Nuclear Safety Rules

DOE-HDBK-6004-99

EPA regulates the type and quantity of facility emission. EPA specifies and must approve the

measurement techniques. EPA sets the limits for exposure to the public and the notification required

when certain quantities of radioactive materials are emitted. State laws usually regulate the facility

outfalls. State requirements are not uniform across the country.

Department of Transportation (DOT) transportation requirements specify packaging requirements

that are dependent on the form and quantity of tritium. DOT must also approve all packaging

containers when the radioactive material is transported on public highways.

Waste storage requirements when mixed hazardous waste may be involved. The EPA administers

the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In many cases this authority has been

delegated to the state.

Waste disposal requirements. These are generally state-specific. The details of the state requirements

will not be discussed in this section since they vary widely.

Nuclear Safety Rules

10CFR834 (Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment) (proposed), and 10CFR835

(Occupational Radiation Protection): Current DOE orders that are nuclear safety related are being

reissued as "rules" that are law. Rule requirements were placed on DOE funded nuclear facilities by

the US Congress in the amendments to the Price Anderson Act.

The requirements and implications of the DOE Rules as defined in the 10CFR laws listed above are

still to be determined for tritium control and accountability. Currently, the DOE orders dealing with

nuclear materials control and physical protection will not be released as Rules. Rules specify

requirements that will result in fines and criminal prosecution (as defined in 10CFR820) if they are

not followed. The only rules that have been released are the Occupation Radiation Protection Rule

and Quality Assurance Rule. These will have implication on the procedures and techniques that are

used to determine personnel exposure to tritium and environmental releases of tritium.

Since these requirements are part of the US law, they must be followed by all facilities that handle

tritium or radioactive materials as applicable.

DOE Orders

DOE Orders are requirements placed on DOE facilities that define operations and the methods of

conducting business.

DOE 5633.3B, "Control and Accountability of Nuclear Materials" specified the minimum

requirements and procedures based on the amount of tritium and the form of the tritium in a facility.

Important requirements from this order are:

1. Tritium is treated as a Special Nuclear Material and the reportable transaction quantity is one

hundredth of a gram (approximately 100 Curies).