U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Disposal of Solid Scintillation Media

HPPOS-295 PDR-9306220067

Title: Disposal of Solid Scintillation Media

See the memorandum from J. E. Glenn to R. R. Bellamy (and

others) date January 29, 1991. The memo concerns the

disposal of solid scintillation media that are available

from Beckman Corporation under the trade names Ready-Cap

and Ready-Filter. The health physics position was written

in the context of 10 CFR 20.306, but it also applies to

"new" 10 CFR 20.2005.

Recently, Region I informed NRC Headquarters of the use of

solid scintillation media, available from Beckman

Corporation under the trade names Ready-Cap and

Ready-Filter, for counting samples in liquid scintillation

counters. The media consists of urethane silicate with a

CRT phosphor. 10 CFR 20.306 (a) [or 10 CFR 20.2005 (a)

(1)] allows for the disposal of liquid scintillation media

containing 0.05 microcuries or less of tritium (H-3) or

carbon-14 (C-14) per gram of medium without regard to its

radioactivity. The media noted above are used for liquid

scintillation counting; therefore, 10 CFR 20.306 (a) [or 10

CFR 20.2005 (a) (1)] also applies to them.

According to the manufacturer, the volume of mass required

for the counting of samples is approximately 100 times less

than the mass normally required in the use of liquid

scintillation media, and under normal use, the specific

activity of the samples would exceed 0.05 microcuries per

gram of medium. Therefore, the manufacturer suggest that

the samples normally be disposed of as dry waste in a low

level radioactive burial site. However, if the samples

meet the specific activity requirements of 10 CFR 20.306

(a), the samples may be disposed of without regard to their

radioactivity.

Regulatory references: 10 CFR 20.306, 10 CFR 20.2005

Subject codes: 9.0, 9.2, 9.3, 9.7

Applicability: All