Section 180-14-007 - LEAK TESTING OF SEALED SOURCESEach licensee using sealed sources of radioactive material must have the sources tested for leakage. Records of test results must be kept in units of microcuries and maintained for inspection by the Department.
007.01METHODS. 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 (NRC), or another Agreement State. The wipe sample must be taken from the nearest accessible point to the sealed source where contamination might accumulate. The sample must be analyzed for radioactive contamination. The analysis must be capable of detecting the presence of 185 becquerel (Bq) (0.005 µCi) of radioactive material on the test sample and must be performed by a person approved by the Department, NRC, or another Agreement State to perform the analysis.007.02FREQUENCY. Leak testing must be performed at the following intervals: (A) Each sealed source except an ECS must be tested at intervals not to exceed six months. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the six months before the transfer, the sealed source may not be used until tested; and(B) Each ECS not exempt from testing according to 180 NAC 14-007.04 must be tested at intervals not to exceed three years. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the three years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested.007.03DECONTAMINATION, REPORTING OF LEAKING SOURCES. Licensees must remove leaking sources from service and report to the Department as follows. (A) If the test conducted according to 180 NAC 14-007 reveals the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) or more of removable radioactive material, the licensee must remove the sealed source from service immediately and have it decontaminated, repaired, or disposed of by the Department, NRC, or another Agreement State licensee authorized to perform these functions. The licensee must check the equipment associated with the leaking source for radioactive contamination and, if contaminated, have it decontaminated or disposed of by the Department, the NRC, or another Agreement State licensee authorized to perform these functions; and(B) The licensee must submit a report to the Department within five days of receiving the test results. The report must describe the equipment involved in the leak test, test results, any contamination which resulted from the leaking source, and corrective actions taken up to the time the report is made.007.04EXEMPTIONS. The following sealed sources are exempt from the periodic leak test requirements in 180 NAC 14-007: (A) Hydrogen-3 (tritium) sources;(B) Sources containing radioactive material with a half-life of 30 days or less;(C) Sealed sources containing radioactive material in gaseous form;(D) Sources of beta or gamma emitting radioactive material with an activity of 3.7 MBq (100 µCi) or less; and(E) Sources of alpha or neutron emitting radioactive material with an activity of 0.37 MBq (10 µCi) or less.180 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 14, § 007
Amended effective 6/26/2021Amended effective 6/14/2023