Inspections - std301320000055

DOE-STD-3013-2000

relatively extensive surveillance inspection would be expected. In a facility that does

not rely on package integrity for public safety, where access to the packages is

difficult, and where inspection involves a relatively high personnel radiation dose,

the surveillance inspection would be expected to be less extensive than in the

previous example.

The surveillance program should identify sources of information/data to be used in

establishing inspection frequency, sample size and composition, etc. As information

on these packages is accumulated, it should be shared among the sites and included

in the information base. It is recommended that samples of materials typical of

those being stored be placed in a "shelf-life" program in which the condition of the

storage packages can be evaluated over long periods of time to give insight into the

behavior of the contained materials and into interactions between the materials and

the container; and that this information also be included in the surveillance

information base. Finally, it is recommended that the sites storing plutonium metals

and oxides and those preparing such materials for storage collaborate to the extent

feasible in developing their site programs, so that both consistency in approach and

flexibility in storage location can be maintained.

The surveillance program should identify possible courses of action to be taken in

the event of a an unexpected surveillance finding, and guidance on selecting the

appropriate action. This guidance should be directed toward identifying the event as

either an anomaly or a systemic issue, and toward establishing a plan for dealing

with the matter.

Certain efficiencies may be achieved if the frequency of surveillance is integrated

with the physical inventory program as prescribed in DOE 5633.3B.

3. Inspections

1) Initial Inspection. Flaws in initial packaging are expected to be detected by

inspection of every package within 30 days of packaging. Ordinarily, this

inspection would be done immediately after packaging, but 30 days delay

reasonably accommodates operational considerations. This initial inspection

should provide baseline information on the leak rate of both welded containers

(the inner container should be inspected after it is closed and before insertion

into the outer container, and the outer container inspected after it is closed),