Section 180-5-009 - LEAK TESTING AND REPLACEMENT OF SEALED SOURCES009.01SEALED SOURCE REPLACEMENT. The replacement of any sealed source fastened to or contained in a radiographic exposure device and leak testing of any sealed source must be performed by persons authorized to do so by the Department, NRC, or another Agreement State.009.02OPENING REPAIR OR MODIFICATION. The opening, repair, or modification of any sealed source must be performed by persons specifically authorized to do so by the Department, NRC, or another Agreement State.009.03LEAK TESTING AND RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS.(A) Each licensee who uses a sealed source must have the source tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed six months. The leak testing of the sources must be performed using a method approved by the Department, NRC, or by another Agreement State. The wipe sample should 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 185 becquerel (0.005 µCi) of radioactive material on the test sample and must be performed by a person specifically authorized by the Department, NRC, or another Agreement State to perform the analysis.(B) The licensee must maintain records of the leak tests as required by 180 NAC 5-026.(C) Unless a sealed source is accompanied by a certificate from the transferor that shows that it has been leak tested within six months before the transfer, it may not be used by the licensee until tested for leakage. Sealed sources that are in storage and not in use do not require leak testing, but must be tested before use or transfer to another person if the interval of storage exceeds six months.009.04LEAKING SOURCES. Any test conducted pursuant to 180 NAC 5-009.02 and 180 NAC 5-009.03 that reveals the presence of 185 becquerel (0.005 µCi) or more of removable radioactive material must be considered evidence that the sealed source is leaking. The licensee must immediately withdraw the equipment involved from use and must have it decontaminated and repaired or disposed of as required by Department regulations. A report must be filed with the Department within five days of any test with results that exceed the threshold in 180 NAC 5-009.04, describing the equipment involved, the test results, and the corrective action taken.009.05DEPLETED URANIUM LEAK TESTING. Each exposure device using depleted uranium shielding and an S-tube configuration must be tested for depleted uranium contamination at intervals not to exceed 12 months. The analysis must be capable of detecting the presence of 185 becquerel (0.005 µCi) of radioactive material on the test sample and must be performed by a person specifically authorized by the Department, NRC or another Agreement State to perform the analysis. Should such testing reveal the presence of 185 becquerel (0.005 µCi) or more of depleted uranium contamination, the exposure device must be removed from use until an evaluation of the wear of the S-tube has been made. Should the evaluation reveal the S-tube is worn through, the device may not be used again. Depleted uranium shielded devices do not have to be tested for depleted uranium contamination while not in use and in storage. Before using or transferring such a device, however, the device must be tested for depleted uranium contamination, if the interval of storage exceeds 12 months. A record of the depleted uranium leak-test must be made as required by 180 NAC 5-026.180 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 5, § 009
Amended effective 11/1/2020Amended effective 6/14/2023