Section 0400-20-12-.09 - LEAK TESTING OF SEALED SOURCES(1) Testing and record keeping requirements. Each licensee who uses a sealed source shall have the source tested for leakage periodically. The licensee shall keep a record of leak test results in units of microcuries and retain the record for inspection by the Division for 3 years after the leak test is performed.
(2) Method of testing. The wipe of a sealed source shall be performed using a leak test kit or method approved by the Division, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a Licensing State or an Agreement State. The wipe sample shall be taken from the nearest accessible point to the sealed source where contamination might accumulate. The wipe sample shall be analyzed for radioactive contamination. The analysis shall be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 Bq) of radioactive material on the test sample and shall be performed by a person approved by the Division, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a Licensing State or an Agreement State to perform the analysis.
(3) Test frequency. (a) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source [ECS]) shall be tested at intervals not to exceed 6 months. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the 6 months before the transfer, the sealed source shall not be used until tested.(b) Each ECS that is not exempt from testing in accordance with paragraph (5) of this rule shall be tested at intervals not to exceed 3 years. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested.(4) Removal of leaking source from service: (a) If the test conducted pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this rule reveals the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 Bq) or more of removable radioactive material, the licensee shall remove the sealed source from service immediately and have it decontaminated, repaired, or disposed of by an Agreement State, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or a Licensing State licensee that is authorized to perform these functions. The licensee shall check the equipment associated with the leaking source for radioactive contamination and, if contaminated, have it decontaminated or disposed of by a Department, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an Agreement State or Licensing State licensee that is authorized to perform these functions.(b) Licensees shall submit written reports to the Division, at the address in Rule 0400-20-04-.07, within 5 days of receiving the test results. The report must describe the equipment involved in the leak, the test results, any contamination which resulted from the leaking source, and the corrective actions taken up to the time the report is made.(5) The following sealed sources are not subject to the periodic leak test requirements set out in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this rule: (b) Sources containing radioactive material with a half-life of 30 days or less;(c) Sources containing radioactive material in gaseous form;(d) Sources of beta- or gamma-emitting radioactive material with an activity of 100 microcuries (3,700,000 Bq) or less; and(e) Sources of alpha- or neutron-emitting radioactive material with an activity of 10 microcuries (370,000 Bq) or less.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-20-12-.09
Original rule filed February 22, 2012; effective May 22, 2012.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-202-101 et seq., 68-202-201 et seq., and 4-5-201 et seq.