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DOE Response To The NIST Boulder Plutonium
Contamination Incident
David EverrettContractor Response CoordinatorDOE RAP, Region 6
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RAP Response • Establish continuous air
sampling outside the laboratory entrance
• Contamination control outside the laboratory entrance
• Establish air and smear sample screening methods
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DOE Region 6 RAP • Requested by the NIST Boulder facility on
June 17, 2008
• Provided initial radiological characterization support to NIST radiation safety personnel
• Initial entry into the contaminated area on June 19, 2008
RAP Response (cont.)• Initial entry into the
laboratory areas to evaluate air-borne contamination levels
• Perform contamination measurements and collect smears
• Determine, if possible the activity (amount) remaining in the broken container and laboratory areas
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RAP Response (cont.)• Additional DOE equipment and
personnel deployed to NIST on June 20, 2008• Continuous air sampler (CAM) with auto
alarm capability• Low background sample counter to
resolve high-natural (radon) background levels in air samples
• Additional personnel from DOE plutonium facilities
• Consultation with DOE REAC/TC 5
Advanced Measurements• Portable gamma spectroscopy
• Measure Pu activity remaining in the broken vial, large area wipes, and other sample containers
• Measure activity in duplicate Pu reference standard
• Need accurate distances, long count times, but more importantly contamination issues…
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DOE RAP Conclusions• Extensive removable contamination
observed in the laboratory area• DOE Triage personnel able to provide
initial estimate of remaining Pu activity (60-78%)
• NIST able to combine survey results and measurements to evaluate amount of Pu lost to the sewer system
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