Appendix C

Memorandum of Understanding between Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Regarding the Regulation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material at Commercial Oilfield Waste Treatment Facilities

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation (DNR/OC), is authorized by state law and regulations to control the permitting, operation, and closure of commercial nonhazardous oilfield waste (NOW) disposal facilities in Louisiana, and,

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is authorized by state law and regulations to control the management and disposal of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), and,

WHEREAS, certain types of NOW have been recognized as occasionally containing levels of NORM that may warrant protection of public health and the environment, and,

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest for both agencies to coordinate their resources in order to provide adequate protection of public health and the environment and to avoid duplicative regulatory efforts and unnecessary expenses to DNR/OC and DEQ, the regulated community and the citizens of this state.

THEREFORE, the following MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is hereby adopted to outline the specific responsibilities of each agency regarding the regulation of NORM treatment at commercial NOW facilities which are permitted and regulated under the jurisdiction of the Office of Conservation:

1. Commercial NOW facilities will be permitted to receive, and treat NORM in accordance with specific licenses issued by DEQ under LAC 33:XV.301 and 1401 et seq. Existing DNR/OC permits will be required to be amended according to the requirements of LAC 43:XIX.129.M. DNR/OC and DEQ will, to the extent possible, coordinate and/or combine efforts in the holding of any public hearings with regard to permitting commercial NOW/NORM facilities.

2. Commercial NOW/NORM facilities (DEQ specific licensees) may be authorized to receive and treat NORM contaminated with concentrations of up to 200 picocuries per gram radium-226 or radium-228 and daughter products, provided all operational procedures are adhered to and a satisfactory history of compliance is established.

3. In addition to standards for documentation of compliance with the reuse criteria of LAC 43:XIX.129.M, treated NOW/NORM which is offered for reuse must also meet the requirements of DEQ.

4. Only written requests will be considered by DNR/OC and DEQ for reuse of treated NOW/NORM. Documentation of compliance with regulatory requirements must be provided with each request. Specific written approval from each agency must be obtained prior to removal of material from a treatment system.

5. Commercial NOW/NORM treatment facilities will not be permitted to mix and treat non-NORM (NOW) waste with NORM waste.

6. DEQ will be required to notify DNR/OC, within 24 hours, of planned/scheduled inspections of a commercial NOW/NORM treatment facilities.

7. When violations are documented, enforcement actions will be coordinated between DNR/OC and DEQ to determine the proper agency for issuance of notices of violation, compliance orders, assessment of penalties or any other enforcement activity.

8. As deemed necessary, DNR/OC and DEQ will share monitoring information required to be submitted by permitted NOW/NORM treatment facilities.

This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is subject to revision or cancellation upon agreement of both parties.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § XV-1499

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality and Radiation Protection, Radiation Protection Division, LR 18:609 (June 1992), amended LR 21:30 (January 1995), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 26:2601 (November 2000), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs and Criminal Investigations Division, LR 481809 (7/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2001 et seq. and 2104.B.