Disposal of Solid Scintillation Media

HPPOS-295 PDR-9306220067

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

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Monday, October 30, 2017