Approved Limits for the Release of Contaminated Materials and Property Containing Residual Radioactive

DOE-HDBK-1129-99

Low-Level Waste (LLW) is any waste that has radioactive contamination values above the

unrestricted release limit (DOE Order 5400.5).

Sanitary Landfill Waste, which has no value and is below the unrestricted release limit, is waste

and may be disposed of in a DOE Sanitary Landfill. Disposal of this waste at a Non-DOE

Sanitary Landfill may be done after notifying the appropriate state agency of the DOE

authorized limits for this activity.

Reusable Equipment, such as computers, tools, electrical instruments, drill presses, etc., which

can be used if released without restriction from the facility and has value, is not waste. If the

equipment is contaminated above the unrestricted release limit and can be transferred and

used at another radiological or nuclear facility, it is not waste.

Usable Materials, such as nails, bolts, nuts, sheet rock, plywood, plastic sheet, barrels,

decorative rock, sand, gravel, brick, unused chemicals, etc., which can be used if released

without restriction from the facility and have value, are not waste. If the material is

contaminated above the unrestricted release limit and can be transferred and used at another

radiological or nuclear facility, it is not waste.

Scrap, such as scrap non precious metal, scrap precious metals, scrap wood, scrap,

chemicals, etc., which can be sold as scrap if released without restriction from the facility, has

value, and is not waste.

8.1 Approved Limits for the Release of Contaminated Materials and Property Containing

Residual Radioactive

For release and disposal, materials that exhibit radioactive surface contamination less than the

values in the revised Figure IV-1 of DOE Order 5400.5 (which is planned to be specified in Table 1,

"Surface Activity Guidelines," of 10 CFR 834), fall into three categories.

Category 1 Disposal in a DOE or non-DOE Sanitary Landfill

Category 2 Disposal and/or Treatment in a DOE or Non-DOE RCRA Treatment, Storage, and

Disposal Facility

Category 3 Transfer of Ownership (either by sale or other means) to Members of the Public

The Category 1 materials may be released/disposed of without further regard to residual

radioactivity if they are at or below the values specified in the revised Figure IV-1 of DOE Order

5400.5 or the Table 2 values to be specified in 10 CFR 834. Site policies and procedures should

clearly describe the use of these values and how other requirements of the Order (such as ALARA,

survey measurement record keeping, and compliance with the specific requirements of the

disposal facility) are met. Disposal at a Non-DOE Sanitary Landfill must meet the same

requirements as waste disposed at a DOE Sanitary Landfill, and the appropriate state agency must

be notified of the DOE-authorized limits for this activity.

Category 3 material must meet the same requirements as Category 1 material and the appropriate

state agency and/or NRC Region must be notified of the DOE-authorized limits for this activity.