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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 481. Virginia Radiation Protection Regulations
11/5/2024

12VAC5-481-3510. Release for unrestricted use.

Each person subject to a license under this part shall:

1. Not transfer or release for unrestricted use facilities or equipment contaminated with TENORM in excess of levels in Table 6.

Table 6.
Acceptable Surface Contamination Levels1 for TENORM

AVERAGE2,3,6

MAXIMUM2,4,6

REMOVABLE2,3,5,6

Alpha

5,000 dpm/100 cm2

15,000 dpm/100 cm2

1,000 dpm/100 cm2

Beta-gamma

5,000 dpm/100 cm2

15,000 dpm/100 cm2

1,000 dpm/100 cm2

1Where surface contamination by both alpha and beta-gamma emitting nuclides exists, the limits established for alpha and beta-gamma emitting nuclides should apply independently.

2As used in this table, dpm (disintegrations per minute) means the rate of emission by radioactive material as determined by correcting the counts per minute observed by an appropriate detector for background, efficiency, and geometric factors associated with the instrumentation.

3Measurements of average contamination level should not be averaged over more than one square meter. For objects of less surface area, the average should be derived for each object.

4The maximum contamination level applies to an area of not more than 100 cm2.

5The amount of removable radioactive material per 100 cm2 of surface area should be determined by wiping that area with dry filter or soft absorbent paper, applying moderate pressure, and assessing the amount of radioactive material on the wipe with an appropriate instrument of known efficiency. When removable contamination on objects of surface area A (where A is less than 100 sq. cm) is determined, the entire surface should be wiped and the contamination level multiplied by 100/A to convert a "per 100 sq. cm" basis.

6The average and minimum radiation levels associated with surface contamination resulting from beta-gamma emitters should not exceed 0.2 mrad/hr (2μGy/hr) at 1 cm, respectively, measured through not more than 7 milligrams per square centimeter of total absorber.

2. Not transfer or release for unrestricted use equipment contaminated with TENORM in excess of a surface gamma radiation level of 200 μrem/hr at 1 cm excluding natural background; and

3. Not transfer land for unrestricted use where the concentration of radium-226 or radium-228 in soil averaged over any 100 square meters exceeds the background level by more than 185 Bq/kg (5 pCi/gm), averaged over any 15 cm layer of soil below the surface, unless compliance with 12VAC5-481-3490 B through D can be demonstrated.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

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